Envoi Allen Claims Second Down Royal Champion Chase Victory

Envoi Allen secured a repeat victory at Down Royal, echoing his 2022 success, with Darragh O’Keeffe riding on Saturday instead of Rachael Blackmore. The horse subsequently entered the winners’ enclosure at Down Royal, having fended off Hewick following an exciting contest to win the Ladbrokes Champion Chase. Under the training of Henry de Bromhead and with Darragh O’Keeffe as jockey, due to the absence of the injured Rachael Blackmore, this marked the 10-year-old’s second win in the event within a three-year span. During Ireland’s inaugural Grade One race of the National Hunt season, Hewick, who won last season’s King George VI, initially led the field until the 3-1 second favourite drew level at the second-to-last fence. Hewick, a 4-1 shot, mounted another challenge, but O’Keeffe maintained sufficient control to repel the contender and secure the 90,000 euro top prize. Gerri Colombe, the previous year’s victor and 8-11 favourite, concluded the race in a disappointing third place, trailing by 13 lengths, under the guidance of trainer Gordon Elliott and ridden by Templepatrick jockey Sam Ewing. Jordan Gainford, Hewick’s jockey, exerted pressure on the trailing horses by progressively increasing the pace, resulting in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up, among others, struggling and losing ground due to a poor jump at the fifth-from-last fence. Henry de Bromhead expressed his satisfaction, stating: “Obviously, it is a shame for Rachael, but delighted for Darragh, he gave him a super ride and he has really stepped up. Fair play to him, he is taking his opportunities.” De Bromhead indicated that Envoi Allen might now be targeted for the King George race at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.