Now on the verge of extending his exemplary to career record to a perfect twelve from twelve, we profile the horse that is the current horse racing betting favourite for this year’s Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival 2021.
Humble Beginnings
Little did the attendees realise that on the opening day of the spring four-year-old season at Ballinaboola, Ireland, in February 2018, that the winner of the Arctic Tack Stud 4yo Maiden would go on to be a racing superstar.
Bought as a foal from France, the Walter Connors-owned gelding easily shrugged off the even-money favourite, Appreciate It, to score a resounding 10-lengths victory for trainer Colin Bowe and jockey Barry O’Neill.
Envoi Allen Career Record:
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02.12.18 - Fairyhouse: Envoi Allen was a four lengths winner on his Rules debut. Confidently ridden by Jamie Codd, the four year old quickened up well to overhaul Port Stanley.
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16.12.18 - Navan: Envoi Allen justified his 4-11 odds in some style by taking the Listed Future Champions Flat Race, beating the runner-up Midnight Run by almost five lengths.
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02.02.19 - Leopardstown: Gordon Elliott’s five-year-old found plenty for pressure in the Matheson (C&G) I.N.H. Flat Race to hold Meticulous by a length and quarter with Embittered back in third.
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13.03.19 - Cheltenham: Envoi Allen justified strong market support to win the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at odds of 2/1. He had too much left in the tank on the day for the fast-finishing Blue Sari.
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02.11.19 - Down Royal: Envoi Allen led throughout in his debut race over flights by taking the Tayto Group Maiden Hurdle under Davy Russell. A winning margin of six and a half lengths was recorded over Front View in second.
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01.12.19 - Fairyhouse: Envoi Allen maintained the perfect start to his career by beating his stablemate Abacadabras in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Sent off the 8-11 favourite, he pulled away to win by a length and a half in the end.
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05.01.20 - Naas: Stepping up in trip to two and a half miles for the first time, Envoi Allen put in a stylish display in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle. Three and a half lengths was the winning margin over Elixir D’ainay.
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11.03.20 - Cheltenham: Envoi Allen showed us a supreme performance to land the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at The Festival. The 4-7 favourite quickened impressively to score by four and a quarter lengths from his stablemate Easywork.
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30.10.20 - Down Royal: Envoi Allen produced a faultless round of jumping on his chasing debut at Down Royal, coming home victorious in the Advanced NI Scaffolding Beginners Chase. Scoring by six lengths from January Jets, the six-year-old was never in any danger in the five-runner field.
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29.11.20 - Fairyhouse: Another Flawless exhibition in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse saw Envoi Allen reach the unbeaten 10/10 milestone. An eight-and-a-half length success over Assemble saw his reputation scale even dizzier heights.
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17.01.21 - Punchestown: Envoi Allen beat Joseph O’Brien’s Sempo by three lengths in the Grade 3 Killiney Novice Chase to make it 11 from 11 under rules and three from three over fences for the season.
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18.03.21 - Cheltenham: Envoi Allen lines up in the Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and is an 8/11 chance in our online betting.
How Much Did Envoi Allen Cost?
Envoi Allen cost Cheveley Park £400,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham February Sale after winning his initial point-to-point at Ballinaboola.
Where Is Envoi Allen Trained?
Envoi Allen is trained by Gordon Elliott at his Cullentra House Stables in Longwood Co. Meath, Ireland.
Envoi Allen Prize Money:
As of February 2021, Envoi Allen has amassed a total of £342,067 in prize money and is a 164-rated Chaser. He is a 160-rated hurdler.
£73,854 goes to the winning horse in the Marsh Novices’ Chase so that balance may well be going up considerably in the near future.
Who Is Envoi Allen’s Jockey?
Jamie Codd rode Envoi Allen to victory in all four of his NH bumper wins before Davy Russell jumped onboard for all four of his hurdling successes.
When Davy Russell became unavailable due to injury, Jack Kennedy got the leg up and has ridden him to his three chase wins thus far.
It was expected that Russell would be back to ride Envoi Allen at The Festival 2021, but unfortunately for him he isn’t quite 100% fit yet so Kennedy will keep the ride.
When Is Envoi Allen Running Next?
Gordon Elliott has entered him in the Marsh Novices’ Chase at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival on March 18th.
Who Are Envoi Allen’s Chief Dangers In The Marsh Novices’ Chase?
A whole host of entries have been lodged for the race but several well-backed contenders such as Energumene and Monkish are likely to target other races so you should keep up to date with all the latest Cheltenham news before you make your decisions.
Can Envoi Allen Complete An Historic Festival Treble?
Yes is the short answer to that question.
Still unbeaten in 11 career runs – including the 2019 Champion Bumper and the 2020 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, Envoi Allen can make it win number 12 by taking the Marsh Novices’ Chase in 2021.
Envoi Allen Latest News:
“Envoi Allen is in good form,” Gordon Elliott told Sky Sports Racing.
“He’s a horse who’ll only ever do what he has to do, but he keeps winning and once he keeps doing that, I don’t mind.”
Could we see Envoi Allen match the great Altior record for consecutive wins? Only time will tell...
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Mark Humphrey / AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 19th February 2021
