It just goes to show you, a sure thing isn't actually a sure thing in horse-racing.
The previously unbeaten Envoi Allen was the Irish banker this Cheltenham, widely tipped to bolt up and romp away with the Marsh Novice's chase this Thursday afternoon.
The prodigious seven-year-old more than likely had it in the tank to do that, and to take his third Cheltenham festival win, but it's one thing we will never have a certain answer to. Just like we'll never know whether the recent change in surroundings from Gordon Elliott's yard to Henry De Bromhead's made a difference.
All was going well up until the third fence, the first in the home straight when Jack Kennedy's mount took off too early and landed on his nose. Just like that, every accumulator in the British isles vanished in the Cheltenham wind.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1372545374351687687
Unaware of what was going on behind him, Nico De Boinville struck while the iron was hot aboard Chantry House, to give JP McManus his first winner of the festival.
Thankfully, both horse and rider Jack Kennedy were unscathed by the incident. There will be another day for this great thoroughbred.
https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1372540511400165380
