Chantry House© Photo Healy Racing
Chantry House won the Marsh Novices’ Chase as hot favourite Envoi Allen crashed out in the opening event on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.
Envoi Allen was sent off the 4-9 favourite to extend his unbeaten record to 12, but he got no further than the fourth fence, where he appeared to clip the top of the obstacle before crumpling on landing.
That left the Grade One heat wide open, and it was Nico de Boinville who seized the initiative aboard the Nicky Henderson-trained Chantry House (9-1). Shan Blue made a bold bid for glory kicking on down the back in the two-and-a-half-mile contest, but he had no answer as Chantry House and fellow Henderson inmate Fusil Raffles swept by at the top of the straight.
The duo enjoyed a fine battle to the line, but Chantry House was just three lengths too good. Asterion Forlonge was third.
It was a 70th Cheltenham Festival winner for Henderson.
Henderson said: “He was very good. To be fair, when Dan’s horse quickened up down the back, it was a bit like last year. When he ran in the Supreme behind Shishkin he looked to need another half mile and it looked the same again.
“You’d have to think he’ll be going over three miles sooner rather than later.
“At Wetherby last time out he was good, but he needed surgery on his back after he ran here the time before. He did well to get back in time to run at Wetherby, in truth.
“He’s a lovely horse and I’d hoped he would at least give Envoi Allen a bit of a race, but you’ve got to take it when you are given a chance like that.
“I don’t know why we wouldn’t go over three miles at Aintree or Punchestown, it just depends how quick he recovers.”
He added: “It’s a pity he (Envoi Allen) fell from a lot of points of view, but on the other hand it was nice to take the opportunity. He’s looked flawless all year so it was a surprise to see him do that.
“We looked in top gear for a lot of the race there, so it certainly looked like going further would help him.
“We’ve had a couple of disappointments this week, it’s nice to get JP (McManus, owner) on the board for the week, too.”
Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Envoi Allen, said: “Jack just said he was a little bit keen. He just launched at the fence, unfortunately, and that was it.
“I’ve had a look at him though and he looked fine, and Jack’s fine too, so that’s good.”
