Envoi Allen returned to the winners’ enclosure at Down Royal by holding off Hewick after an exciting duel to say the Ladbrokes Champion Chase.
Educated by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe, within the absence of injured jockey Rachael Blackmore, it was a second victory within the race in three years for the 10-year-old.
On this first Grade One race of the Nationwide Hunt season in Eire, final season’s King George VI winner Hewick was the frontrunner earlier than being joined by the 3-1 second favorite on the penultimate fence.
Hewick, who was a 4-1 shot, got here again once more however O’Keeffe had sufficient to carry off the challenger and declare the 90,000 euro first prize.
Final 12 months’s winner and 8-11 favorite Gerri Colombe completed a disappointing third, 13 lengths again, for coach Gordon Elliott and Templepatrick jockey Sam Ewing.
Hewick’s jockey Jordan Gainford put strain on these behind by progressively upping the tempo, with final 12 months’s Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up amongst these to be discovered wanting as he misplaced floor with a poor bounce on the fifth-from-last fence.
A delighted De Bromhead mentioned: “Clearly, it’s a disgrace for Rachael, however delighted for Darragh, he gave him an excellent journey and he has actually stepped up.
“Truthful play to him, he takes his alternatives.”
De Bromhead mentioned Envoi Allen might now be aimed on the King George at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
