Irish handler Gordon Elliott has confirmed that dual Cheltenham Festival hero Envoi Allen will go chasing this season.
The strapping six-year-old was purchased for £400,000 on behalf of owners Cheveley Park Stud by top bloodstock agent Tom Malione after impressively winning his sole start in an Irish point at Ballinaboola by 10 lengths.
He is now unbeaten in eight starts under rules and four of those triumphs have come at Grade 1 level. They include the 2019 running of the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival and a stunning 4 1/4 length success in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at this year’s meeting.
County Meath based handler Elliott has always described Envoi Allen as a chaser in the making and he heads the ante-post markets for the Marsh and RSA Novice Chases at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.
He is the 3/1 favourite with Betfred for the former and can be backed at 7/1 with Paddy Power for the RSA.
Envoi Allen is also top-priced 14/1 with the sponsors for the Unibet Champion Hurdle but is unlikely to stay over the smaller obstacles.
When questioned by Ruby Walsh on Racing TV as to where his future lied, Eliott said: “He was bought to be a Gold Cup horse so you can use your head after that,”. When Walsh responded that that meant he would be going chasing, Elliott replied: “Exactly”.
I think it’s the right decision as Envoi Allen is built to be a chaser and has the potential to go to the top in that sphere.
He was slick and nimble over hurdles for a horse of his stature and is the complete package being blessed with speed and stamina. I for one cannot wait to see him in action during the 2020/21 season.
Doncaster officials were left counting the cost on Wednesday as the return of crowds came to a swift halt following day one of the St Leger meeting.
Hopes were high the Town Moor venue could successfully stage the four-day St Leger Festival with limited racegoers as part of Government hopes to reintroduce spectators to the sport.
An estimated 2,500 were on course for the first afternoon but a change in Government policy on gatherings being reduced to a maximum of six from Monday, September 14th, cast a doubt as to what the future held.
That change of policy, combined with concerns over a rising Covid-19 infection rate in Doncaster. prompted the local authority to instruct track operators Arena Racing Company to go back behind closed doors.
Mark Spincer, managing director of ARC’s racing division, estimates it will result in losses of £250,000 for the company.
Speaking on Sky Sport Racing, he said: “The feeling is obviously one of disappointment, particularly for the team who have worked so hard, and the customers.
“Talking to the crowd today, they were comfortable and safe with all the protocols we’ve put in place and were all adhering to the code of conduct. It worked nicely. The decision has been taken by Public Health, it’s 100 per cent out of our hands.”
He added:
“We were sold out on Saturday – about 5,000 – which was less than we originally said, but we would have been comfortable with that.
“As for an exact figure this has cost, we don’t know exactly, but we’re probably £250,000 out of pocket with the crowds for three days being removed. That will be made up of infrastructure, staff, food and alcohol, barriers, signage. It’s cost a lot trying to get this right.”
Pyledriver heads the betting at 11/4 with Unibet for the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday, September 12th, after 12 were declared for the final Classic contest of the season at Town Moor.
Jockey Martin Dwyer and his father-in-law William Muir believe the colt, who win at Royal Ascot and was impressive last time out when landing the Group 2 Voltigeur Stakes over 1m 4f at York, has all the attributes needed to provide them with a fairytale triumph in the historic race which first run in 1776 and is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.
Dwyer, whose last Group 1 victory in Britain was 14 years ago aboard Sir Percy in the 2006 Derby, said: “If I’m totally honest, for the last four or five years I thought my days of riding horses as good as Pyledriver were gone. To get another bite at the cherry is fantastic and hopefully I can make it count. They’ve all got me to beat. Touch wood, if things go well he will win.
“He’s definitely up there among the best horses I’ve ridden. He’s been a bit of a slow-burner but his progression has been unbelievable. William and his team have done a tremendous job.”
Irish Champion Trainer Aidan O’Brien, who is seeking a 39th British Classic success and has already landed this year’s Investec Derby, Investec Oaks and QIPCO 1000 Guineas, saddles three in the race.
His principal challenger is Irish Derby winner Santiago who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori whose tally of 258 Group 1 triumphs includes six St Leger victories.
Owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum has never won the St Leger. He bids to put that right with the Owen Burrows-trained Hukum, who impressed last time out when landing the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.