Love Envoi delivers in impressive style at Sandown

Love Envoi was an ultra-impressive winner of the Listed Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Mares’ Hurdle at Sandown and propelled herself towards the head of the market for the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The Harry Fry-trained seven-year-old travelled supremely well throughout in the two-and-a-half-mile contest and pulled herself to the front before the final turn.

Although tracked by last year’s winner Martello Sky, who was conceding 1lb, the 30-100 favourite drew readily clear. It was her eighth win in nine over hurdles, her sole loss coming in the Mares’ Hurdle at Fairyhouse in April.

After her 13-length victory under Jonathan Burke, the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates-owned Love Envoi received quotes of 4-1 (from 7-1) from Paddy Power for the Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival meeting, where she could take on the likes of Marie’s Rock, Epatante and even Honeysuckle.

But she has already shown a liking for the Prestbury Park track, having landed the Grade Two Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival meeting.

Former jockey and syndicate manager Fehily said: “She’s growing up all the time and Johnny said he was more impressed with her today than ever before.

“We shall have a chat with Harry as there’s a race at Warwick, but it wouldn’t bother me if she went straight to the Festival. Either way we are fairly relaxed.

“When David Crosse and I set up this syndicate, we hoped to have horses for Saturdays and not just to run across the country, but when she won at Cheltenham it was a dream come true.”