Envoi Allen heads to Down Royal with a small piece of history up for grabs as he bids to become the first three-time winner of the Grade 1 BetVictor Champion Chase.
The 11-year-old, who is in exalted company as a two-time winner alongside Kauto Star and Beef Or Salmon, would already hold the outright record had he not been denied by a neck by Gerri Colombe in 2023. That is the only time he has been beaten in six starts at the track, dating back to victory in a maiden hurdle in 2019.
Last year Envoi Allen avenged that 2023 defeat when beating King George VI Chase winner Hewick by half a length, with Gerri Colombe only third.
Envoi Allen has already outlasted two of his most trusted partners in the saddle in Davy Russell and Rachael Blackmore and retirement cannot be too far away for him too. This is perhaps his best chance of capturing one more Grade 1 before facing sterner tests against the likes of Fact To File.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead said: “He seems in good form and the track looks amazing. It’s great to be here and we’re ready to go.”
Gordon Elliott: seeks to surpass Paul Nicholls as the winningmost trainer of the Group 1Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
Gordon Elliott attempts to pass Paul Nicholls as the most successful trainer in the race with a sixth win and his Cullentra stable is well represented with three of the seven runners.
Heavy rain was forecast for the meeting, but the track seems to have caught the lower end of it. Jack Kennedy has decided to partner Found A Fifty – twice a Grade 1 winner as a novice chaser – rather than Western Fold, who is going for a five-timer, and Stellar Story, for whom connections would be hoping for more rain.
Found A Fifty made a winning transition to open company at this meeting last year in the Grade 2 over 2m3½f. He followed that with another Grade 2 success in the Fortria before struggling when upped to Grade 1 company at Leopardstown and in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
Dropped in grade for his final start of the season at Fairyhouse over 2m4f, he won snugly. Although he comfortably won his sole point-to-point start, he hasn’t looked as though he is crying out for this step up in trip.
Going update
Following a further 2mm of rain, the ground at Down Royal was described on Friday as good to yielding, good in places on the chase course.
What they say
Noel Meade, trainer of Affordale Fury
We decided to run here if the ground is easy enough. He ran well the last day over two and a half miles, which is very short for him. I know he has a bit to find but we think he’s a good horse.
Gordon Elliott, trainer of Found A Fifty, Stellar Story and Western Fold
Going over three miles will open a lot of doors for Found A Fifty and could bring about a little bit of improvement. I think he’ll stay. On soft ground I think Stellar Story is a proper Grade 1 staying chaser in the making. He’s done well over the summer and looks terrific. Western Fold has been an absolute revelation and to win the Grade 2 at Gowran in the manner he did shows you how much he’s improving. The better the ground the better he is.
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