Envoi Allen sparkles on chasing debut

Envoi Allen made his eagerly awaited chasing debut in a race that Gordon Elliott has often targeted for his brightest novice chasers at Down Royal on Friday – Delta Work and Samcro are recent winners – and Envoi Allen passed the test with flying colours, his effortless display one you would expect from a 14/1-on shot.

He is just about the most exciting horse in training, maintaining his unbeaten record in points and under Rules (which now stands at 10) with a highly satisfactory winning start over fences, earning himself a new chase rating of 142P.

Envoi Allen has the physique and ability to better his high-class hurdles form over fences, and he seems sure to make up into one of the season’s top novices. He was always prominent and jumped impeccably, cruising into the lead between four and three out and he really opened up heading to the last when Jack Kennedy gave him a squeeze, winning with any amount in hand.

⭐️ Envoi Allen - racing's superstar

🏇 Nine races
🥇 Nine victories
🏆 Dual Cheltenham Festival winner
✅ Four-time Grade One scorer
😍 Successful chasing debut

A perfect start to life over fences for Envoi Allen at @Downroyal @gelliott_racing @CPStudOfficial @jackkennedy15 pic.twitter.com/wQpMDaJKbh

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 30, 2020

Timeform chase handicapper Phil Turner said: “In any elite sport, the truly outstanding talents tend to make it look so easy – for example, Lionel Messi always seems to have more time on the ball than the rest and Roger Federer always looks unhurried on a tennis court.

“Envoi Allen falls very much into this category, particularly in the jumping department, and his effortless chasing debut win merely underlined that view. I think he’s the best horse in training. Let’s just hope he stays fit and healthy so that he can prove that fact one way or the other.”

The latest edition of Chasers & Hurdlers also labelled Envoi Allen as having “everything needed to develop into one of the ‘greats’ of the sport”.

Trainer Gordon Elliott suggested that Envoi Allen will follow in the same footsteps as Samcro last year and head to the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse next.

Envoi Allen was already favourite for the Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham festival, but was shortened by many bookmakers from a general 5/2 into 2/1, while he is also favourite for the longer RSA Novices' Chase at a top-price 8/1.