Festival candidate Love Envoi lands Grade 2 - but Fry not sold on Cheltenham

Thursday: Sandown

It may have been far from perfect but Love Envoi still managed to extend her unbeaten record over hurdles to four when toughing it out to win the Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle for Harry Fry.

The six-year-old received a lively reception from members of the Noel Fehily syndicate after battling home by two and a quarter lengths but it was far from smooth sailing for the 10-11 favourite.

"She did everything she could to get beaten," said the trainer. "She kicked the second-last out of the ground but still managed to win. I'm delighted to win but she was not as professional as I'd like.

"I should be jumping up and down as we've won a Grade 2 and that's four on the trot for me but as much as I'm relieved, she went about it the wrong way, which tempers my enthusiasm slightly."

Love Envoi was cut to 8-1 (from 10) for next month's Parnell Properties Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham but she is not guaranteed to run and could be aimed at the Grade 1 mares' novice hurdle at Fairyhouse's Easter meeting, which Fry landed in 2015.

"She's entered at the festival but it's only over two miles. We'll see how she comes out of this as this was the plan. It would have to be testing for her to go to Cheltenham."

Call to arms

Major Charlie O'Shea hoped the meeting could help to attract a new wave of racing fans after claiming his first Royal Artillery Gold Cup.

The 40-year-old, who is in the Royal Artillery reserves, led for most of the race aboard Rolling Dylan for Colonel James Ferguson, who leased the winner and struck in the following contest with Monviel.

Despite attracting only four runners, O'Shea believes the race, which was run for the first time since 2019, holds an important place in the calendar, and said: "It's great the military supports these events.

Rolling Dylan and Major Charlie O'Shea jump the open ditch before winning the Royal Artillery Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

"The history of the race brings something special to the raceday. Half the guys in the stands would never have come racing and if a couple of them get involved, then that's good for the sport. If we can grow the number of people following racing, the race served its purpose."

O'Shea paid tribute to the late Richard Woollacott, who introduced him to race riding, and also said the extra hours on the gallops after selling his pub, The Rising Sun, before Christmas helped his cause.

Unbeaten chaser

Douglas Talking has a difficult act to follow in top novice Ahoy Senor but he proved he is a talented chaser in his own right when maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in the 1m7½f handicap chase.

Trained by Lucinda Russell, the six-year-old, who is owned by the Bristol Boys and Peter Russell, made all to score by three lengths.

"He jumps brilliantly," said Russell. "He looks a bit like Ahoy Senor and is also by Dylan Thomas, which is why we bought him. We were saying he could teach Ahoy Senor about being a bit more balanced. He was a bit keen over hurdles but is a different horse over fences."

Results, replays and analysis

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