Envoi Allen has world at his feet after living up to the hype

In the latest in our series analysing all the big races at Cheltenham, Racing Post tipster Pietro Innocenzi takes an in-depth look at the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, won by Envoi Allen.

The build-up

No horse was talked about in the lead-up to Cheltenham more than Envoi Allen, much of it stopping just short of referring to him as the Second Coming, and trainer Gordon Elliott kept the intrigue bubbling by waiting until the 11th hour to declare the Ballymore the target rather than the Supreme, the final decision taken following a few days of drying conditions.

Despite the hype and betting – Envoi Allen was always likely to be sent off at odds-on whichever novice race he contested – it was by no means going to be a gimme, with two fellow unbeaten rivals in Sporting John and The Big Breakaway in opposition, along with another The Big – Getaway, representing Willie Mullins, who was itching to get a winner on the board after a blank opening day.