'He's done really well since Leopardstown' - Bob Olinger out to restore reputation

It is on to plan C for Bob Olinger after plans A and B didn't work. 

Plan A was chasing. He won his first three starts over fences, albeit he was fortunate to win the Turners' Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, but blotted his copybook when pulled up at Punchestown. 

Plan B was staying hurdling. That looked a shrewd move when second to Home By The Lee in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan but he finished tired in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown so that has now been shelved. 

Plan C is a potential crack at the Champion Hurdle over 2m. That is his sole entry at the festival and he is as big as 40-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power to win that. He might not be if he were to win this convincingly. 

That is a big 'if', though, and there are plenty of punters and pundits who think Bob Olinger might never win another race. This will surely tell us where we stand with the three-time Grade 1 winner who has to give 7lb to classy mare Echoes In Rain. 

She is a rock-solid 150-rated hurdler who was keeping on nicely when coming down two out in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse. 

Echoes In Rain was fifth in the Mares' Hurdle at last season's Cheltenham Festival and followed that up by chasing home Honeysuckle at Punchestown. She won a Grade 2 novice hurdle over this course and distance in 2021 and must have big claims. 

Darasso won this race last year at 8-1 when upsetting the odds-on Saint Felicien. He is a smart dual-purpose performer who will be there to pick up the scraps if either of the top two underperform. 

Meet And Greet ran a corker in the Christmas Hurdle when a close-up third to Home By The Lee but will this be too sharp for him? 

Echoes In Rain: won a Grade 2 novice hurdle over this course and distance in 2021Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

'Maybe this is his trip' - De Bromhead hopeful of big Bob run

Henry de Bromhead remains full of hope that Bob Olinger can recapture his old sparkle over this shorter trip. 

After sprinting clear of Gaillard Du Mesnil and Bravemansgame in the 2021 Ballymore, it looked like Bob Olinger had the world at his feet but things have not gone according to plan since and now he is back over the minimum trip for the first time since he was beaten by Ferny Hollow in a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park in 2020. 

De Bromhead said: "He obviously didn't stay three miles last time, so we're trying something different and dropping him down to two miles. Maybe this will be his trip. Who knows? He's done really well since Leopardstown and seems to be in good form."

What they say 

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Darasso
He's in great form and is a reliable performer. He'll like the ground and the trip, and he should run his usual sound race. He never lets us down.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Cash Back and Echoes In Rain
The conditions should suit Echoes In Rain. It might be hard to beat Bob Olinger and the trip may be a tad short for my mare, but it might be for him too. Cash Back is having his first run back for a while and really isn't suited by the penalty structure of this race, but I’m finding it hard to find opportunities for him. He could be outclassed.

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