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Fry 'very happy' with switch to Sandown for Love Envoi

3 minute read

Three-time course winner Love Envoi could benefit from the rescheduling of the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle from Newcastle to her favoured Sandown Park.

LOVE ENVOI winning the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race) Picture: Pat Healy Photography

The Grade 1 contest was transferred to the Tingle Creek card at the Surrey track following the abandonment of Newcastle's feature jumps meeting on Saturday, due to snowfall and frozen ground.

The Harry Fry-trained Love Envoi is unbeaten in three outings at Sandown Park, including a victory in the Grade 2 Jane Seymoure Mares' Novices' Hurdle in February 2022 and more recently, when taking the Listed Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Mares' Hurdle in January 2023.

Winner of the Grade 2 Mares' Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022, Love Envoi returned twelve months later with a brave second behind Honeysuckle in the Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle. The Fighting Fifth will be her seasonal reappearance, following a break since a disappointing run in the Grade 1 Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown in late April.

"All being well, the plan is to run," said Fry.

"Obviously, it was disappointing for Newcastle to lose their fixture on Saturday, but we're pleased the race was able to be rescued and rescheduled for this weekend on a track that suits us well.

"She's three from three at the course and won at this meeting last year in the handicap hurdle. There'll be more of an emphasis on stamina over two miles round Sandown than there would have been at Newcastle, so from our point of view, we're very happy."

Love Envoi is currently 3/1 second favourite with Paddy Power for Saturday's Fighting Fifth Hurdle.