ENVOI ALLEN will return to the racecourse this weekend trainer Gordon Elliott has confirmed.
Already considered a banker by many for the Cheltenham Festival, he’s set to put his unbeaten record on the line at Punchestown.
The seven-year-old has won an incredible ten races on the spin and is hoping to make it 11 in the Sky Bet Killiney Novice Chase on Sunday.
He’s already as short as 1-2 to score on Sunday, and even money is as good as you’ll get for the Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Festival in March.
Elliott said: “Envoi Allen runs at Punchestown on Sunday. He’s in good form and worked yesterday (Tuesday) morning. I’m looking forward to running him.
“He has plenty of weight to give away, but we said that’s where we’ll go. It’s a nice distance for him and it looks like the ground will be grand and safe.”
Cheltenham winner Chatham Street Lad – who sparked crazy scenes in the winners’ enclosure as trainer Mick Winters rolled in the mud – and Asterion Forlonge could be in opposition.
But Elliot hasn’t yet decided if Andy Dufresne will take on his stablemate.
He added: “I’m not sure if Andy Dufresne will run.
“He’s in good form – but whether we will run the two of them against each other, I’m not sure.
“We’ll have to talk to the owners and see what happens.”
Sidelined jockey Davy Russell won’t be back in time to ride Envoi Allen this weekend.
The Irish rider fractured and dislocated vertebrae in his back in a horror fall in November but hopes to be riding out again next week.
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