Envoi Allen Bidding For Third Win In Down Royal Feature

Envoi Allen may remain in the twilight 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 triumph in the Chase at Down Royal on Saturday.


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


There have been a couple of bumps in the road along the method, however Henry de Bromhead's charge has been near supreme in the first Grade One of the Irish dives season in each of the previous 3 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 considering that ending up 3rd in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March and Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson is thrilled to see him go back to a pleased searching ground this weekend.


He stated: "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 last year ´ s Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Brian Lawless/PA)


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


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


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


Spillane's Tower is a noteworthy non-runner due to inappropriate ground while Gordon Elliott likewise dismissed 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.