De Bromhead eyes King George for Envoi Allen

Knockeen trainer Henry De Bromhead has his eyes set on a trip across to England on Boxing Day with Envoi Allen at one of the biggest prizes in racing later this year.

Envoi Allen returned to the track this past weekend and secured a thrilling victory in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal, seeing off the battling Hewick and Cheltenham Gold Cup runner up Gerri Colombe in a thriller.

The Shark Hanlon-trained Hewick made pretty much all until he was joined by De Bromhead’s charge at the head of proceedings two from home, with the second favourite behind Gerri Colombe heading Hewick in the closing stages to bag the €90,000 top prize and the first Grade 1 over Jumps this season in Ireland.

Hewick is the reigning King George champion and speaking to Racing TV post-race, De Bromhead said Envoi Allen will get an entry for this year’s showpiece at Kempton Park on Boxing Day where Hewick could line up too to defend his crown.

De Bromhead said: “We will see. Today [Saturday] was a big day and we will see where we go from there.

“I don’t know, the King George is sneaking back into my mind.

“He wasn’t right when he went over last time so we will keep an eye on that and give him an entry and then speak to [owners] Cheveley Park and go from there.” Envoi Allen was a distant seventh when last seen in the King George behind winner Bravemansgame in 2022 but followed that race up by landing the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival three months later.

King George VI Chase (via Irish horse racing odds) 

Il Est Francais, Fastorslow 10/3 

Fact To File 5/1 

Gaelic Warrior 6/1 

Grey Dawning, Hewick 14/1 

Jonbon, Envoi Allen, Banbridge 16/1 

25/1 bar