Envoi Allen to have CT scan after injury to hind joint in Punchestown flop

Envoi Allen will have a CT scan on Thursday morning to determine the extent of an injury to his hind joint that was picked up during the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown on Tuesday.

The Grade 1 event was billed as one of the best novice chases of the modern era with the 164-rated Envoi Allen taking on the 163-rated Cheltenham winner Monkfish, but it failed to work out the way it was expected with Colreevy making all the running and never looking in any danger.

Monkfish was beaten eight lengths into second with Willie Mullins convinced it was not his true running, while Envoi Allen was pulled up before the second-last by Rachael Blackmore.

Well beaten: Monkfish (right) is second best to impressive winner ColreevyCredit: Patrick McCann

The seven-year-old was later examined by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board veterinary officer at the request of the stewards and found to be lame, with Blackmore reporting that he hung badly left throughout.

Henry de Bromhead told the Racing Post on Wednesday afternoon: "Envoi Allen was lame on his near hind leg after the race and he's in Fethard [equine hospital]. He's done something to his hind joint. Nothing is showing up in x-rays, so he's going to have a CT scan tomorrow morning.

"I was never really happy watching him during the race. I thought he was jumping well, but he wasn't right. Rachael said he was leaning out the whole way through the race. There's obviously something bothering him and hopefully we can get to the bottom of it."

Envoi Allen was pushed out to 20-1 (from 7) for the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup by Betfair, who also doubled Monkfish's price from 4-1 to 8-1 after his tame defeat.

Henry de Bromhead: 'I was never really happy watching him during the race'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Mullins said of Monkfish: "Paul [Townend] said the third-last was the first time he asked Monkfish during the race and he just didn't come up for him for whatever reason. He seemed to be all right back in the stable yard afterwards."

Colreevy, the all-the-way winner of the race, is in foal to Walk In The Park, so it was her last racecourse appearance. She ends her career as an unbeaten chaser with two Grade 1 wins and a Cheltenham Festival success on her CV.

Reflecting on her career, Mullins said: "That was her racecourse swansong and what a way to bow out. A fabulous mare, she was very good at Cheltenham and to back it up like that is exceptional for any horse, never mind a mare. I'm looking forward to seeing her progeny running over the next few years."

Read more from day one at Punchestown:

What a swansong! Colreevy stuns Monkfish and Envoi Allen on her final start

'That was the real Chacun Pour Soi' – Paul Townend glowing after stunning win

No Appreciate It, no problem: classy Echoes In Rain records first Grade 1 win

No stopping Willie Mullins with five of the first six winners to Closutton

Chacun Pour Soi fans go wild on social media but Cheltenham doubts persist (Members' Club)

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