ENVOI ALLEN REGISTERED a record third win in the BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal.
The 11-year-old moved ahead of fellow dual winners Beef Or Salmon, Kauto Star and Road To Respect as he found generously for pressure to repel all challengers in the Grade One highlight.
Trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe, Envoi Allen was sent off an 11-4 chance with Found A Fifty the 2-1 favourite in what appeared to be a tight contest.
Galway Plate winner Western Fold set out to make all and was joined by Affordale Fury before Envoi Allen entered the argument to just edge in front at the third-last obstacle, before really starting to assert his authority after the penultimate fence.
Envoi Allen was well in control jumping the last and he kept galloping to see off Affordale Fury by three and three-quarter lengths, adding to his 2022 and 2024 wins in this race, as well as making it a 10th Grade One victory of his career.
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Elsewhere on the card, Firefox justified odds-on favouritism as his win in the Kildress Plumbing Chase highlighted a treble for Gordon Elliott.
The trainer sent out four winners at the track on Friday and Firefox’s four-and-half-length strike in the Grade Two contest was the pick of another fruitful afternoon on Saturday.
Placed at the highest level on more than one occasion during his novice season, Firefox got his campaign off to a perfect start in the hands of Jack Kennedy, with the 8-11 favourite outbattling Gorgeous Tom.
Elliott was also on the mark with Mange Tout (8-15 favourite) in the opening Lisburn And Castlereagh City Council 3-Y-O Hurdle, making all on her stable debut for a a four-length victory.
Ballyfad (10-11 favourite) completed the handler’s hat-trick in the Eventsec (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race and Elliott added: “Seven winners is great and we were very unlucky not to have eight – hit the crossbar with a good few. You can’t complain.”
Meanwhile, at Wetherby, Djelo edged out Pic D’Orhy in a thrilling finish to the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase.
Still only seven, Venetia Williams’ chaser is now as low as 16-1 for the King George VI Chase on St Stephen’s Day and having proved his stamina over three miles, he would look to be among the leading British-trained contenders for the Christmas showpiece.
He had headed the betting for most of the day following the withdrawal of Protektorat due to quick ground, but close to the start the money came for Hewick, himself a previous winner of the King George, although he never looked happy and was beaten a long way out.
Pic D’Orhy tried to make all under Harry Cobden and was enjoying himself in front until he was joined by Djelo (11-4), who survived a risky leap at the last to win by a length.
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Envoi Allen shows that class is permanent with Champion Chase hat-trick
ENVOI ALLEN REGISTERED a record third win in the BetVictor Champion Chase at Down Royal.
The 11-year-old moved ahead of fellow dual winners Beef Or Salmon, Kauto Star and Road To Respect as he found generously for pressure to repel all challengers in the Grade One highlight.
Trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe, Envoi Allen was sent off an 11-4 chance with Found A Fifty the 2-1 favourite in what appeared to be a tight contest.
Galway Plate winner Western Fold set out to make all and was joined by Affordale Fury before Envoi Allen entered the argument to just edge in front at the third-last obstacle, before really starting to assert his authority after the penultimate fence.
Envoi Allen was well in control jumping the last and he kept galloping to see off Affordale Fury by three and three-quarter lengths, adding to his 2022 and 2024 wins in this race, as well as making it a 10th Grade One victory of his career.
Elsewhere on the card, Firefox justified odds-on favouritism as his win in the Kildress Plumbing Chase highlighted a treble for Gordon Elliott.
The trainer sent out four winners at the track on Friday and Firefox’s four-and-half-length strike in the Grade Two contest was the pick of another fruitful afternoon on Saturday.
Placed at the highest level on more than one occasion during his novice season, Firefox got his campaign off to a perfect start in the hands of Jack Kennedy, with the 8-11 favourite outbattling Gorgeous Tom.
Elliott was also on the mark with Mange Tout (8-15 favourite) in the opening Lisburn And Castlereagh City Council 3-Y-O Hurdle, making all on her stable debut for a a four-length victory.
Ballyfad (10-11 favourite) completed the handler’s hat-trick in the Eventsec (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race and Elliott added: “Seven winners is great and we were very unlucky not to have eight – hit the crossbar with a good few. You can’t complain.”
Meanwhile, at Wetherby, Djelo edged out Pic D’Orhy in a thrilling finish to the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase.
Still only seven, Venetia Williams’ chaser is now as low as 16-1 for the King George VI Chase on St Stephen’s Day and having proved his stamina over three miles, he would look to be among the leading British-trained contenders for the Christmas showpiece.
He had headed the betting for most of the day following the withdrawal of Protektorat due to quick ground, but close to the start the money came for Hewick, himself a previous winner of the King George, although he never looked happy and was beaten a long way out.
Pic D’Orhy tried to make all under Harry Cobden and was enjoying himself in front until he was joined by Djelo (11-4), who survived a risky leap at the last to win by a length.
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Down Royal Envoi Allen Horse Racing Racing round-up