“WHAT a horse, incredible! Amazing, what else can you say?” Henry de Bromhead enthused after Envoi Allen landed the BetVictor Champion Chase for a third time in four years.
Registering his 10th win at the highest level, the evergreen 11-year-old was returned an 11/4 chance and, while content to track the leaders early on, he moved right into contention from four out, improving to dispute the lead from the next.
Gaining an outright advantage approaching the penultimate obstacle, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned bay was soon pushed along and skipped clear, keeping on well in the closing stages to score by three lengths and three quarters.
“He got a super ride from Darragh (O’Keeffe) and fair play to everyone at home, they had him absolutely spot on for today,” the successful handler added.
“He has just been an incredible horse throughout his career and keeps coming back.”
O’Keeffe and de Bromhead were completing a double in the Grade 1 highlight, having earlier claimed the Ampion Testing Handicap Hurdle with Lieber Nicc.
Fifth in this very contest 12 months ago, the Niccolai Schuster Horse Racing Club-owned six-year-old came in for plenty of market support and from 6s in early shows, he was eventually returned the 7/2 favourite.
Always towards the head of affairs, the 119-rated bay gained an outright advantage on the lengthy run to two out and was pushed along after that flight.
He soon forged clear, with a flawless jump at the last sealing the deal on his seven-and-a-half-length win.
“It was really good and I’m delighted for all the team,” de Bromhead, who also registered a double the previous afternoon, commented.
“It is for a great reason, for Niccolai Schuster who sadly lost his life in an accident.
“All his friends and family came together and it is brilliant. These are the days that really count.”
DESPITE saddling three beaten favourites on this eight-race programme, Gordon Elliott still came away with a treble, which was highlighted by the success of Firefox in the Kildress Plumbing Chase.
A winner at this two-day fixture 12 months ago and completing a double for Jack Kennedy, the Bective Stud-owned seven-year-old was returned the 8/11 favourite and raced mainly in third.
Travelling best and getting to the front on the extended run to the final fence, he wasn’t fluent at that obstacle, but extended his advantage when ridden on the run-in, coming home four and a quarter lengths clear of the front-running Gorgeous Tom.
Very good ride
“I thought Jack gave him a very, very good ride and just landed him there at the right time,” Elliott reflected.
French import Mange Tout (8/15 favourite) initiated the Elliott three-timer, with this Robcour-owned bay battling back gamely to land the opening Lisburn And Castlereagh City Council 3-Y-O Hurdle.
Soon sent to the front by Kennedy and stretching clear from the third, her advantage was eroded from three out and she was headed by Wizard Of Odds approaching the next.
However, the Bill Durkan-trained gelding blundered at that flight and relinquished the lead, with the favourite taking advantage and keeping on well to prevail by four lengths.
“She wore a hood in France and I’d say I should have left it on,” the Cullentra handler divulged. “We’ll get her home and see how she is, but we learned a lot from today.”
Providing Elliott with his seventh winner over the course of the two days, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Ballyfad was another to justify odds-on favouritism, with this 10/11 chance leading home five rivals in the concluding Eventsec (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race.
Bought by current connections for €175,000 after winning a point-to-point for Luke Murphy, the Tirwanako four-year-old raced mainly in fourth under Josh Halford.
Edging by the front-running Dubhain from the furlong pole, he then had to withstand the late effort of Lexington Wood, with a half a length between them at the line.
“He’s probably a horse that will be better with a jump in front of him, but these are all horses for the future. I’ll speak to Michael and Eddie (O’Leary, owners) and we’ll make a plan,” Elliott reported.
CARRYING the familiar silks of Pat and Joe Sloan, Blake (85/40) is set for a step up in class after he impressively dismissed 11 rivals in the second division of the Tayto Group Maiden Hurdle.
A runner-up on his debut over flights at Cork in March and since registering a third win on the level, the Noel Meade-trained four-year-old raced mainly in second under Donagh Meyler.
Improving to dispute the lead before two out, he soon gained an outright advantage and readily stretched clear approaching the last, which he jumped with aplomb, ultimately easing to a four-and-three-quarter-length win.
“He was magic and I suppose the Royal Bond is a possible for him. He jumped so well and he could be decent,” Meade remarked.
Nine-length win
Owned and bred by Elizabeth Hamilton, the opening divide of this extended two-mile heat went the way of Jony R, with the Stuart Crawford-trained bay overturning the long odds-on Kalypso’chance (1/5 favourite)
While the market leader attempted to make all, he jumped left at times and blundered badly at the second last after being joined by the strong travelling victor. Ridden by J.J. Slevin, the 16/1 chance soon surged clear and eased to a nine-length win.
“He was in good form coming here,” Crawford reported. “I’ll probably end up going across the water for a novice under a penalty rather than trying to step up in grade here.”
Battle bridges a gap
Another not among the market principals obliged in the Racing TV Handicap Chase, with Battle Of Mirbat (11/1) registering his first win in well over two years.
Owned and trained by Michael McDonagh, the Ocovango eight-year-old made virtually all and jumped well throughout under Sean O’Keeffe.
Travelling best when nearest pursuer Nastya (10/3 favourite) crashed out two fences from the finish, he went on to score by four and a half lengths.
“I’ve been placed loads of times (on him) and, in fairness, I love riding him. He is brilliant to jump and really enjoyed being out in front today,” the winning rider enthused.