Envoi Allen Bidding For Third Win In Down Royal Feature

Envoi Allen may be in the twilight of his career at the age of 11, however optimism is high in the Cheveley Park camp that their popular veteran can bag himself a third victory in the BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday.


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


There have actually been one or 2 bumps in the road along the way, but Henry de Bromhead's charge has actually been near perfect in the very first Grade One of the Irish jumps season in each of the past 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 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 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 probably be his last season, I would guess, so let's how he works on Saturday and go from there.


"He has actually had a couple of 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 Champion Chase and a Ryanair - his CV is just wonderful.


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


Spillane's Tower is a notable non-runner 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.