Envoi Allen Flying At Home Ahead Of King George Tilt

Cheveley Park owned superstar Envoi Allen is said to be in mighty form ahead of his run in the Grade One King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Envoi Allen has been one of the leading jumps horses in the sport over the last two years and having stepped up to go over fences this term, everyone was expecting huge things.

The Cheveley Park stud owned gelding is a dual Cheltenham festival winner having taken the Champion Bumper and Ballymore Novices hurdle in consecutive years.

The eight year old went from strength to strength earlier in his career landing 12 races in a row in his first 12 events, winning one point to point, four bumpers, four hurdle contests and also extended his winning run last time out in his first Grade One win over fences.

Stepping over the bigger obstacles in the 20/21 season, he was very impressive at Down Royal, jumping his fences superbly and showing his classy travelling ability as he has throughout his career.

He was then stepped up to Grade One company at Fairyhouse in the Drinmore Novice Chase and gave another standout performance to take the event by close to nine lengths.

Next at Punchestown he was looking to make it three from three over fences in a Grade Three event and was giving serious weight away to the rest of the field, but with Asterion Forlonge falling at the first it made for an easier ride round and again he was foot perfect.

With the Gordon Elliott scandal dropping just before the Cheltenham festival he was moved to Henry De Bromhead's yard and has not looked the same horse since that, for whatever reason.

He suffered his first fall of his career at Cheltenham when clipping the top of the fourth fence to the dismay of favourite backers.

Looking to put things right in the Grade One Champion Novice at Punchestown he jumped well below par and was pulled up before the second to last fence.

Having picked up an injury in that race when chipping a joint he returned for the new season last year when winning a poor Grade Two by 22 lengths.

However, he slightly lose his way again when only sixth of 10 in the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown.

Back to winning ways at Christmas when seeing off Battleoverdoyen in a Grade One event at Leopardstown over 2m1f, he then went to the Cheltenham festival and Punchestown festival and finished third in the Champion Chases at the tracks.

Stepped back up to three miles for his seasonal debut this term he looked to be back to his best when taking the Grade One Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Now being aimed at the King George De Bromhead is over the moon with his work at home and is looking forward to running this gelding on Boxing Day.

(Credit ATR) De Bromhead said: “After the Durkan last year, I said I was going back to two miles and in fairness he won his Grade One, but probably a weak one in Leopardstown.

“He ran well in the Champion Chase, but obviously I got the trip completely wrong. It might be a blessing in disguise as he’s in mighty form now and was really good the other day.

“I think we plan to go to the King George and then we’ll see after that – that’s the main aim.“We can sharpen his jumping up a little bit. We’re so used to him being so extravagant, but maybe over three miles, going that stride slower he’s not as exuberant.

“I think the way his wind is, he needs nice-ish ground – I’d be more concerned if it came up very soft.

“I loved the way he ran through the line at Down Royal and travels really well. Unlike with Minella Indo last year going to Kempton where I thought ‘I have to force this’, I presume this guy will just travel away in behind them. Hopefully it will suit him.”

De Bromhead added: “Robbie Power was adamant we had to try three miles and Down Royal was the obvious race. He’s been a great addition to the team, he’s got so much experience and so much knowledge, (but) he’s not riding out, that’s not for him any more.”