De Bromhead outlines plans for Envoi Allen Henry de Bromhead was ‘as happy as you could be without winning’ after Envoi Allen’s narrow defeat in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday. The Cheveley Park-owned gelding was only headed in the final strides by the odds-on Gerri Colombe as he came within a neck of landing the three-mile Grade 1 event for the second successive year. The nine-year-old went on to record a third Cheltenham Festival victory when taking the Ryanair Chase in March and that again looks the main target this season. De Bromhead said, “I thought he ran a cracker and Rachael gave him an amazing ride and but for putting down at the last we may have held on. “It was a much improved run from Gowran and great to see him back like that. I was as happy as you could be without winning.” On future plans, the Savills Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting before a return to Cheltenham appears the likely route as the Knockeen trainer added: “He may go for the Savills and ultimately it’s the Ryanair I think.” Stablemate Minella Indo dropped away in the closing stages when last of the four runners at Down Royal and de Bromhead also outlined possible plans for the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner. “We might lower our sights with him now but I’ll need to speak with the Maloneys before firming up plans. “We are thinking about going down the Cross Country and Grand National route with him.”
