Envoi Allen may step down in trip at Leopardstown Envoi Allen is likely to drop back in trip at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting with a tilt at the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase on Monday December 27 a favoured option. The Muhtathir gelding won his first 11 starts under rules including five at Grade 1 level before coming unstuck with a fall at Cheltenham last March and pulling up lame the following month in Punchestown. The seven-year-old returned in impressive fashion this term when making most for a runaway victory in the Grade 2 Join Racing TV Chase at Down Royal but could find no extra subsequently again over two and a half miles when sixth to Allaho in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase. He is among six entries at the latest forfeit stage for the €125,000 event including the Willie Mullins-trained pair Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi. Trainer Henry de Bromhead said, “It’s quite soon after the John Durkan but we are aiming that way. He seems in good form and all his checks are good. “We were thinking about dropping him back in trip. I thought he was so impressive in Down Royal going a real good gallop.He has a lot of class and jumps very well at speed. We thought we might try that and see. “The John Durkan was a bit of a funny race in that a lot of good horses finished very tired. Nothing obvious came to light with him afterwards so we’ll put it behind us and move on.” De Bromhead has won the Leopardstown 2m1f Grade 1 race in the past with Sizing Europe and also two years ago with A Plus Tard, who like Envoi Allen is owned by Cheveley Park Stud. Paddy Power odds: 2/5 Energumene, 11/4 Chacun Pour Soi, 9/2 Envoi Allen, 33/1 Samcro, 50/1 Battleoverdoyen, 66/1 Sizing Pottsie. The Knockeen trainer could be represented by Mr Incredible in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick on St Stephen’s day. The five-year-old son of Westerner finished strongly to land an 18-runner 2m3f beginners chase at Naas last month before finding Ahoy Senor too good at Newbury. “He was a little bit disappointing in Newbury but he won a good beginners chase in Naas. He lacks a bit of experience but is a nice horse and may go to Limerick. “He won his maiden hurdle very impressively on heavy ground at Naas last winter and the ground could suit him at Limerick. “He’s also entered over three miles (Neville Hotels Novice Chase) at Leopardstown.”
