Elliott leaning away from Champion Hurdle after Envoi Allen extends unbeaten run

Envoi Allen made it a magnificent seven in a row as he captured his second Grade 1 win of the season at Naas on Sunday with Gordon Elliott indicating a crack at the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle or Ballymore Novices' Hurdle rather than the Unibet Champion Hurdle awaits at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Champion Hurdle had previously been mentioned as a possible target for last year's Champion Bumper hero but Elliott hinted at the Cheveley Park-owned six-year-old remaining in the novice division this season.

Bookmakers felt this three-and-a-half length victory over Elixir D'Ainay makes the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle the most likely option at Cheltenham, shortening him to a general 6-4 shot (from 7-4), with BoyleSports taking a bold stance in lengthening his price to 7-1 (from 4) for the Supreme and a standout 16-1 (from 12) for the Champion Hurdle.

Watch the replay as Envoi Allen maintains his unbeaten record

The Mark Walsh-ridden Elixir D'Ainay ensured the €90,000 event was a true test of stamina with his efficient jumping helping maintain his momentum through the race.

Envoi Allen eventually ranged upsides between the final two flights and put the race to bed in fine style, doing enough to maintain his advantage on the climb to the finish after the final hurdle.

A suitably impressed Elliott said: "That was a proper test – they went a proper gallop the whole way and Davy Russell said he learned more today than he has ever done and he jumped well. It was a fair race.

"He'll be entered in all the novice hurdles at Cheltenham. He could drop back to two miles or stay at this trip but I wouldn't see him going over further."

Put to him that Envoi Allen did not put a lot of distance between himself and his rivals, Elliott added: “He never does. He'll never win by 20 lengths – he'll win by a length and that's all he ever does.”

Envoi Allen and Davy Russell canter to post before winning another Grade 1 eventCredit: Alain Barr (racingpost.com/photos)

Envoi Allen remains 8-1 with several firms for the Champion Hurdle but Elliott appears to favour a crack at novice company.

He said: "I imagine he'll stay in his own grade this year. He might go straight to Cheltenham but I'll chat with [Cheveley Park racing manager] Chris Richardson and owners Mr and Mrs Thompson and see where we go.

“It's great to have winners like this for them. They have a few nice horses with us so we're very happy. He'll be entered in all the novice hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival.”

It was a fine run from runner-up Elixir D'Ainay on his first crack at top-level company with Willie Mullins praising the winner.

Mullins said: “That was a very good run and I'm very happy with that. Envoi Allen is just an excellent horse and he's going to be very hard to beat. We set out to make it a test and we did, but he beat us fair and square.”

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