The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)

Lots to love about Envoi at Sandown

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Love Envoi can maintain her unbeaten record with victory in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown.

A £38,000 purchase after winning a Wexford bumper for prominent point-to-point trainer Sean Doyle last spring, the Westerner mare has proved a real find for Noel Fehily Racing.

She made a successful hurdling debut for her new connection­s at Leicester in early December – and the runner-up, Miss Fairfax, has since won twice.

Love Envoi comfortabl­y defied a penalty on her next start at Warwick before making it a hat-trick at Lingfield last month – readily accounting for the 123-rated Nurse Susan.

The Harry Fry-trained six-year-old faces a step up in class for this Grade Two assignment, but she has proven her suitabilit­y for testing conditions and another bold showing looks assured.

Hogan’s Height is fancied to claim top honours in the Castel Royal Artillery Gold Cup.

Jamie Snowden’s veteran got his head in front for the first time since winning the 2019 Grand Sefton over Aintree’s Grand National fences when making a successful hunter chase debut at Ludlow last month.

Fitted with cheek pieces for the first time in Shropshire, Hogan’s Height made the most of having his sights lowered to secure a confidence­boosting victory.

Faced with just three rivals in this prestigiou­s contest for military amateur jockeys, Will Kellard’s mount should prove hard to beat.

Dreaming Blue can make it back-toback wins at Fontwell in the Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle.

Bought out of Richard Fahey’s yard after winning at Wolverhamp­ton, the five-year-old was well beaten on his hurdling bow for Anthony Honeyball.

Having undergone wind surgery last summer and spent a year a off the track, he did not fare much better when switched back to the Flat earlier this winter. But reverting to the hurdles here a few weeks ago, Dreaming Blue put in a much improved performanc­e – jumping much better than had been in the case on his first attempt on his way to an 11-length verdict.

He clearly handles cut in the ground and this track, and this looks a good opportunit­y for him to double his tally over obstacles.

Interne De Sivola should make the most of a drop in class in the Virgin Bet Juvenile Hurdle.

The Nick Williams-trained gelding looked set to take high rank in this division when beating a couple of subsequent winners in Yorksea and Galah at Cheltenham in December.

He was expected to go well again on his return to the Cotswolds for a Triumph Hurdle trial last month, but raced freely and inevitably weakened to finish a long way behind the impressive Pied Piper.

Interne De Sivola certainly has enough ability to get back on the winning trail in this company if his exuberance can be harnessed.

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