@RoadCheltenham: Envoi Allen Steals The Weekly Review Show

It felt like the 2025/26 National Hunt season cranked up a notch this week, with the first Grade 1 of the campaign taking place at Down Royal. The action on this side of the Irish Sea wasn’t bad either, with informative cards at Wetherby and Ascot at the weekend.

And we were treated to several impressive performances throughout the week too, with mentions for winners at Ffos Las, Newton Abbot and Stratford in this column. Without further ado, let’s look back at the last seven days in the world of jumps racing.

All roads lead to the Coral Gold Cup for BLIZZARD OF OZ after his Listed success at Wexford. Paul Townend gave him a confident ride and delivered him at the perfect time to beat ROCKY'S DIAMOND. The winner could be a Grand National horse down the line and I wouldn't be giving up on the second either.

I made the trip to Ffos Las on Tuesday and it was worth it to see several lovely prospects for the season ahead. KALKBRENNER was a good winner of the opener and he looks a Graded horse all over while THE PRICE OF PEACE will be winning races for Rebecca Curtis.

The second division looked stronger on paper and I'd say the front six will all turn out to be above average. If there was a superstar in the field, chances are it was STARZAND - who won the race despite looking like he'll come on for the run. He has Grade 1 aspirations down the line.

The money came for David Pipe's GENTLEMAN TOBOOT at Newton Abbot and he won like a good thing, beating a race-fit horse of Dan Skelton's. He really warmed to the task as the race went on and he looks like a proper chaser in the making.

WANDERING EGO has a lofty reputation and he put a disappointing Perth run behind him when winning by 14 lengths at Stratford on Thursday. Sean Bowen gave him a canny ride and he will interest me if he ends up in a race like the Coral Cup in the spring.

I was shocked to see TAURUS BAY drift in the betting but backers needn't have worried. He travelled menacingly well and proved much too good for his rivals, and I'll be keeping a close eye on him for a nice race down the line.

BE AWARE justified market support to get off the mark on chase debut and you'd have to wonder if he'll make into a Grand Annual horse or if he's a Graded animal. It is hard to say at this stage but he has the experience to go either way and he's an exciting prospect.

The Festival of Racing at Down Royal is always an informative weekend with a view to the spring and I'd be amazed if THEFLYINGKING wasn't rocking up in an Albert Bartlett in March. He fell at the last with the race at his mercy but I wasn't put off re: Cheltenham and he's one to very much keep onside.

Fences were omitted but I thought ROMEO COOLIO looked the real deal on chase debut. All roads lead to the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase and that will tell connections a bit more about whether he is a two-miler or a potential staying chaser. For me, I'd love to see him over three miles.

The dogs were barking about SKERRY HILL before his debut on Friday and he overcame greenness to win cosily enough in the end. He will be given a light campaign so keep your powder dry for the Champion Bumper.

Over at Uttoxeter, I was really impressed with LA CONQUIERE and she can make into a nice type in the mares' novice division for Jamie Snowden. Played late in the day by Gavin Sheehan, she stormed home to justify strong market support and she could be a very smart type for the season ahead.

LUMP SUM had the rating to suggest he'd bolt up and he certainly did that, pulling 16 lengths clear of 136-rated JAX JUNIOR to win easily on chase debut. Is he a potential Arkle runner? He'd need to improve again but this was a great introduction.

Credit to Adam Nicol for aiming high with MINELLA STUDY and he could feature in Graded juvenile hurdles this season. AMMES was a beaten favourite on the day but it was TRALEE GIRL who caught my eye and she's a winner in waiting next time out.

Saturday was a monster day of racing and we start at Ascot, with NO QUESTIONS ASKED for Ben Pauling. He travelled like a good horse and jumped like a handicapper and I'm excited to see him in a better race next time out.

ALEXEI justified strong market support to give the Welsh Champion Hurdle form a boost. Joe Tizzard was confident that he had him primed for the racd and he duly obliged to win by three lengths. If confirmed as his next aim, I'd suggest backing CELTIC DINO for the Greatwood Hurdle off the back of this.

Nicky Richards has a proper horse in UPON TWEED. He beat subsequent Cheltenham winner Conman John in a bumper in the spring and followed up with a polished performance to put his rivals to the sword at Ayr on Saturday. He looks smart.

MANGE TOUT was very underwhelming in the opener at Down Royal on Saturday, though you'd love the way she battled back to win. You'd imagine Gordon Elliott has left plenty to work on and hopefully we'll see a more complete performance next time out.

I was thrilled to see ENVOI ALLEN claim his third success in the Down Royal feature and it was a real feelgood moment for National Hunt racing. Henry de Bromhead trained him to perfection for Saturday and connections now have a decision to make regarding plans for the 11-year-old.

FIREFOX dug deep to beat GORGEOUS TOM and both are lovely prospects for the season ahead. I like CROKE PARK for one of the Nationals in the spring, he's gone a little under the radar after finishing a well-beaten third on both starts this year but he will thrive upped in trip later in the campaign.

Champion Hurdle winner GOLDEN ACE clearly wasn't herself at Wetherby on Saturday and hopefully we'll see her back to her best after Christmas. KATEIRA is a solid type but she wouldn't be one on my radar for a big race in the spring.

TAKE NO CHANCES, on the other hand, could make into a Stayers Hurdle type or even a Mares Hurdle contender now the race has switched to the New Course. She was pipped late by STRONG LEADER, a consistent type in those staying hurdle races, but the runner up is the one I'd be most interested in with a view to Cheltenham in March.

Venetia Williams comes alive in November and DJELO, delivered perfectly by Charlie Deutsch, gave her a big Saturday winner in the Charlie Hall Chase. PIC D'ORHY ran a huge race and he will be difficult to beat back at Ascot later in the month but Djelo could make into a proper Ryanair Chase contender in the spring.

THE JUKEBOX KID was strong in the market on chase debut at Carlisle and he could make into a Jack Richards Novice Handicap Chase contender come the spring time. While his future inevitably lies over further, this trip is fine for now and he can put rivals under pressure with his accomplished jumping from the front.

It was interesting to see RESPLENDENT GREY prevail in the Colin Parker Memorial Chase as many believed he would need the run. The Coral Gold Cup is his next big target and he will take some beating in that off the back of a prep run. Runner up HANDSTANDS could still go to the Betfair Chase but he didn't fill me with confidence that he's ready for an open company Grade 1.

I've been a fan of MISTER PESSIMISTIC since his point-to-point and I was delighted to see him get off the mark on hurdles debut. Henry de Bromhead has already suggested that he'll run in the Grade 1 at Christmas and that shows the esteem that he's held in by the Knockeen handler.

We saw I'M SLIPPY bolt up in the second division of the maiden hurdle at Cork and he looks another serious prospect. Now 2-2 under rules, there was immediate speculation regarding potential new connections so keep an eye out on that front.

ECHOING SILENCE could be one for the Mares Novices Hurdle in March if she continues to improve. She was very immature 12 months ago but has really filled out and she's a strong, imposing mare. De Bromhead mentioned that Cheltenham race as 'the dream' but that could become the reality if she continues on her upward trajectory.

All roads surely lead to the Drinmore for OL MAN DINGLE and he could be one for a nice handicap in the spring, depending how he fares in that Grade 1. He's undoubtedly talented and it's great to see trainer Eoin Griffin with a smart one.

LOANSOME BOATMAN won the Cork National after an enterprising ride from Darragh O'Keeffe. He jumped them silly from the front to give Sean Joseph Allen a win in the feature race of the day.