Bowen Hoping For Special Delivery

Special Envoy will tune up for another crack at Inglis Drever at the Cheltenham Festival with a run in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock on February 16.

The six-year-old has improved at a rate of knots this season but his progress has not taken his trainer Peter Bowen by surprise.

Without actually winning a race this season Special Envoy has proved himself to be on the upgrade and had a valuable contest at Haydock in the bag before falling at the last.

He then chased home Inglis Drever in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and ran a fine race in a muddling renewal of the Long Walk Hurdle.

"He'll run in the Rendlesham at Haydock probably, that's the aim for him," said Bowen.

"He seems to like Haydock and Aintree with their long straights.

"He ran ever so well at Newbury behind Inglis Drever but he ran well in the Supreme last year so we knew he was a very good horse.

"We expected him to be good enough for conditions races this year and of course he would have won the big handicap at Haydock but for falling at the last.

"He was the only horse that could live with Inglis Drever at Newbury, he beat all the others well enough so he deserves another crack at him."

Special Envoy is a 3-1 chance for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle with the sponsors.

(C) PA Sport