Fry eyes Warwick contest for 'thriving' Love Envoi on way to Mares' Hurdle

Love Envoi will be given one more run before the Cheltenham Festival as trainer Harry Fry expects her to continue to thrive as she gets closer to her main target for the season in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle.

The seven-year-old produced a flawless performance in the Listed mares' hurdle at Sandown on Saturday and is scheduled to run again at that level at Warwick on February 11.

An additional race comes as Fry looks to follow a similar path to the festival as taken last year. Love Envoi had four races before winning the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, with the trainer believing the best way to campaign her is to run fairly regularly.

He said: "She thrives on her racing and these horses are there to race. She went to Cheltenham on the back of four wins and there's a long time between now and March, so all being well we'll go to Warwick on February 11 for a Listed mares' race.

"That'll be just over four weeks until the festival. That's the plan, we'll use that as our stepping stone."

Harry Fry: 'She just looks to be getting more professional'Credit: Julian Herbert

Paddy Power cut Love Envoi to 4-1 (from 7) for the Grade 1 after her 13-length win at Sandown, and she completed a huge double on the day for the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates with Tahmuras landing the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle.

Fry, who was not at Sandown, highlighted how he was delighted with the professionalism of Love Envoi. The 30-100 shot was always in control under Johnny Burke and achieved a career-best Racing Post Rating of 150.

"I was delighted with her," he said. "She just looks to be getting more professional and Johnny was thrilled with how she settled, came alive down the back [straight] and won well.

"I'm thrilled that she seems to be progressive again this season and hopefully she can keep on an upward curve all the way up to March.

"We were happy with her comeback run but, as ever, left some room for improvement and she thrives with racing. From each race she seemed to get better, and we hope that she can progress this season. She seems to be at the moment."

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