'He's incredible' - the rise, fall and rise again of the enigmatic Envoi Allen
For a winner of seven Grade 1s, Envoi Allen does not half get some stick. The scoffing has not reached the level aimed at Samcro but it has headed in that direction and a lacklustre run in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase would have opened the door to further ridicule.
You see, the eight-year-old's exam papers cannot be marked in the same way as other students. When you look like he does and fail to get a single question wrong in your first 11 assignments, excellence will always be expected. The reason he has come under such scrutiny is because we had all become so used to perfection.
Ever since he met the fourth fence all wrong in the Marsh Novices' Chase at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival and came down, we have seen flaws in him we never knew existed. That fall when 4-9 was followed by a deplorable effort at Punchestown, where he was pulled-up and, while he started last season with a bit of a bang in the Grade 2 chase for second-season novices on this very Down Royal card, he was then a badly beaten favourite in the John Durkan behind Allaho.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inReports
Last updated
- Cross Country: Stumptown finds 'new lease of life' as he strengthens Gavin Cromwell's Cheltenham record
- Cheltenham: 'It's amazing and really special' - gallant Numitor puts Heather Main on big stage
- Doncaster: Homme Public headlines treble for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero - whose juvenile winner earns 50-1 Triumph quote
- Cork: Kel Histoire into 20-1 for Supreme after making stylish start for Willie Mullins and JP McManus
- Bangor: 'He showed a fair bit of class in point-to-points' - 20-1 shot Galassian beats 1-2 favourite in maiden hurdle
- Cross Country: Stumptown finds 'new lease of life' as he strengthens Gavin Cromwell's Cheltenham record
- Cheltenham: 'It's amazing and really special' - gallant Numitor puts Heather Main on big stage
- Doncaster: Homme Public headlines treble for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero - whose juvenile winner earns 50-1 Triumph quote
- Cork: Kel Histoire into 20-1 for Supreme after making stylish start for Willie Mullins and JP McManus
- Bangor: 'He showed a fair bit of class in point-to-points' - 20-1 shot Galassian beats 1-2 favourite in maiden hurdle