Spring 2020 and Cheltenham

Envoi Allen – 2014 b g Muhtathir x Reaction (Saint Des Saints).

I knew about this horse well before he appeared in public and once we saw him in action, when he surged away impressively from the field in a Ballinaboola maiden, I knew we’d witnessed a special horse.  (The third horse that day turned out to be Appreciate It, this year’s Champion Bumper favourite!)

Click for Race Replay of Point to Point Win   

 

‘Considered by many the Irish banker of the festival, maintained his unbeaten record under rules with a commanding performance. Ridden with bags of confidence by Davy Russell’  – Racing Post

‘Everybody was here to see him.  He jumped, he stayed and when he got to the front he just did what he had to do, Davy said they went a proper gallop, and he showed how good he is.’ – Gordon Elliott

‘A proper Champion.  He is pretty special, this is such a sensational horse.’  Chris Richardson – Cheveley Park

‘When he sees a fence next year he’ll be a monster’  – Jamie Codd

‘Widely considered one of the bankers of this year’s festival, confirmed his status as the budding superstar of the sport’  ‘160p’ – Timeform

 

These are just some of the superlatives to come the way of Envoi Allen after the impressive way he picked up the leaders in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle on the second day of this year’s Cheltenham Festival.  The 6 year old has never once looked like being beaten in 9 events so far and Davy Russell was quoted afterwards that it took a special horse to win from their position approaching the final bend.  He has won over a quarter of a million pounds in prize-money so far for his owners Cheveley Park Stud and trainer Gordon Elliott.  It is wonderful to be associated with such a legend of a horse and Mr & Mrs Thompson deserve every success.

Click for Ballymore Race Replay   

There is no doubt he is extraordinary and his future could not be more exciting.  Fingers crossed he will get every chance to write himself in the history books in the future.  No decisions have been made as to which route he goes now but it is still hoped we could see him at Punchestown at the end of May.  He is currently 7/1f for the RSA and 6/1f for the Marsh in 2021.

 

Amongst others to run well and hit the crossbar were Night Edition for David Pipe.  The son of Authorized (same as Goshen and Tiger Roll)  was bought at the Arqana Deauville Sale in July for only €16,000 after winning on the flat in Cluny.  He came with a beautifully timed run up the stands side under Tom Scudamore and pulled clear with the winner on the run-in only to be denied by a length.  Dynamite Dollars had a late start to this campaign and can consider next season as ‘unfinished business’.  His comeback run in Newbury, only 3 lengths behind Altior, left him with 5 weeks before the Queen Mother and to have finished second to his stablemate in a Ditcheat 1-2 despite this troubled prep, losing a shoe, making a mistake 4 out and the ground being fairly tacky, was admirable.

 

Just before racing was shutdown in the UK, Paul Nicholls had his best month for jumps winners in over a decade.  The Somerset stable were hitting top gear in the quest for a 12th trainers title when the well supported McFabulous blitzed his rivals, making a mockery of his handicap mark in the 18 strong EBF Final, this year re-arranged to Kempton.  Like so many of Paul’s scopey types, this picture tells you all you need to know about where this half-brother to Waiting Patiently’s future lies…