Recent reports have been very encouraging about Envoi Allen as he bids for back-to-back victories in the Ryanair Chase and the 10-year-old can enhance an already terrific record at Cheltenham on Thursday.
The Muhtathir gelding looked to have the world at his feet when winning his first 12 career starts, including victories in the Champion Bumper and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle here.
The wheels came off the wagon a bit after he joined Henry de Bromhead with a fall in the Marsh Novice’s Chase in 2021 and a worrying effort when pulled up injured at Punchestown subsequently.
Connections did get him back on track that autumn but he didn’t appear to be quite the horse of old with a rather chequered record over a range of trips.
That did include a couple of Grade One wins, to be fair, and it’s a mark of how highly he was regarded that even that wasn’t regarded as him fulfilling his potential.
A win in this race 12 months ago did give him a deserved day in the sun, though, and showed that he still has a serious engine when on song.
This two-and-a-half mile trip looks to suit him down to the ground and he oozed class around here last year when cruising into contention.
It probably wasn’t the plan to give him so much time off between Down Royal and today but that could work in his favour.
He showed he still retains a high level of ability in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase in November and over the three miles there he was just outstayed late on by a good young horse in Gerri Colombe.
Coming here a fresh horse and over this trip he is fancied to shine again on the big day. The vibes were good about him last year before the race and it seems to be a similar story now.
There is no Shishkin in the race this time and it doesn’t look as strong a contest.
Banbridge is a progressive horse and was a good winner of the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton on his return in January.
The ground would be a major concern, though, with connections stating a preference for a decent surface.
Conflated has actually run solid races despite unseating at the last on his last couple of outings, behind Galopin Des Champs, but dropping in trip doesn’t look ideal at this stage of his career.
The main English challenger, Stage Star, has questions to answer after pulling up here on New Year’s Day.
It looks a winnable opportunity for Envoi Allen, who has the course form and has been trained with this one day in mind.
There doesn’t look to be any outstanding star in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle either and Teahupoo can gain compensation for an unlucky defeat in the race last year.
Gordon Elliott saddled a one-two 12 months ago when Sire Du Berlais sprung a 33/1 shock in the three-miler.
He’s back again to defend his crown but looks to have his work cut out to confirm form with his stablemate.
Teahupoo was done no favours by the runner-up Dashel Drasher last year, who carried him left at the last and hampered him up the run-in.
The Masked Marvel gelding has only been seen once this season, when lowering the colours of Impaire Et Passe in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in December, and revenge here is sure to have been the number one aim this season.
He is still only seven and could well just be hitting his prime. There are plenty of exposed rivals in the field and he looks the one with the potential to stamp his authority on proceedings.
There is a cracking clash in the Ryanair Mares Novices’ Hurdle with Brighterdaysahead and Jade De Grugy facing off.
Gordon Elliott thinks the world of the former and she is fancied to come out on top.
The beautifully-bred daughter of Kapgarde showed plenty of gears when winning at Down Royal in November and had a nice warm-up when scoring over further at Navan last month.
She appears to tick all the boxes and there will be some disappointed faces in the parade ring if she gets beaten.
Jade De Grugy hasn’t put a foot wrong either and was all class when beating stablemate A Penny A Hundred in Grade Three company at Fairyhouse in late January.
That form has taken a bit of a knock since but she was a different class to her rivals then and is also an exciting prospect.
GARY’S THURSDAY FESTIVAL PICKS
2.50 Envoi Allen
3.30 Teahupoo
4.50 Brighterdaysahead
