Envoi Allen Bidding For Third Win In Down Royal Feature

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


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


There have been one or 2 bumps in the roadway along the method, but Henry de Bromhead's charge has actually been near perfect in the first Grade One of the season in each of the past 3 seasons, with triumphes in 2022 and 2024 sandwiching a neck-long defeat at the hands of Gerri Colombe in 2023.


He has been off the track given that finishing 3rd in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March and Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson is excited to see him return to a pleased searching ground this weekend.


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


"He's won 9 Grade Ones and is a three-time Cheltenham Festival winner.


Envoi Allen winning in 2015 ´ s Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Brian Lawless/PA)


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


"He has had one or 2 down days, however there have been a lot more good days than bad. Even the times he's been beaten at Cheltenham he's been put in a Champ Chase and a Ryanair - his CV is just great.


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


Spillane's Tower is a noteworthy non-runner due to inappropriate ground while Gordon Elliott likewise ruled out Stellar Story.


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