Envoi Allen preserved his almighty unbeaten record with a second Grade 1 success of the season in the Lawlors of Naas Novice Hurdle on Sunday, to continue a Grade 1 winning weekend for Irish Pointers following the victory of Fiddlerontheroof in the Tolworth Hurdle 24 hours earlier.
Well supported before the off as if a first defeat of his career was out of the question, Envoi Allen tracked the pace-setting Elixir D’ainay in second throughout until Davy Russell brought him to challenge the long-time leader at the penultimate flight.
Racing over 2m 4f for the first time since winning his four-year-old maiden at Ballinaboola over that trip, the now six-year-old made his way to the front after that second-last hurdle before staying on strongly to ultimately win by a comfortable three and a half lengths in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud.
Fellow point-to-point graduates filled the minor leaderboard positions with Longhouse Poet third, Conflated fourth and French Dynamite fifth, in what continued the dominated of Irish Pointers in the race, as Envoi Allen was following in the footsteps of Bellshill, Death Duty, Next Destination and Battleoverdoyen to provide pointers with a fifth successive victory.
The brilliant Gordon Elliott trained Envoi Allen remains unbeaten, notching up a decisive win in the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle, with Davy Russell doing the steering pic.twitter.com/V4ovlyepap
— Naas Racecourse (@NaasRacecourse) January 5, 2020
Winning trainer Gordon Elliott told RacingTV: "That was a proper test, they went a proper gallop turning past the stands.
"Davy said he learned more today than he ever learned. He jumped well and he just does what he has to do when he gets to the front.
"He'll be entered in everything at Cheltenham. He could go to two miles or go this trip, I couldn't see him going much further. We'll try to split them all up and he could go either way.
"I'd say over two and a half he'd find it very easy if you drop him in and ride a race. Over two miles you'd have to be forcing it the whole way.
"He'll only ever win by a length or two, that's all he ever he does every day he runs."
By further cementing his position as the most exciting horse in training in Ireland with his seventh victory since his pointing debut, the £400,000 purchase from the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale, is now as low as even-money favourite for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Of his potential Festival targets, Elliott said: "He'll be entered in everything at Cheltenham, but I'd imagine we'll keep him in his own grade this year.
"If I was a betting man I'd say we'll keep him in the grade he's in.
"He'll have entries at the Dublin Festival. Whether we go straight to Cheltenham or not, obviously I'll have to discuss that with Chris Richardson and Mr and Mrs Thompson.
"It's great to have horses for them. They are supporting the yard and have a few nice horses with us, so we're very happy."
Elsewhere at Naas, Asterion Forlonge was another pointing export to preserve his unbeaten record when the Oldtown four-year-old maiden winner overturned the favourite with an impressive ten-length victory in the two-mile maiden hurdle.
He now looks set to step up in trip with winning trainer Willie Mullins indicating that the exciting grey would be aimed at a 2m 4f novice hurdle next, whilst Caravation won her fourth race under rules for Philip Dempsey since taking her maiden point at Punchestown, with a nine-length success in the opening Mares Beginners Chase.
Elsewhere at Naas, Asterion Forlonge was another pointing export to preserve his unbeaten record when the Oldtown four-year-old maiden winner overturned the favourite with an impressive ten-length victory in the two-mile maiden hurdle.
He now looks set to step up in trip with winning trainer Willie Mullins indicating that the exciting grey would be aimed at a 2m 4f novice hurdle next, whilst Caravation won her fourth race under rules for Philip Dempsey since taking her maiden point at Punchestown, with a nine-length success in the opening Mares Beginners Chase.
A debut success over hurdles for the Willie Mullins trained Asterion Forlonge, who wins the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle under Paul Townend pic.twitter.com/iSmnYRaemP
— Naas Racecourse (@NaasRacecourse) January 5, 2020
