Punchestown festival's opening Grade 1 race, the eComm Merchant Solutions Champion Novice Hurdle, was today won by Willie Mullins' Echoes In Rain which moved the trainer's son, jockey Patrick Mullins to the front in the Amateur Jockeys' Championship.

The keen-going daughter of Authorized settled behind leader Blue Lord for much of the race, swept by approaching the last and easily beat maiden Colonel Mustard by 3.25L.

Echoes In Rain's success was Patrick Mullins' 46th in the Amateur Jockeys' Championship, one more than Jamie Codd, and afterwards Mullins senior stated “it's a great start for Patrick and for the winning connections Barnane Stud.

“She's a filly that is improving as she learns about racing.

“She just made one mistake with Patrick. He sort of blamed himself but he didn't want to jump it as well as she was setting herself to jump it because she was going to land there too soon so he let her fiddle it.

“She's a filly that's now after winning at the top class 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 now to settle her down so I doubt that I'd run her on the Flat. I'd say we'll just stick to this jumping game. She's learning how to pace herself jumping now and you'd have to be happy with that.”

Regarding Champion Hurdle prospects, he added “she's improving every day with every run, and she looks like she's setting herself up to have a chance at it.”

Quotes from Gary Carson