Envoi Allen wins the Ryanair Chase on Day Three of Cheltenham Festival
Envoi Allen stuns to win the Ryanair Chase for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead – as favourite Shishkin is left to rue a costly jumping error in the third race of Day Three at Cheltenham
- Shishkin’s costly error saw the pre-race favourite finish a disappointing second
- Rachael Blackmore has now won two races at the Cheltenham Festival 2023
- Follow all the action as it happens on Day Three of the Cheltenham Festival
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Envoi Allen produced a huge upset in triumphing in the Ryanair Chase in the third day of the Cheltenham Festival’s third day, finishing two-and-a-quarter lengths clear of Shishkin in second, with Hitman coming in in third.
Pre-race favourite Shishkin (evens) stumbled three hurdles from the line to leave it all to do coming into the finish, and was unable to live up to early billing.
Nico de Boinville somehow managed to stay in the saddle, but despite managing to somehow recover to a second-place finish, Rachael Blackmore guided Envoi Allen (13-2) to a surprise victory.
The horse coming in at evens had looked frenetic throughout the early stages of the race, while Envoi Allen’s run was timed well, remaining near the front of the pack in good position before racing clear at the line.
‘He’s an incredible horse, he really is,’ Blackmore told ITV after the race. ‘He’s got phenomenal engine and I was always hoping he could do something like that in this company some day and fair play to Henry and all the team, they got him there today – he was electric.
Rachael Blackmore and Envoi Allen won the Ryanair Chase in a thrilling third race on Day Three at Cheltenham
Envoi Allen jumped well throughout the Ryanair Chase before a late charge sealed the win
RYANAIR CHASE FINAL RESULT
Day Three of the Cheltenham Festival, third race
1 Envoi Allen (Rachael Blackmore) – 13-2
2 Shishkin (Nico de Boinville) – Evens (fav)
3 Hitman (Harry Cobden) – 22-1
Nine ran
‘It’s lovely when you’re able to take back a little bit there, he jumped very well today and was a much happier horse today than he was the other day. It’s phenomenal.
‘This is such a magnificent place, I feel so lucky to walk back into the Winner’s Enclosure here.
And when asked about the prospects of A Plus Tard in Friday’s Gold Cup, Blackmore added: ‘I think he seems to suit any conditions i wouldn’t be worried in any way with him with regard to the conditions.
‘Look he hasn’t had the most ideal preparation but he’s been working really well recently and we’re happy for him so we’ll see what happens!’
Envoi Allen bounced back from pulling up in the King George VI Chase on his last start to seal a second win of the week for Blackmore, and a third for Henry De Bromhead.
Shishkin was a fast-finishing second, but the mistake at the third hurdle was costly, and the losing De Boinville was understandably tight-lipped at the end of the race.
When asked by ITV about how his horse fared, he simply replied: ‘We’ll have better days ahead of us I’m sure.’
And when questioned on whether Shishkin was himself today, he replied: ‘Probably not.’
Blackmore has now won two races at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023 with Henry De Bromhead triumphing three times
De Bromhead told ITV he was ‘delighted’ with his horse’s performance on Day Three at Cheltenham
The nine-year-old is a former winner of the Champion Bumper and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, and jumped each of the hurdles with fluency before a strong galloping finish.
De Bromhead – whose horses have been in strong form during this week following a turbulent season – was thrilled with his horse’s third win at Cheltenham, adding: ‘Delighted. He was in such good form at home and everyone was delighted with him. I hoped he would put his best foot forward and he did.’
Later to come on the third day are the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (3.30), the Plate Handicap Chase (4.10), and the Mares Novices’ Hurdle (4.50).
The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at 5.30pm will round off the third day before the final day of the event on Friday.
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