'She has a great profile' - can top hurdler Echoes In Rain cash in on Flat mark?

Monday: 6.40 Galway
Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap | 2m1f | 4yo+ | RTE2/RTV

Not for the first time, the Connacht Hotel Handicap revolves around a Grade 1-winning hurdler seeking to exploit what looks a very favourable Flat mark.

It was the same story in 2020 when Sharjah was sent off favourite and now it is the turn of Echoes In Rain to try to provide Patrick Mullins with his first win at the 16th attempt in the amateur riders' race.

It is an anomaly that the most successful amateur of all time has never won it, especially when you consider he rode Sharjah two years ago. The now six-time Grade 1 winner started at 5-2 to defy a Flat mark of 94 but could finish only tenth behind Princess Zoe, who turned out to be spectacularly well handicapped off 83.

Other Mullins-ridden runners sent off favourite in the last decade were Limini in 2018 and Call Me Bubbles in 2013.

If Mullins is to end his hoodoo, he will have to do it from stall 21. No winner has come from as wide as that in the last decade, but Coltor (13), Princess Zoe (15), Great White Shark (13), Uradel (13), Swamp Fox (18), Quick Jack (14) and Midnight Music (16) have all won in that period from double-digit draws, so maybe it is not the negative many might think.

The main concern would be that Echoes In Rain needs to settle and she might see too much daylight. If Mullins can bury her and get a clear passage coming in and out of the dip, she will be hard to beat. All things considered, you would want at least 5-1 about her.

Who knows what to expect from Lot Of Joy. Last year's Swedish St Leger winner begins life with Willie Mullins off a mark of 92, having been bought for €165,000 at the Arqana December Sale. She was second in the Swedish Oaks, sixth in the Norwegian Derby and third in the Norwegian Oaks so must have ability. Your guess is as good as mine with regard to just how much.

Farout is a course winner over hurdles and must be considered under Jody Townend, who won the race in 2019 on Great White Shark, while Maze Runner is another Closutton resident not without a chance.

The two who appeal at bigger prices are Lynwood Gold and Cask Mate. Lynwood Gold ran a remarkable race in this last year, when planting himself in the stalls and losing at least 20 lengths. He flew home for fifth and a better start this time would see him enter the equation.

Cask Mate has lost his way since chasing home Zanahiyr at Down Royal in October, but there was more sign of life in the Ladies Derby at the Curragh last time and he cannot be ruled out off a mark of 87. He is a strong traveller when on song and this race would look tailormade for him.

A few other things to note. In the last 20 years only one winner has carried more than 11st 1lb, Ghimaar in 2009; Quick Jack, sent off at 4-1 in 2014, is the only winning favourite over the last two decades; and Finny Maguire has won the last two runnings on Coltor and Princess Zoe – he is back aboard last year's winner Coltor for Dermot Weld.

'It would mean a lot' - Mullins seeks maiden win

Will it be a case of sweet 16 for Patrick Mullins? Ireland's leading amateur has won 23 Grade 1s in his illustrious career, 18 against of them against the pros, but he has yet to win this valuable prize confined to amateurs despite having 15 goes.

He was second on Limini in 2018 and has finished third twice, but this looks one of his best chances as he teams up with Echoes In Rain, a 150-rated hurdler who has an extremely attractive Flat mark of 87.

Patrick Mullins: seeking a first win in the Galway day one featureCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

It was Mullins who was on board when she won her sole Grade 1. That was the Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown festival last year, when she cruised to the front approaching the last and victory was never really in doubt. She won by three and a quarter lengths.

Her subsequent career has probably not gone the way connections would have hoped, but she has been pitched in at the deep end on plenty of occasions. It would be unfair to judge her too harshly on her efforts at the top level and this looks a glorious chance to plunder a big pot.

Mullins said: "She has a great profile for it. She's also in the Galway Hurdle, but she's unexposed on the Flat and we know from seeing her over hurdles that she has a touch of class.

"You'd like to think she has a great chance. I would love to win before I retire. It would mean a lot."

Patrick Mullins in the Connacht Hotel Handicap

2021 Hook Up (6-1) 4th
2020 Sharjah (5-2f) 10th
2019 Legan Spin (8-1) 15th
2018 Limini (2-1f) 2nd
2017 Lagostovegas (6-1) 4th
2016 Renneti (9-1) 4th
2015 Whiteout (7-1) 9th
2014 Digeanta (16-1) 8th
2013 Call Me Bubbles (5-1jf) 13th
2012 Earls Quarter (12-1) 9th
2010 Ballyhaunis (11-2f) 3rd
2009 Lazio (25-1) 13th
2008 Serpentaria (14-1) 15th
2007 Impudent (13-2) 3rd
2006 Warrens Castle (8-1) 19th

What they say

Emmet Mullins, trainer of Crowns Major
He ran well off this mark when fourth on Irish Champions Weekend. That trip of a mile and six furlongs might just have been a bit short, so hopefully two miles should suit him.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Whiskey Sour, Lot Of Joy, Maze Runner, Echoes In Rain, Foveros, Farout and Youmdor
Whiskey Sour won this race five years ago and showed his wellbeing when winning a hurdle race at Cork earlier this month. Everything is right for him here and Aubrey [McMahon] has been very lucky in this race, winning it twice and finishing second last year. Lot Of Joy is a new filly to the yard who won the Swedish St Leger last year. The trip won’t be a problem and she will like the ground. However, we don’t know how she will handle this unique track and on ratings she might find this a difficult task. Maze Runner likes this track and comes here off a fine win over this trip at the Curragh. He is a course winner and with the 5lb claim, he might give Elliot [Ohgren] his first winner in this country. Patrick has elected to ride Echoes In Rain and he gives her a great chance. She has a lovely weight and her run at the Curragh last time will have prepared her nicely for this. Foveros was second in this race last year and if he gets the same luck in running he could be in the shakeup again. Farout is a course winner and finished fifth over a mile and a half at Leopardstown last time. This trip will suit him better and he has the benefit of Jody Townend's useful 5lb claim. Youmdor is first reserve and has a good chance if he gets a run. The trip at Ballinrobe last week was too short for him and hopefully this race won’t be coming too soon.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Powerful Aggie and Celestial Horizon
Powerful Aggie is in good shape at home. I've just been waiting for a bit of juice in the ground for her, so any drop of rain that falls will be a big help. Celestial Horizon was a little bit disappointing in the Grimes Hurdle last time, but we're hoping a return to the Flat might see him come back to himself, if he gets in.

Dermot Weld, trainer of Coltor
He's well and hopefully goes there with a reasonable chance in what looks to be an open and competitive handicap.

Harry Fry, trainer of Winterwatch
The race has been a target for a while. We were keen to try him back on the Flat with this race in mind. He won his prep race a fortnight ago at Kempton, so he's all set.

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