Trainer quotes 2021/22 season

[DeeBee]

Now we’re talking!

you’d also have to think that Bob Olinger getting beat by Ferny over 2 would further cement the Marsh over the Arkle for him

i say that as I have a Ferny double with both Appreciate It and Bob O in the Marsh but it feels like the plan is taking shape on that front

[Saxon Warrior]

Ferney chasing must also strengthen the chances of one of his mares going champion hurdle too..

Echoes......Echoes........Echoes.........Echoes.

Grade 1 Novice Hurdle Winner
Grade 2 Novice Hurdle Winner (Twice)

All beating the boys, no Mares races.

[Lbur4288]

Echoes......Echoes........Echoes.........Echoes.

Grade 1 Novice Hurdle Winner
Grade 2 Novice Hurdle Winner (Twice)

All beating the boys, no Mares races.

Only this forum could get me giddy for an event 5 months+ away.

[Madmoose]

Was it a pelvic break Ferny had like Douvan? No idea if there was muscle or ligament damage which would be more concerning.

Just pray he comes back injury free as he is super talented what we have seen so far.

[Odin]

Ferny Hollow for the Arkle is 16/1 with Coral, and 14/1 with Ladbrokes.

Whoops! Good job as the 14s had all gone by the time I'd figured out my bets! 16s with Coral was still available 2 mins ago unless I took the last of it

[Odin]

Echoes......Echoes........Echoes.........Echoes.

Grade 1 Novice Hurdle Winner
Grade 2 Novice Hurdle Winner (Twice)

All beating the boys, no Mares races.

This was my exact first thought - scary how similar we've been thinking about things recently Sax...

[Eggs]

Echoes......Echoes........Echoes.........Echoes.

Grade 1 Novice Hurdle Winner
Grade 2 Novice Hurdle Winner (Twice)

All beating the boys, no Mares races.

…still 16-1 with Lads (without boost).

[Odin]

…still 16-1 with Lads (without boost).

16/1 Corals as well if anyone fancies the double with 16/1 Ferny.

I did ew treble with 12/1 SWIW (Mares Hurdle)

[Eggs]

16/1 Corals as well if anyone fancies the double with 16/1 Ferny.

I did ew treble with 12/1 SWIW (Mares Hurdle)

….ha, ha, I’ve also just put that double on (with Lad boost).

[Fouroverthrutwo]

Was it a pelvic break Ferny had like Douvan? No idea if there was muscle or ligament damage which would be more concerning.

Just pray he comes back injury free as he is super talented what we have seen so far.

Stress fracture causing lameness. He was close to being ready for Punchestown but connections thought it best to give him more time given his obvious potential and ability. He's reported to be 'in great shape' according to the article highlighted by ToniC.

[Craigy14]

Echoes In Rain has a huge jump to make into open company.

Sure Saxon highlighted her at 25/1 which looks a decent enough shout now but at 16/1 or less it’s not for me at the minute, especially with what she has to make up.

11lbs with Epatante and 22lbs with Honeysuckle on official ratings. She did improve greatly in the spring after being beaten by some poor horses of WPM’s in January.

Time will tell how competitive she can be in open company.

[ToniC]

Echoes In Rain has a huge jump to make into open company.

Sure Saxon highlighted her at 25/1 which looks a decent enough shout now but at 16/1 or less it’s not for me at the minute, especially with what she has to make up.

11lbs with Epatante and 22lbs with Honeysuckle on official ratings. She did improve greatly in the spring after being beaten by some poor horses of WPM’s in January.

Time will tell how competitive she can be in open company.

With you here. Last years crop of 2m hurdlers were bad and she didn’t exactly beat the best of them either for all she seemed to improve as the season went on. For me she would have to be absolutely immense as a second season hurdler for Willie to consider aiming her at the champion rather than mares hurdle based on what we know about how he operates. Like you would be wanting double current offering to consider her for this race. Think her odds of 9/1 for the mares hurdle represent miles better value than those for the champion.

[Atlantic Viking]

She's rated 1lb better (2lb RPR) than Honeysuckle at the same age/stage and by the sounds of it there's potential for a serious amount of improvement, especially if she settles better. Just saying... it's a tough ask but not impossible.

[Craigy14]

She's rated 1lb better (2lb RPR) than Honeysuckle at the same age/stage and by the sounds of it there's potential for a serious amount of improvement, especially if she settles better. Just saying... it's a tough ask but not impossible.

She had ran twice more as a novice as well (Honeysuckle injury of course), so that coupled with running against the boys could explain it.

She may well improve enough but even so a regressing Honeysuckle would need to be of epic proportions imo for Echoes In Rain to beat her showing decent progression.

Saldier is only 7 too so he’ll likely show up again, no doubt sharjah as well but I don’t see him being competitive at 9 to be honest.

Its definitely not out of the question but I’d rather wait and see how well she does in open company at her current price before deciding what I’d do.

As a comparison Honeysuckle was 16/1 for a long long time for the Champion Hurdle having already raced in open company for a season (I understand the bookies are playing a part) but Honey was unbeaten 9/9 before her second season in open company, Echoes is shorter than that already having achieved a lot less.

[Saxon Warrior]

She's rated 1lb better (2lb RPR) than Honeysuckle at the same age/stage and by the sounds of it there's potential for a serious amount of improvement, especially if she settles better. Just saying... it's a tough ask but not impossible.

When I put together my 25/1 Echoes shout at the Fairyhouse meeting in early April part of it was to detail just this AV.

Novices going up against open company, always have lots to find on ratings, its inevitable.

But she starts on a par with where Honeysuckle was when she was a Novice Hurdler, and way above Epatante.

The post-race quote from Willie after the Grade 1 Punchestown win confirmed his thoughts about a possible Champion Hurdle bid.

if he lets all his other novices hurdlers go novice chasing then its looking likely she will start out down a 2M Graded Hurdle route - she didnt take in a single Mares race in all five runs last season, so she hasnt taken a typical Mares Hurdle route, and I dont think she is a typical 2M4F Hurdler.


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.”