eCOMM Merchant Solutions Champion Novice Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 16:15 Race Value: €100,000 5yo plus 2m 100y, Class 1  |
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| Tuesday 27th April 2021 |
1 Echoes in Rain 8/13F
2
Colonel Mustard 40/1
3
Blue Lord 15/8
5 ran Distances: 3¼l, ¾l, 7½l
Time: 4m 5.30s (slow by 16.30s)
🏇 Talented Mare - Strong in the market, ECHOES IN RAIN does the job nicely to win the (Grade 1) Champion Novice Hurdle at @punchestownrace.
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) April 27, 2021
🤠 @WillieMullinsNH is up and running at the 2021 #PunchestownFestival!pic.twitter.com/EoYH6DjGw9
Exciting mare Echoes In Rain beat the boys with an impressive display to kickstart a remarkable five-timer for Willie Mullins on day one of the Punchestown Festival .
Mullins had saddled seven previous winners of the Grade One contest, with Hurricane Fly (2009), Faugheen (2014) and Douvan (2015) among those on the roll of honour.
This year the Closutton handler fired a twin assault, with dual Grade Two winner Echoes In Rain under the trainer’s son Patrick Mullins, and Blue Lord in the hands of Paul Townend.
Bidding to bounce back from a final-flight fall when seemingly booked for second behind stablemate Appreciate It in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, Blue Lord set out to make all the running, with Echoes In Rain always in his slipstream.
The favourite took over the lead with relative ease on the run to the final flight, however, before kicking just over three lengths clear on the run-in.
Colonel Mustard finished with a flourish to beat Blue Lord to the runner-up spot late on and deny Mullins a one-two.
Mullins said: “It’s a great start to the week for Patrick and for Echoes In Rain’s connections.
“She is a filly that’s improving as she learns about racing. She just made one mistake, and Patrick blamed himself because he didn’t want her to jump it as well as she was setting herself up to jump it because she was going to land there too soon, so he let her fiddle it.
“She’s a filly who has now won at the top level, and hopefully that’s where she’ll stay for the next couple of years.
“She could run on the Flat, but it’s taken us two years to settle her down, so I doubt I’m going to do that.
“I’d say we’ll probably stick to this jumping game. She’s learning how to pace herself jumping now, and you’d have to be happy with that.”
Asked whether he felt Echoes In Rain could develop into a Champion Hurdle contender, he added: “She’s improving every day and with every run and looks like she’s setting herself up to get a chance at it.”
eCOMM Champion Novice Hurdle
€100,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 100y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Yielding, Good to Yielding in places
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Echoes In Rain 5 11-7 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 8/13F
2 3¼ Colonel Mustard 6 12-0 Mrs Lorna Fowler Conor Orr 40/1
3 ¾ Blue Lord 6 12-0 W P Mullins Paul Townend 15/8
4 7½ Uhtred 6 12-0 Joseph O'Brien Rachael Blackmore 20/1
5 28 Dewcup 6 12-0 T M Walsh Mark Walsh 28/1
Past Results:
| Year | Horse/SP | Age/Wt Owner | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2020 | Abandoned (Covid-19) |
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| 2019 | Klassical Dream 8/13F | 5-11-12 Mrs Joanne Coleman |
Willie Mullins | R Walsh |
| 2018 | Draconien 25/1 | 5-11-12 Clipper Logistics Group Ltd |
Willie Mullins | N D Fehily |
| 2017 | Cilaos Emery 8/1 | 5-11-12 Luke McMahon |
Willie Mullins | David Mullins |
| 2016 | Don't Touch It 16/1 | 6-11-12 J P McManus |
Mrs J Harrington | B J Geraghty |
| 2015 | Douvan 1/6F | 5-11-12 Susannah Ricci |
Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2014 | Faugheen 1/2F | 6-11-12 Susannah Ricci |
Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2013 | Jezki 2/1 | 5-11-12 J P McManus |
Jessica Harrington | Barry Geraghty |
| 2012 | Alderwood 5/2 | 8-11-12 J P McManus |
Tom Mullins | A P McCoy |
| 2011 | Shot From The Hip 11/2 | 7-11-12 J P McManus |
Edward O’Grady | A P McCoy |
| 2010 | Blackstair mountain 5/1 |
5-11-12 Susannah Ricci |
Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2009 | Hurricane Fly 4/6 Fav | 5-11-12 George Creight |
on/Rose Boyd Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2008 | Jered 7/4 Fav | 6-11-12 J P McManus |
Noel Meade | A P McCoy |
| 2007 | Clopf 7/4 Fav | 6-11-12 Bernard Heffernan |
Edward O’Grady | Barry Geraghty |
| 2006 | Iktitaf 8/1 | 5-11-11 Mrs Pat Sloan |
Noel Meade | Ruby Walsh |
| 2005 | Wild Passion 7/4 Fav | 5-11-11 Des Sharkey |
Noel Meade | Paul Carberry |
| 2004 | Brave Inca 2/1 Fav | 6-11-12 Novices Syndicate |
Colm Murphy | Barry Cash |
| 2003 | Back In Front 4/11 Fav | 6-11-12 Dermot Cox |
Edward O’Grady | Norman Williamson |
| 2002 | Scottish Memories 11/4 | 6-11-12 Mary Halligan |
Noel Meade | Paul Carberry |
| *2001 | Ned Kelly 4/5 Fav | 5-11-11 Sue Magnier |
Edward O’Grady | Norman Williamson |
| 2000 | Moscow Flyer 10/1 | 6-12-00 Brian Kearney | Jessica Harrington | Barry Geraghty |
| 1999 | Cardinal Hill 1/2 Fav | 5-11-13 J P McManus |
Noel Meade | Charlie Swan |
| 1998 | His Song 6/4 | 5-11-13 David Lloyd |
Mouse Morris | A P McCoy |
| 1997 | Midnight Legend 7/4 Fav | 6-12-00 Hilda Clarke |
David Nicholson GB | Richard Johnson |
| 1996 | Dance Beat 7/2 | 5-11-08 Mrs E Queally |
Jessica Harrington | John Shortt |
| 1995 | Hotel Minella 5/4 Fav | 8-12-00 John J Nallen |
Aidan O’Brien | Charlie Swan |
| 1994 | Klairon Davis 7/4 Fav | 5-11-13 Chris Jones |
Arthur Moore | Tom Horgan |
| 1993 | Bayrouge 7/2 | 5-11-08 Joe Crowley |
Anne-Marie O’Brien | Richard Dunwoody |
| 1992 | Fortune And Fame 11/4 Fav | 5-11-13 Michael Smurfit |
Dermot Weld | Brendan Sheridan |
| 1991 | Young Pokey 5/2 | 6-12-00 Maurice Oberstein |
Oliver Sherwood GB | Jamie Osborne |
| 1990 | Vestris Abu 5/2 | 4-10-05 Mrs C Shubotham |
Jim Bolger | Charlie Swan |
| 1989 | The Proclamation 9/2 | 6-10-13 J M Whaley |
Paddy Prendergast | Richard Dunwoody |
| 1988 | El-Sid Senor 9/4 Fav | 5-11-07 T Miley |
Francis Flood | Frank Berry |
| 1987 | High Plains 8/1 | 5-11-05 Raymond Mould |
David Nicholson GB | Richard Dunwoody |
| 1986 | Barney Burnett Evs Fav | 6-11-09 P Donovan |
Ruby Walsh | Brendan Sheridan |
| 1985 | Hungary Hur 5/1 | 6-11-06 Mrs A Fegan |
Paddy Mullins | Tony Mullins |
| 1984 | Gav’s Delight 2/5 Fav | 6-11-07 N McGrady |
Michael Cunningham | Ken Morgan |
| 1983 | Dawn Run 5/2 Fav | 5-11-07 Mrs Charmian Hill |
Paddy Mullins | Tony Mullins |
| 1982 | Bustineto 5/2 | 4-10-05 Timothy Kinsella |
Mick O’Toole | Niall Madden |
| 1981 | Tie Anchor 2/1 Fav | 4-10-09 Daniel Hale |
Paddy Prendergast | Tommy McGivern |
| 1980 | Deep Gale 7/1 | 7-11-08 J P McManus |
Edward O’Grady | Mr Frank Codd |
