Envoi Allen and Darragh O'Keeffe (right) won from Hewick© Photo Healy Racing
Envoi Allen emerged victorious again at Down Royal after a pulsating battle with Hewick in the closing stages of the Ladbrokes Champion Chase. Gerri Colombe went to post 8/11 favourite in the first Grade 1 of the season but was being niggled along after the fourth last and came under pressure going to the next.
Front-runner Hewick was also asked for an effort before the third from home and it was Envoi Allen who loomed large behind going to the penultimate fence.
Darragh O'Keeffe asked his mount to jump up and challenge over the second last and he started to edge ahead down to the final fence.
Hewick is nothing if not game however and made the Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding pull out all the stops on the run-in to secure a hard-fought half-length win at odds of 3/1.
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Gerri Colombe was well beaten in third, 13 lengths further back.
It was a fifth course success for Envoi Allen, who took this race two years ago and was narrowly denied by Gerri Colombe 12 months ago.
De Bromhead said: "It was brilliant and he is just a class horse.
"Everyone at home has done such a great job.
"Obviously, it is a shame for Rachael but I'm delighted for Darragh, he gave him a super ride and he has really stepped up. Fair play to him, he is taking his opportunities.
"Cheveley Park are tremendous supporters of ours and the game, so I'm delighted for them as well."
When asked if that could be the best performance of his three runs in this race, he replied: "Possibly, fair point. He was brilliant and jumped great. He travelled so well.
"Probably better ground than last year I would have said as well. That would have helped us.
"I thought when we got under the last, we were going to get done again but he battled really well.
"I must say I thought Darragh was brilliant on him."
When asked what the plan would be now in light of that performance, he replied: "He's 10 now, so we'll see.
"That King George keeps coming back into my head, I feel we have unfinished business there.
"I need to speak to Cheveley Park and see what everyone would like to do.
"He was going to run at Christmas (in Savills Chase last year), I think the ground just went very testing in Leopardstown."
Both Betfair and Paddy Power reacted by making the winner a 12/1 shot (from 50/1) for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next March.
(Quotes by Michael Graham)
