Today we are looking back at the 2021 renewal of the Grade Three Kildare Novice Chase that the superstar Bob Olinger won yesterday at Punchestown.
On this day last year, although weaker than the race we watched on Sunday, it still saw Envoi Allen put up a top class effort to take the spoils.
Not the force of old this season, the Cheveley Park owned gelding had been the talking horse in national hunt racing for the last three years, landing back to back races at the Cheltenham festival.
⭐ Envoi Allen extended his unbeaten record under Rules to 11 races on this day last year, easing clear to win the Grade 3 Killiney Novice Chase at @punchestownrace for @CPStudOfficial 🥇 #OnThisDay pic.twitter.com/XJXNCYLXYM
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 17, 2022
After his bumper season when taking the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham festival, he was sent hurdling and kept his unbeaten streak going, landing the Lawlor's Of Naas and Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the festival.
Sent chasing, he landed his first three events in good style but made the first mistake of his career when seeking his third win at Prestbury Park, falling in the Marsh Novices' Chase.
Since then his career has been up and down, winning twice more, but being underwhelming in all but one of his runs.
Enjoy!
