Longshots take Grade 1 stakes at Cheltenham
Combined, they are 20 years old.
The 9-year-old Envoi Allen and 11-year-old Sire Du Berlais have been an annual presence at the National Hunt Festival each March at Cheltenham Racecourse in England since the late 2010s.
On Thursday, they recorded upset wins in consecutive Grade 1 races at the prestigious meeting.
Envoi Allen ($14.80 in American pools) closed from a stalking position to win the $456,000 Ryanair Chase at about 2 1/2 miles for his 15th win in his 21st start and his third win at the Cheltenham festival.
Ridden by Rachael Blackmore, Envoi Allen stalked the pace for the first two miles, moved closer to the front with a half-mile to go and won by 2 3/4 lengths over 3-5 Shishkin, who closed late to finish second. Shishkin has won three times at the Cheltenham festival in his career.
Trained by Henry De Bromhead, Envoi Allen won Grade 1 races in March at Cheltenham in 2019 and 2020; fell in a Grade 1 in 2021, ending an 11-race unbeaten streak at the start of his career; and was third in the Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase at two miles last year.
The Ryanair Chase was Envoi Allen’s first win since the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal Racecourse near Belfast, Northern Ireland, in November. Envoi Allen was later seventh in the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park near London in December, the most prestigious jump race of the winter in England.
The win by Sire Du Berlais was harder to predict. Prior to Thursday’s race, Sire Du Berlais was winless in five starts since the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at 3 1/16 miles at Aintree Racecourse last April.
In Thursday’s $427,600 Stayers Hurdle at about three miles, Sire Du Berlais ($81.80) made a late run in a field of 11 to win by three-quarters of a length over 44-1 Dashel Drasher for his fourth career victory at Cheltenham in March.
Teahupoo, the 9-5 favorite, finished third, a nose behind Dashel Drasher, but was promoted to second when Dashel Drasher was disqualified for causing interference.
Sire Du Berlais, trained by Gordon Elliott, was ridden by Mark Walsh, who was aboard for the win at Aintree last April and two subsequent races.
Sire Du Berlais started at the Cheltenham March festival for the first time when fourth in a handicap hurdle for apprentice jockeys in 2018. He won three-mile handicap hurdles in 2019 and 2020 at Cheltenham, finished second in the 2021 Stayers’ Hurdle, and was 11th in a handicap hurdle last year.
The wins by Envoi Allen and Sire Du Berlais continued a streak of dominance by Irish stables at Cheltenham. Through Thursday’s third day of the four-day season, Irish-based runners have won 15 of the 21 races run. The meeting concludes on Friday.
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