Elliott and Codd combine to win the Champion Bumper for the second time

Gordon Elliott has long maintained Envoi Allen is a horse for the future, and he reiterated those sentiments after the Cheveley Park Stud-owned five-year-old dug deep to win the Weatherbys Champion Bumper under Jamie Codd.

"He's a three mile chaser down the line – all I know is that he's a real racehorse," said Elliott after the strongly-supported 2-1 favourite held the challenge of the equally promising Blue Sari by three-quarters of a length.

Envoi Allen, unbeaten now in four runs in bumpers, was completing a second-day double for Elliott and was the second winner of the week for both Codd – who had won the National Hunt Chase on Tuesday on Le Breuil – and the winning owners, whose famous colours had been carried to victory by A Plus Tard, also on the opening day.

Codd and Elliott were enjoying their second success in the Cheltenham Festival bumper two years after Fayonagh.

Envoi Allen (right) defeats Blue Sari in the Champion BumperCredit: Mark Cranham

Reflecting on Envoi Allen's performance, Elliott said: "Tactically we wanted him to have a nice clear run and didn't want him getting knocked about. That's why Jamie went the outside route.

"The most important thing about this horse is that he knows how to win, and he certainly wants to win. He's finished for the season and we have a lot to look forward to."

The JP McMAnus-owned four-year-old Blue Sari, who was bidding to give trainer Willie Mullins a tenth win in the race, served it up to Envoi Allen when produced by Barry Geraghty but was held towards the finish.

Mullins said: "We had a good run. We've a nice gap between now and Punchestown, but it will depend on how Blue Sari is when we get him home."

Philip Hobbs, trainer of 20-1 shot Thyme Hill, who finished best of the British in third, said: "I'm chuffed to bits. He ran very well here in November and is a horse that wasn't going to need a lot of racing.

"He had probably improved a bit, and to finish in the first three is great."

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