Envoi Allen Set For Last Run Before The Cheltenham Festival

Leading Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has confirmed that Envoi Allen will take up his entry at Punchestown on Sunday, even if it means giving weight away to the rest of the field.

Envoi Allen has been one of the leading jumps horses in the sport over the last two years and now stepping up to go over fences this term, everyone just wants to know how good he can truly be.

The Cheveley Park owned stud is a dual Cheltenham festival winner having taken the Champion Bumper and Ballymore Novices hurdle in consecutive years and is gearing his season towards a third straight win at the event in the Marsh Novices' Chase.

The six year old has gone from strength to strength under Elliott landing all 11 of his races to date, 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 this season, he was very impressive at Down Royal, jumping his fences superbly and showing his classy travelling ability as he has throughout his career.

Elliott then stepped him 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.

He is looking to make it three from three over fences on Sunday in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade Three event, but he will be giving serious weight away to some classy horses and looks to be one of his toughest races in his career.

Elliott said: “Envoi Allen runs at Punchestown on Sunday. He’s in good form and worked yesterday (Tuesday) morning. I’m looking forward to running him.

“He has plenty of weight to give away, but we said that’s where we’ll go. It’s a nice distance for him and it looks like the ground will be grand and safe.

“I’m not sure if Andy Dufresne will run. He’s in good form – but whether we will run the two of them against each other, I’m not sure. We’ll have to talk to the owners and see what happens.”