Irish pointing graduates dominated the top-level two-mile chases on Monday with Envoi Allen victorious at Leopardstown followed by the winning return of Shishkin at Kempton.
Sent off as the odds-on favourite, Envoi Allen burned off the attentions of fellow Irish pointing graduate Battleoverdoyen approaching the final fence, as Colin Bowe’s former Ballinaboola maiden victor went on to record a seven and a half-length victory in the hands of Rachael Blackmore.
The victory in the Paddys Rewards Club Chase was a sixth Grade 1 victory for the French-bred as he took his earnings over the half-a-million-euro mark.
“We had a bit of a scare turning in, but he put his head down and galloped to the line,” said the winning rider.
“I think Henry was right to step him back (in trip). Obviously with Chacun Pour Soi being out it changed the dynamic of the race but it's great to get his head in front.
1.10 Leopardstown
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) December 27, 2021
Another Grade 1 win for Rachael Blackmore as Envoi Allen returns to form in a race just two of the three runners finished
1 Envoi Allen 2/5f
2 Battleoverdoyen 9/2
Watch the #Leopardstown Christmas Festival live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player https://t.co/XIcV18wOuP pic.twitter.com/w6vgbOwI4p
It was an ideal return to action for Shishkin in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton with last season’s Arkle hero easily accounting for the recent Tingle Creek winner Greaneteen.
A point victor at Lingstown for Virginia Considine, the Sholokhov gelding won his ninth race on the bounce by ten lengths and is now the 5/4 favourite for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March.
What path he follows to the festival remains unclear with winning trainer Nicky Henderson suggesting that the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot could come too soon for the seven-year-old.
🗣 "A week ago I wasn't even going to enter him today & then he did a bit of work..."@sevenbarrows was nervous coming into today, but he reflects on the mighty Shishkin following his impressive return to action in the G2 Desert Orchid Chase at @kemptonparkrace pic.twitter.com/utBbsyEQAG
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2021
