Envoi Allen triumphs in Down Royal Champion Chase

Envoi Allen repeated his Down Royal triumph from 2022 although Darragh O'Keeffe was in the saddle for Saturday's win as opposed to Rachael Blackmore

Envoi Allen returned to the winners' enclosure at Down Royal by holding off Hewick after a thrilling duel to claim the Ladbrokes Champion Chase.

Trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe, in the absence of injured jockey Rachael Blackmore, it was a second victory in the race in three years for the 10-year-old.

In this first Grade One race of the National Hunt season in Ireland, last season's King George VI winner Hewick was the frontrunner before being joined by the 3-1 second favourite at the penultimate fence.

Hewick, who was a 4-1 shot, came back again but O'Keeffe had enough to hold off the challenger and claim the 90,000 euro first prize.

Last year's winner and 8-11 favourite Gerri Colombe finished a disappointing third, 13 lengths back, for trainer Gordon Elliott and Templepatrick jockey Sam Ewing.

Hewick's jockey Jordan Gainford put pressure on those behind by gradually upping the tempo, with last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up among those to be found wanting as he lost ground with a poor jump at the fifth-from-last fence.

A delighted De Bromhead said: "Obviously, it is a shame for Rachael, but delighted for Darragh, he gave him a super ride and he has really stepped up.

"Fair play to him, he is taking his opportunities."

De Bromhead said Envoi Allen could now be aimed at the King George at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.