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, but optimism is high in the Cheveley Park camp that their popular veteran can bag himself a third 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 very first of 3 triumphs at Cheltenham Festival while his overall top-level tally stands at 9.


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


He has been off the track considering that ending up third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March and Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson is excited to see him go back to a delighted searching ground this weekend.


He said: "He's been a great 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 probably be his last season, I would guess, so let's how he operates on Saturday and go from there.


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


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


Spillane's Tower is a significant 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 finished by Noel Meade's Affordale Fury and Keith Watson's rank outsider Flash Collonges.