Envoi Allen (13-2) finally grabbed a third Cheltenham Festival victory as he powered home to win the Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy) on the third day of the 2023 meeting.
Jockey Rachael Blackmore had won the Ryanair in the same Cheveley Park Stud red, white and blue colours for the past two seasons with Willie Mullins' Allaho. And she brought up the hat-trick on board the Henry De Bromhead-trained nine-year-old, who has won a bumper, over hurdles and now fences at the Prestbury Park extravaganza.
It was another emotional success for the De Bromhead stable – who had won earlier in the week with Honeysuckle and Maskada. De Bromhead's 13-year-old son Jack died after a fall while pony racing in September and the trainer had spoken earlier in the week about how the support of all in racing had helped the family during such a tragic time. And they were smiling again as they celebrated a third victory at the Festival so far this week ahead of A Plus Tard – in the same Cheveley Park colours – and his bid for a second Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup victory on Friday's final day.
