Envoi Allen on Course for Shot at King George

Suzanne Ashton
One of the next big meetings in the UK this summer is Glorious Goodwood, which features 13 Group races across five days – including three Group One contests.

Irish chaser Envoi Allen is set to appear in the King George VI Chase at Kempton for the first time in his career this year. The contest on Boxing Day is one of the biggest races in the 3m chase division.

Henry De Bromhead’s runner is now one of the highest-rated chasers in training. He was unbeaten in four bumper appearances, while he won all four of his races over hurdles. His record over fences is also impressive, as he has won six of his 11 appearances to date.

The eight-year-old started his latest campaign with victory at Down Royal in the Grade One Champion Chase. He defeated the likes of Galvin, Conflated and Kemboy in that race. De Bromhead’s gelding proved he has the stamina for 3m, as the ground was testing in that contest, but he stayed on strongly at the end of the race.

Envoi Allen has the best odds of 5/1 for the 2022 King George with bookmaker Betfair. He will be bidding to become the second Irish horse in two years to score in the race, as Tornado Flyer prevailed in 2021 for Willie Mullins.

Envoi No Stranger to Success at Top Level

Success at the biggest meetings is something Envoi Allen is very familiar with. He was victorious in the Champion Bumper at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, in what was his first year under Rules.

In his opening season over hurdles, he prevailed in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the same meeting in 2020. He beat a strong field which included Sporting John, Easywork and The Big Getaway. 

Since switching to fences, Envoi Allen has won the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse, and the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown, both of which were at Grade One level. He has consistently shown he is one of the best chasers in the UK and Ireland.

Challengers in King George Include Bravemansgame and Hitman

Bravemansgame tops the ante-post betting for the King George following his success in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. Paul Nicholls’ runner looked impressive on his seasonal reappearance in the Grade Two contest in Yorkshire.

The Grade One winner was one of last season’s leading novice chasers. He was victorious in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at the King George Meeting at Kempton. His only defeat of the campaign came at Aintree in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase.

Hitman is another Nicholls’ horse who is expected to be a strong challenger for the feature race of the festive period in the UK. The six-year-old won a graduation chase at Haydock by six lengths on his latest appearance.

The final declarations for the race at Kempton are set to be announced on the 24th of December and it could be one of the strongest renewals of the 3m contest in many years.