Gordon Elliott has reported his Cheltenham Bumper winner Envoi Allen to be in good form ahead of his impending hurdling debut.
The Ballinaboola four-year-old maiden winner has remained unbeaten since that debut success, with bumper victories coming in Listed and Grade 2 company in Ireland, before he capped off his season with Grade 1 success at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The £400,000 Cheltenham February sale purchase is now set to be stepped up in trip for his return to action as his trained issued a positive bulletin on his health as part of a stable tour for the AtTheRaces Guide to the Jumps website.
“He’s in very good form and is ready to start off in a maiden hurdle. He put together a serious campaign in bumpers last season and I think he has got a lot stronger over the summer.
“If you watch him in his bumpers last season, he looked in serious trouble a couple of times, but just ground it out to win.
“I think stepping up to two-and-a-half miles over hurdles will be a help to him as he’ll probably be travelling at a gallop that is a bit closer to his comfort zone. You’d have to be very excited about him.”
Elliott also issued a bullish update on fellow Cheveley Park Stud-owned former point-to-pointer Malone Road.
The Kalanisi gelding, who realised £325,000 at the Aintree Sale after winning his four-year-old maiden at Loughanmore for Stuart Crawford, suffered a knee injury after winning consecutive bumpers at Down Royal and Punchestown, and he too heads into his novice hurdle season with an unbeaten record to preserve.
“He’s back in good form and he’s going to do a bit of work after racing at Punchestown today (Wednesday).
“We are considering starting him back in a winners’ bumper at Down Royal or Punchestown before sending him novice hurdling, but he might just go straight over hurdles. He’s moving really well and looks in great shape.
“He could go a bit further, but he’s always looked pacey and I wouldn’t be surprised if two miles is his trip.”
