One of the races of the afternoon at Punchestown on Saturday is the Grade One Mares Champion Hurdle and we fancy Love Envoi to take the race for England for a second year running.
Love Envoi for Harry Fry and owners Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate was a revelation last season making her debut at Leicester in December when winning nicely over 2m 4 1/2f.
Seen five more times before the end of the season the mare went on to win four nice events including two Grade Two events, one of them being the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.
Looking to round out the season in a Grade One at Fairyhouse, she bumped into the fresh Brandy Love for Willie Mullins and had to settle for second in the Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final.
Dropped back into a handicap for her seasonal debut off 139, she took on the boys and put up a serious weight carrying performance to win the race in determined fashion.
Chucked into an easier event next time out at Sandown in another Listed Mares Hurdle, especially getting weight off last years winner Martello Sky, she went on to bolt up putting away the field by 13 lengths.
It was all systems go for the Grade One Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and having ran a screamer she was just defeated by the Queen of jumps racing Honeysuckle.
There is nothing to suggest these horses in behind can reverse the form and for us Love Envoi is still getting better.