Gordon Elliott drops Envoi Allen bombshell and 'slow boat' Santini divides panel

Neither a howling March gale nor fears about an impending health emergency can dampen enthusiasm at the Shaw Theatre on Euston Road in London on Thursday night as leading trainers, tipsters and racing fanatics come together to dissect all the angles for the Cheltenham Festival.

Gordon Elliott, Paul Nicholls and Olly Murphy are on hand at the Betfair Cheltenham preview, held in association with the Racing Post and MyRacing, giving assessments on their top prospects as well as a few candid views on the rivals challenging them for festival honours.

Dave Orton and Kevin Blake show no weariness from the non-stop treadmill of preview nights that has become the norm for those paid to share their racing expertise and insight every year as jump racing's greatest four days appears on the horizon.

Make no mistake, this is an evening for punters and many in the crowd appear primed to put the finishing touches to the ante-post portfolios they have painstakingly pored over since the festival markets opened last year.

"Before we can get going, however, we may as well address the elephant in the room," says master of ceremonies Gary O'Brien as he turns to Betfair's Barry Orr – for, thankfully, the one and only mention of coronavirus this evening.

"A lot of people have been anxious about whether the festival will go ahead – what's the latest in that market?"

"You'll all be glad to know we're currently 30-100 the festival goes ahead, all being well it looks like we're all going to be there on Tuesday to hear that famous roar," replies a popular Orr.

Attention turns to Elliott, who will be the busiest of the three trainers in attendance over the festival. Gold Cup hope Delta Work is reported to be in top condition following his Irish Gold Cup win at Leopardstown.

The first bombshell of the evening comes as O'Brien homes in on which of the novice hurdles burgeoning superstar and long-time Ballymore favourite Envoi Allen will be aimed at.

Envoi Allen: rainfall at Cheltenham may dictate which race he contestsCredit: Alain Barr (racingpost.com/photos)

"There's every chance he could switch back to the Supreme," says Elliott to a sharp intake of breath from the auditorium.

"I'm worried about the amount of rain, not because he can't handle soft ground but because at this stage I'm not sure whether he wants a slog over two mile five furlongs at this point in his career."

"That's the last news I wanted to hear!" shouts Orton, as he and Blake are forced into major revisions of their novice hurdle selections. "This could have huge ramifications," says Blake. "We could even see horses dropping from the Albert Bartlett into the Ballymore as a result."

Within minutes, Envoi Allen is once again favourite for the Supreme as Elliott sits with a wry, mischievous smile on his face. Very few of us will ever boast to being able to move festival markets in one fell swoop.

Blake fancies Chantry House in the Supreme, while Orton, once recovered from the hammer blow an Envoi Allen switch could have on his ante-post prospects, concedes: "You have to say that 11-4 non-runner no-bet about Envoi for the Supreme is an absolutely rocking bet."

Orr and O'Brien jokingly spar on the Champion Hurdle credentials of Pentland Hills, the last-named's selection, before Blake unveils Darver Star as his pick.

Best quotes

"He's a super horse who does everything right. In an ideal world you would like to have another run but Zarkandar won the Triumph on his second run for us and this lad has more experience."
Paul Nicholls on Triumph favourite Solo

"My main play in the RSA will be to take on Champ"
Kevin Blake is against the RSA favourite

"All my notes have just gone up in the air, we're going to have to delete those and start all over again"
Dave Orton after hearing about a possible Envoi Allen switch

"Forget the background with this horse," he says. "He's a real improver and his second in the Irish Champion Hurdle to Honeysuckle is real Champion Hurdle form. He's priced dismissively."

Debate reigns among the esteemed panel members about the Champion Chase. Blake, O'Brien, Elliott and Nicholls all can't see past Defi Du Seuil but Orton is firm in the belief that Chacun Pour Soi has everything required.

Few are fans of Altior, as evidenced when O'Brien asks members of the crowd to hold up the 'lay' or 'back' cards they have been provided – needless to say the vast majority will not be siding with the hat-trick seeker on Wednesday.

Now it's the turn of the panel's youngest member Olly Murphy, who goes in search of his first festival triumph with a "small but select team of eight".

Itchy Feet: a key runner for Olly MurphyCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Marsh Novices' Chase market principal Itchy Feet looks his best chance of breaking that duck, but Brewin'Upastorm in the Arkle and Skandiburg in the Pertemps mean Murphy has plenty to look forward to.

One race there is little debate over, however, is the Stayers' Hurdle, with every member of the panel admitting they cannot see past the mighty Paisley Park. The same cannot be said for the Gold Cup.

"Clan Des Obeaux has had a brilliant preparation," says Nicholls, who is not shy of talking up the prospects of his dual King George winner.

To the consternation of many, Blake is siding with Santini – "slow boat!" is the crowd's most popular heckle – but Orton plays it much straighter. "I'm all in on Al Boum Photo but Santini's my lay of the day I'm afraid Kev."

The droves exit the doors into the howling London night having had their final racing fix before those much-loved four days. The Cheltenham Festival is firmly on everyone's lips.

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