It is fair to say that Envoi Allen has made a significant impact within the Irish national hunt scene within the past 12 months, as exactly one year to the weekend when he made his competitive debut in a Ballinaboola four-year-old maiden, the exciting young prospect recorded his biggest success in the Grade 2 Nathaniel Bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival.
As one of the big talking horses within the bumper division this season, Envoi Allen was unsurprisingly sent off as the warm odds-on favourite for owners David and Patricia Thompson.
Sporting the famous Cheveley Park colours, the five-year-old was positioned wide throughout in the hands of Jamie Codd, and always raced up with the pace before beginning to make his move rounding the home bend.
That move saw many of his rivals come under pressure, with Abracadabras providing a stiff challenge up much of the home straight, until that rival ran out in the closing stages when challenged by Meticulous.
All the while, Envoi Allen was holding off all challengers at the head of affairs and went on to win by a length and-a-quarter from Meticulous, who had the reigning champion point-to-point rider Barry O’Neill in the plate.
Having been bought by Tom Malone for £400,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham February sale following his point-to-point success for Colin Bowe, the Muhtathir gelding has gone from strength to strength with his latest success bringing to four his career winners tally, following victories at Fairyhouse and more recently in Listed company at Navan.
“He’s a big chaser and that is what he was bought to be. He is a horse for the future, he’s in the Cheltenham bumper obviously and that’s the plan to go for it. These are the horses you want and these are the day’s you want to be having winners on and I’m very lucky that I have good owners.
“He was bought to be a big three-mile chaser and that is what he is going to be. He looks like he is the best in Ireland so far,” reported Elliott when speaking to Racing TV following his third winner on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival, two of whom came courtesy of former Irish point-to-pointers.
Following his latest bumper success, Envoi Allen was made the new 4/1 ante-post favourite for the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.
