Down Royal review and free video replays | Champion Chase day

He's Champion!

Envoi Allen (11/4) successfully defended his crown in the BetVictor Champion Chase.

The 11-year-old was winning the Grade 1 prize for a third time having also lifted the prize in 2022 and took his Down Royal record to six wins from seven visits.

Ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe, Envoi Allen worked his way into the race before joining issue with Western Fold (who weakened quickly) and Affordable Fury.

Envoi Allen outjumped his rival at the second last and quickened clear to record a popular success with O'Keeffe standing up in the saddle and saluting the stands as they passed the post.

"The whole way round, it felt like he was cruising," O'Keeffe told Racing TV.

"I went in between Danny and Donagh at the third last and it was like he'd just joined in. I cantered all the way to the second last, I was hoping Donagh would keep going to give me something to aim at but after jumping the second last I let him roll away, jumped the last and we were able to enjoy it a bit more this year.

"He's been trained brilliantly. There's not many 11-year-olds go and win Grade 1s like that, he's some horse."

Trainer Henry de Bromhead added: "He's just class, he was brilliant. Delighted for the horse and Cheveley Park but especially the horse, he's just a legend. It was lovely to see the crowd appreciate him, they've got a great crowd here today and it's been a great meeting."

Envoi Allen is likely to have a light campaign and plans are in the air but De Bromhead was adamant his veteran would not be returning to England for another crack at the King George VI Chase.

"He's definitely not going to Kempton! I can guarantee that, there's no discussion. I'm not doing it a third time," he added.

"We'll get him home and discuss it and see what everyone wants to do."

De Bromhead and O'Keeffe had earlier combined to win the Ampion Testing Handicap Hurdle with Lieber Nicc (7/2 favourite).

Firefox not for catching

Firefox (8/11 favourite) won the Kildress Plumbing Chase to hand Gordon Elliott a fifth success in the Grade 2 in six years, the only runner to break his domination was Envoi Allen in 2021 whose trainer saddled the second here in Gorgeous Tom.

Five went to post for the near two and a half mile contest but it was effectively two races in one as they raced in two distinct groups with Gorgeous Tom leading Croke Park and Firefox.

With a number of fences omitted due to the low sun, there was a long run to the last and that was perhaps just as well for Firefox as he got that obstacle wrong to allow Gorgeous Tom another bite of the cherry but Firefox had far too much firepower for his rival, gathering himself before going on to win by four and a quarter lengths.

Elliott told irishracing.com: "In fairness, he had been competing at the top end the whole time but a good performance.

"I thought Jack gave him a very, very good ride and just landed him there at the right time.

"Nice to win. He's a good horse, but the problem is you are always taking on those real good horses the whole time."

The trainer also saddled the winner of the closing Eventsec (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race in Ballyfad (10/11 favourite) to complete a treble on the day following the success of Mange Tout (see below).

Mange Tout makes it two from two

Mange Tout (8/15 favourite) maintained her unbeaten record in the Lisburn And Castlereagh City Council 3-Y-O Hurdle.

The filly had run out an easy winner of her only start in France and made a winning debut for the in-form Elliott at a meeting the trainer regularly targets.

Elliott completed a four-timer on the first day of the meeting and Saturday got off to the best possible start with Mange Tout running out a four length winner from Wizard Of Odds. Jack Kennedy set out to make all aboard Mange Tout but the partnership was headed on the run to the second last but the eventual runner-up blundered at that flight, allowing Mange Tout to retake the lead and she only needed to be kept up to her work to make a winning start for new connections in a race that has been won by the likes of Quilixios, Espoir d'Allen and Wodhooh in recent years.

The layers, however, were not impressed and pushed Mange Tout out to 16/1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

It was put to Elliott that Mange Tout overraced in front and he concurred, telling Racing TV: "I'd say a hundred per cent and I take all the blame myself.

"She worked a few weeks ago on grass and worked really, really well but at home on the sand she was so laid back, I was kind of scratching my head a little bit and decided to leave the hood off and I'd say it was the wrong thing to do. She wore it in France and I shouldn't have changed the process.

"Jack said it was a fair performance and went away with him for a mile and six, took a blow and to pick up and gallop on I thought she showed a very good attitude. I thought it was workmanlike but she showed a very good attitude to come back and win because she did everything wrong.

"We can go to Fairyhouse or Newbury, we'll have a chat with the whole team and make a decision. I think she's nice."

Elliott provided an update on Wodhooh, adding: "She's in great form. The Hatton's Grace is ground dependent and there's a race, I think, at Ascot a week previous, so one or the other."

Romeo Coolio won the Tayto Group Maiden Hurdle 12 months ago for Elliott but Kalypso'chance (1/5 favourite) couldn't follow suit in division one, looking in trouble before a blunder at the second last ended any chance, allowing Jony R (16/1) to pull clear for a nine length success for Stuart Crawford and JJ Slevin.

Elliott and owners Gigginstown House Stud had to settle for minor honours in division two as their 6/5 favourite Road Exile could only finish third behind Blake (85/40).

The winner had made mistakes on his first start over hurdles and first for Noel Meade in March but posted a much improved round of jumping this time around having proved his well-being with a valuable win on the flat last month.

Meade has high hopes for Blake, saying: "When I decided to run him in Leopardstown it was a case of giving him a run for here and I said to Chris [Hayes] give him a chance and keep him wide because he extends but I was impressed with him myself, I don't know about anybody else, but I thought he quickened up really well and jumped so well.

"A bit of a break I suppose did him good and he's a big, tall, leggy horse so I'd say he has matured quite a bit and got a bit stronger. When they come over from England it usually takes them a while to settle in; he was quite a good horse in England and is rated 94 or 95 on the flat now so is a reasonably decent horse.

"Sure, that [the Royal Bond] was the first thing that came into my head! Straightaway I thought that's the way we'd go.

"I'd say he's a horse that doesn't want too much running, I think if we mind him and he stays right, he could be a really decent horse."

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