Envoi Allen Bidding For Third Win In Down Royal Feature

Envoi Allen might remain in the twilight of his profession at the age of 11, however optimism is high in the Cheveley Park camp that their popular veteran can bag himself a 3rd success in the BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday.


It is 6 and a half years considering that Envoi Allen broke his Grade One duck in the Champion Bumper, the first of 3 victories at Cheltenham Festival while his overall top-level tally stands at 9.


There have been one or 2 bumps in the roadway along the method, however Henry de Bromhead's charge has actually been near perfect in the first Grade Among the Irish dives season in each of the previous three seasons, with triumphes in 2022 and 2024 sandwiching a neck-long defeat at the hands of Gerri Colombe in 2023.


He has actually been off the track because finishing third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March and Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson is delighted to see him go back to a pleased hunting ground this weekend.


He said: "He's been a great horse, what a journey he's taken us on.


"He's won nine Grade Ones and is a three-time Cheltenham Festival winner.


Envoi Allen winning last year ´ s Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Brian Lawless/PA)


"This will most likely be his last season, I would think, so let's how he works on Saturday and go from there.


"He has had a couple of down days, but there have actually been a lot more good days than bad. Even the times he's been beaten at Cheltenham he's been positioned in a Champ Chase and a Ryanair - his CV is simply fantastic.


"Henry states he keeps his interest and if he can get 10 Grade Ones it would be amazing, but as the old saying he goes he owes us absolutely nothing."


Spillane's Tower is a noteworthy due to inappropriate ground while Gordon Elliott likewise eliminated Stellar Story.


He still saddles the returning Found A Fifty, Galway Plate and PWC Champion Chase winner Western Fold, with the field finished by Noel Meade's Affordale Fury and Keith Watson's rank outsider Flash Collonges.