Review of the action from Saturday's meeting at Leopardstown

Allen books Cheltenham trip

Envoi Allen stretched his unbeaten record to three in the Matheson (C&G) I.N.H. Flat Race at Leopardstown and strengthened his position at the head of the betting for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Gordon Elliott's five-year-old, who raced wide throughout for Jamie Codd, found plenty for pressure in the straight, holding Meticulous by a length and quarter with Embittered third.

The winner's stablemate Abacadabras looked like taking a hand in the finish at one stage, but dived through the running rail inside the final furlong. Both the horse and his rider Lisa O'Neill escaped injury.

Elliott, who earlier won the Irish Champion Hurdle with Apple's Jade and the Grade One novice hurdle with Commander Of Fleet, said: "He's a nice horse.

"Jamie said he couldn't pull him up, he said it was the start of the back straight before he could pull him up. He looks a very exciting horse. He's obviously in the Cheltenham bumper and I'll have to talk to the owners.

"He could have been very vulnerable there today on a track like that, but he showed that he's a good horse. I think the horse that went through the rail is going to be a nice horse as well."

Codd was suspended for two days for overuse of the whip.

Cooper times it right

Elliott was denied a four-timer on the afternoon when Dakota Moirette was caught close home by Quamino (14-1) in the Goffs Handicap Chase.

Bryan Cooper delivered his mount after the last to give the resurgent Paul Nolan another winner.

"I'm delighted for Bryan and the owners - they've been very loyal and been with me nearly 10 years," said Nolan. "His jumping was very good today. They went a fierce gallop and he made very good ground at vital stages, he was foot perfect at every fence.

"He'll be entered in the novice race (Close Brothers Handicap Chase at Cheltenham), but that's not the be-all and end-all."

Clean-sweep for McManus

Last year's winner Off You Go led home a one-two-three for owner JP McManus in the Ladbrokes Hurdle. Racing off a mark 20lb higher than 12 months ago, he seemed to face a stiff task in the valuable handicap.

Sent off an 8-1 chance, Off You Go enjoyed a rare tussle with former champion hurdler Jezki and a previous Triumph Hurdle winner Ivanovich Gorbatov, also both owned by McManus.

Just as it looked like Jessica Harrington's veteran Jezki had gained the upper hand, Mark Walsh conjured up a rapid finish from Off You Go, who won going away by a length.

"He was a bit further back than we would have liked, but he settled him beautifully through the race. They sprinted and he came home strong," said winning trainer Charles Byrnes.

"He's a good horse to win off that weight today. We'll probably stick him in the County Hurdle and the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and it's up to the Martinstown team then what they want to do. He will go over fences next season."