Unbeaten Champion Bumper hero Envoi Allen sets out on hurdling career

1.15 Down Royal
Tayto Group Maiden Hurdle | 2m½f | 4yo+ | RTV

The unbeaten Envoi Allen, winner of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, makes his eagerly awaited debut over hurdles at Down Royal today when he faces 17 rivals in the maiden hurdle over 2m.

Gordon Elliott enjoyed a successful start to the two-day meeting on Friday when Samcro and Coeur Sublime were among his winners and he is looking forward to Envoi Allen starting a new phase to his career.

He said of the Cheveley Park Stud-owned five-year-old: "Envoi Allen is a very classy horse who did everything right last season. He also won his only point-to-point.

"He's been going well at home and we've been very happy with his recent work and schooling."

Those taking on Davy Russell's mount include the Joseph O'Brien-trained pair Entoucas, who ran subsequent triple Grade 1 winner Klassical Dream to less than two lengths in a maiden at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, and Front View, a talented performer in bumpers last season.

Entoucas, the mount of Mark Walsh, and Front View (Barry Geraghty) are both owned by J P McManus.

Noel Meade, who sent out three of the last four winners of the race, is represented by Fauguernon, a three-time winner on the Flat in France before finishing fifth on his two starts over hurdles last season.

Read The Lowdown from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post app for all the day's going updates, news and tips