Henry de Bromhead: Envoi Allen flop was down to a chipped joint

Envoi Allen chipped a hind joint during the early stages of his clash with Colreevy and Monkfish at Punchestown last week, a scan has revealed.

The 2020 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle winner, who won his first 11 starts before falling at the fourth fence when 4-6 favourite for the Marsh Novices' Chase at this year's festival, was a bitter disappointment in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase when he was pulled up by Rachael Blackmore before the second-last.

Envoi Allen was examined afterwards at the request of the stewards and found to be lame, while Blackmore said he hung badly left throughout the race.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead sent the 164-rated chaser to Fethard Equine Hospital for a CT scan and he has revealed the extent of the injury.

The trainer said: "We got the results back from Envoi Allen's scan and he has chipped his hind joint. The swelling has to come down but, once it does, he will have the chip taken out. He must have given the fence some whack, but hopefully he will be fine and make a full recovery."

Envoi Allen and Rachael Blackmore after pulling up in the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann

Envoi Allen might not have been himself last week, but Honeysuckle was as brilliant as ever when making it 12 wins out of 12 in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle.

Despite slowing up into the final flight and allowing Sharjah back into the race, Honeysuckle showed her class in the closing stages to pull away to score by two and a quarter lengths and De Bromhead reports her to have come out of the race in rude health.

He said: "Honey is great; there's not a bother on her. She came out of the race in great order and I couldn't be happier with her."

Bob Olinger was a late withdrawal from the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle, after the brilliant Ballymore winner was found to be coughing on the morning of the race.

De Bromhead said of the six-year-old: "Bob Olinger is fine. It's just frustrating and an awful pity he didn't get to run, but it's just one of those things and he'll be fine."

The trainer equalled his best campaign in Ireland with 98 winners, including ten Grade 1s, and became the first trainer to win Cheltenham's Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup in the same week.

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