April 29 / 15.50 Punchestown

15.50

Good To Yielding

Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £65265.49
  • 2m 3f 30y
  • 7 runners
RTE1
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Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

Form: 52-F14 C

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Very talented dual-purpose mare; won big amateur handicap at Galway last season and touched off in Irish Cesarewitch; convincing winner of Naas Grade 3 hurdle at the end of January; needs to reverse Cheltenham form with Love Envoi and Queens Brook; can race too freely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

12th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

16:10 Cheltenham

Echoes In Rain

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

in rear

25/1

4th

5

4th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

14:45 Leopardstown

Echoes In Rain

11st 5lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

raced in third, outpaced when dropped to rear home turn, soon no impression

20/1

3rd

4

29th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

14:20 Leopardstown

Echoes In Rain

11st 5lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

held up in rear, disputing third when not fluent 4th

9/1

Form: 604293

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Last year's Scottish Champion Hurdle winner; third in same race last Saturday having previously finished ninth in the County Hurdle; lowest-rated of the seven runners to the tune of 6lb; tough task in the circumstances.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19

12th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Anna Bunina

10st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: John C McConnell

Usually claimer ridden but now has Harry Cobden; the last of her ten wins was in August 2022; still shows plenty on occasions, including when seventh in the Pertemps Final last March and a close second back at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) three starts back; pulled up with cheekpieces enlisted on latest start; that headgear is now discarded but she's not the percentage call.

33/1

2

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

14:32 Chepstow

Anna Bunina

11st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: John C McConnell

Usually claimer ridden; the last of her ten wins was in August 2022; still shows plenty on occasions, including when seventh in the Pertemps Final last March and a close second back at Cheltenham (2m4f) on penultimate outing; she performed far worse in the Musselburgh qualifier three weeks ago than she did last year, however, which sees cheekpieces enlisted.

20/1

8th

2

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:00 Musselburgh

Anna Bunina

12st 0lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: John C McConnell

The last of her ten wins was in August 2022 but she still shows plenty on occasions, including when a strong-finishing fourth in this race last year and a close second at Cheltenham (2m4f) on latest outing; usually claimer ridden; place contender.

10/1

Form: 5P4119 C

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Won a 3m handicap at this venue in November; beat Queens Brook (gave 3lb) at Leopardstown at Christmas; faded to finish in rear in Grade 1 Cheltenham event contested by all the key players in this rematch.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

29th Apr 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 30y

15:50 Punchestown

Shewearsitwell

11st 7lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

led, ridden and headed before last, soon no chance with winner, lost second but kept on run-in

12/1

9th

9

14th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

16:10 Cheltenham

Shewearsitwell

11st 5lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Got firmly back on track with successive wins to end 2022, including when too strong for Queens Brook (albeit in receipt of 3lb) in a Leopardstown Grade 3 (2m4f, soft) over Christmas; will need a good bit more again if she's to extend that winning sequence to three, though.

25/1

1st

6

29th Dec 2022

Soft

2m 4f 0y

13:10 Leopardstown

Shewearsitwell

10st 11lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

in touch with leaders on outer, went second after 2 out (usual 3 out), pushed along to lead going best when switched right omitted last, stayed on, comfortably

6/4

Form: -22184 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Former Champion Hurdle winner, paying her third visit to Punchestown; second to Honeysuckle over 2m in 2021, third to Marie's Rock in this race last year; did not have at her best to win at Doncaster in January and disappointed in the equivalent race to this at Cheltenham; otherwise has played second fiddle to Constitution Hill; up against it at this stage.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

29th Apr 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 30y

15:50 Punchestown

Epatante

11st 7lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Nicky Henderson

in rear but in touch with leaders, some headway on inner 2 out, pushed along when bit short of room home turn, soon outpaced and lost position when ridden, went fourth before last, no extra run-in

11/2

4th

6

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

Epatante

11st 3lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Nicky Henderson

Didn't have to be at her best for Grade 2 mares' win at Doncaster in January and disappointing in the mares' hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival; however, she won this race last year (good to soft) and there's every chance she'll be best of the rest behind stablemate Constitution Hill, which was the case in the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle this season.

12/1

8th

3

14th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

16:10 Cheltenham

Epatante

11st 5lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Nicky Henderson

Six-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles, including the 2020 Champion Hurdle; no match for superstar stablemate Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth or Christmas Hurdle at the end of 2022 but underlined what a class act she is among her own sex when hacking up in a 2m Grade 2 at Doncaster in January; has won a Grade 1 over this trip; major player.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 121-35

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Ended her novice season by trouncing Love Envoi in a 2m4f Grade 1 at Fairyhouse last April; not seen again until third behind Queens Brook (rec' 9lb) in 2m4f Grade 3 event here in February; behind three of these when fifth at Cheltenham, and Paul Townend now switches to fourth-placed Echoes In Rain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

25th Apr 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 100y

18:22 Wexford

Brandy Love

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Turned over at odds on in beginners' chases on her last couple of starts but has still run with credit; Grade 1 winner over timber and likely to find improvement in this sphere before too long; the one to beat.

4/5

2

25th Apr 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 100y

18:22 Wexford

Brandy Love

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

took keen hold, prominent early, chased clear leader before 2nd, mistake 3rd, mistake 5th

4/5

2nd

1

7th Jan 2024

Soft To Heavy

2m 4f 0y

12:30 Naas

Brandy Love

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

visibility reduced by fog, raced in second, led before 6th, faced challenge before 2 out, headed when no extra after last, no match for winner

4/9

Form: 12-112 D

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Made it eight wins from her nine starts (including the Dawn Run at last season's Festival) when an easy Listed scorer over 2m4f at Sandown in January; beat all bar Honeysuckle at Cheltenham, including for five of these rivals including Brandy Love who inflicted the first defeat of her career at Fairyhouse last season; sets the standard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

12th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

16:10 Cheltenham

Love Envoi

11st 5lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Harry Fry

towards rear

12/1

2nd

5

27th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Love Envoi

11st 1lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Harry Fry

Raced mainly on soft/heavy (withdrawn due to good ground once); smart mare whose record is 8-12 and who performed very well (first/second) at the last two Cheltenham Festivals; may be back on song with Sandown reappearance under her belt; has the best chance at the weights.

3/1

2nd

5

9th Dec 2023

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 1

13:15 Sandown

Love Envoi

11st 3lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Harry Fry

Picked up a stress fracture at Punchestown (soundly beaten) when last seen but has made a full recovery; has a solid/progressive record (at 2m-2m5f) otherwise and career record is 8-11; ran well behind Honeysuckle in a strong Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival (soft) two starts ago; 3-3 at Sandown, including a win on this card last year; remains of major interest.

13/2

Form: -31213 CD

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Second to Marie's Rock in Grade 1 event at Cheltenham last year and third to Honeysuckle last month; was getting 9lb and had the advantage of race-fitness when relegation Brandy Love to third here in February; did well to uphold that form at Cheltenham; place chance again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

29th Apr 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 30y

15:50 Punchestown

Queens Brook

11st 7lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gordon Elliott

Second to Marie's Rock in Grade 1 event at Cheltenham last year and third to Honeysuckle last month; was getting 9lb and had the advantage of race-fitness when relegation Brandy Love to third here in February; did well to uphold that form at Cheltenham; place chance again.

5/1

3rd

8

14th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

16:10 Cheltenham

Queens Brook

11st 5lb

J: Davy Russell

T: Gordon Elliott

Second to Marie's Rock in this 12 months ago; warmed up for this year's renewal with a win in a 2m4f Punchestown Grade 3 (yielding) three weeks ago, but Brandy Love was just under 5l behind in third and meets her on 9lb better terms now; this likeable mare looks sure to give her running but this looks a stronger race than last year.

20/1

1st

3

22nd Feb 2023

Yielding

2m 4f 100y

14:15 Punchestown

Queens Brook

10st 12lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

raced in second, led going okay 2 out, ridden when faced challenge before last, ran on after last

2/1

Non-runners

Queens Brook

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast €36.99

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Love Envoi

The Irish Sun:

Brandy Love

POSTDATA:

Queens Brook

RP Ratings (IRE):

Echoes In Rain

TOPSPEED:

Epatante