Ted Walsh: Envoi Allen is the real deal and will be hard to beat at Cheltenham

He may not be flash but Envoi Allen is the real deal according to Ted Walsh, who was impressed again as Gordon Elliott’s outstanding novice claimed a straightforward win in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle on Sunday.

Envoi Allen pulled three and a half lengths clear of Elixir D'Ainay and Walsh said the performance should tee him up nicely for the Cheltenham Festival.

The trainer said: “Envoi Allen did what he had to do. I saw him win his bumpers last year and, while he's not a Flash Harry, he's the real deal as far as a racehorse goes. He just does enough and when you want him he's always there.”