2021 Marsh Novices’ Chase Tips – Envoi Allen unopposable on day three

Day three at the Cheltenham Festival is headlined by the Marsh Novices’ Chase. This Grade One was added to the schedule in 2011, and has been won by brilliant horses like Sir Des Champs, Yorkshill, Defi Du Seuill and Vautour.

Irish horses have been dominant in the Marsh, winning all-but-two of the ten editions thus far. In 2021, the most exciting horse in training will fly the flag for Ireland in day three’s opener.

ENVOI ALLEN will look to extend his unbeaten career record into an eleventh race when he makes his third Cheltenham Festival appearance. 

Gordon Elliott’s star has won the Champion Bumper and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle on his two previous spins around Cheltenham, and only the bravest of punters will be against Envoi Allen adding a third Festival prize to his resume.

Envoi Allen has been flawless on his three starts over fences so far, quickening clear with the minimum fuss to win on debut at Down Royal, the Drinmore at Fairyhouse, and a Grade Three at Punchestown on his most recent run. Jack Kennedy’s mount goes on all kinds of ground, right or left-handed, he has the pace for two miles and the stamina for three. 

Envoi Allen is the best horse in training and, baring some sort of divine intervention, he will win the opener on day three of the Cheltenham Festival. He’ll probably go off around 1/2, maybe even 1/3, so take the 4/5 while you can!

*UPDATE*

Envoi Allen has since joined Henry De Bromhead's yard from Gordon Elliott. I'm not really concerned about the stable move, especially as Envoi Allen is such a laid-back horse and he's used to change, having been to Cheltenham the last two years. I'd be amazed if it had an adverse effect on his peformance.

Monkfish and Energumene feature in the betting, but neither will turn up here. Sporting John looks set to step up to three miles, Allart has been given an entry in the Coral Cup, Fussil Raffles looks better suited to the Arkle and Franco De Port looks set to be kept over two miles.

I think the Irish trainers will look to swerve Envoi Allen. Michael Winters may send Chatham Street Lad here, but this season’s Caspian Caviar Gold Cup winner will have to step up his game to challenge in open company. 

Asterion Forlonge and Blackbow are possible contenders for Willie Mullins, but I don’t trust Asterion Forlonge’s jumping and Blackbow has never run over further than two miles.

Fergal O’Brien could give Paint The Dream a run here, despite the Paddy Power Plate looking a much more suitable option. Fils D’Oudairies ran well behind Envoi Allen at Punchestown, going down by just three lengths. He could feature in the field too, despite a lengthy defeat behind Monkfish at the Dublin Racing Festival.

There are only two runners who hold any sort of each-way appeal, and that would disappear quickly if there are only two paid places available.

Shan Blue has been one of the most consistent novice chasers in Britain this season, winning twice at Wetherby before making all to win the Kauto Star at Kempton. Dan Skelton’s front-runner looked to have seen off the field in the Scilly Isles at Sandown, only for Sporting John to power into contention from the rear and pick off the tiring leader after the last.

Better ground at the Cheltenham Festival will suit Shan Blue, and his jumping is extremely dependable. Envoi Allen will probably stalk Skelton’s star and pick him off late on, but there’s every chance Shan Blue will keep on up the hill and claim second-place.

Chantry House sits prominently in the Paddy Power Plate betting. Yet, Nicky Henderson thinks very highly of this seven-year-old, and I’d be shocked if he wasn’t thrown into this Grade One. Chantry House jumped terribly around Cheltenham earlier in the season, but looked much improved when winning at Wetherby last time out, and he can challenge for the places.