Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 15:50 €125,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 2f, Class 1  |
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1 Echoes In Rain 13/8J
2 Anna Bunina 28/1
3 Shewearsitwell 18/1
6 ran NR: Queens Brook Distances: 9½l, 1l, 4l
Time: 4m 47.70s (slow by 21.70s)
Echoes In Rain cruises to victory in the @coolmorestud N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares' Champion Hurdle @punchestownrace for yet another win for @PTownend and @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/DgIp3g1ONA https://t.co/80krXXP5Uh via @RacingBetter
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) April 30, 2023
Echoes In Rain was the 13-8 joint-favourite for the Grade One contest after finishing fourth in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle when last seen at the Cheltenham Festival.
Harry Fry’s Love Envoi was the other market leader, but was beaten around the final bend and faded to come home last in an unusually poor performance under Danny Mullins.
Echoes In Rain and stablemate She Wears It Well were left to share the lead and it was the former who pulled away easily to score by nine and a half lengths from John McConnell’s Anna Bunina, with She Wears It Well in third.
“She was very impressive,” said winning trainer Willie Mullins of the winning dual-purpose mare.
“Once again Paul (Townend) just rode her with complete confidence, he’s transferring his confidence through to his horses and they are on fire with it.
“She’s improving all the time. She’s hard on herself, but she’s just about learning to settle now.
“We’ll probably go back on the Flat with her, but Flat racing does upset her a little bit, it gets her too geed up for this job. We’ll see and have a good chat with the owners. She’s done the job here today and that’s what counts.
“She got very wound up in Cheltenham, but I think she’s maturing and some year she might be good enough to go back there.
“She’ll be aimed at it next year anyway.”
Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
€125,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 2f, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good to Yielding, Yielding in places
POS. DIST HORSE AGE TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Echoes In Rain 7 11-7 W P Mullins Paul Townend 13/8F
2 9½ Anna Bunina 7 11-7 John C McConnell Simon Torrens 28/1
3 1 Shewearsitwell 8 11-7 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 18/1
4 4 Epatante 9 11-7 Nicky Henderson Mark Walsh 17/2
5 7½ Brandy Love 7 11-7 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 11/2
6 15 Love Envoi 7 11-7 Harry Fry Danny Mullins 13/8J
NR 6 Queens Brook 8 11-7 Gordon Elliott NON RUNNER
PAST RESULTS
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2022 Marie's Rock 7 11-05 Middleham Park Racing XLII Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 10/1
2021 Stormy Ireland 7 11-09 FB Racing Club W P Mullins Danny Mullins 7/2
2020 Abandoned - Covid-19
2019 Benie Des Dieux 8-11-07 Mrs S Ricci Willie Mullins P Townend 2/5F
2018 Benie Des Dieux 7-11-07 Mrs S Ricci Willie Mullins P Townend 3/1
2017 Apple’s Jade 5-11-07 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Bryan Cooper Evs Fav
2016 Whiteout 5-11-07 Mrs David Lawlor Willie Mullins Paul Townend 16/1
2015 Annie Power 7-11-07 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 2/9 Fav
2014 Annie Power 6-11-07 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/6 Fav
2013 Glens Melody 5-11-07 Ms Fiona McStay Willie Mullins Paul Townend 7/2
