Echoes In Rain powers home under Townend

The well-supported 13/8 joint-favourite Echoes In Rain was a facile winner of the Coolmore Irish EBF Mares' Champion Hurdle.

Held up in rear by Paul Townend, the daughter of Authorized cruised into contention after the second-last and went past Shewearsitwell on the approach to the last. Townend was able to take it easy on her in the closing stages as she scored by nine and a half lengths from Anna Bunina with Shewearsitwell in third.

The other joint-favourite Love Envoi two places in front of Echoes In Rain when chasing home Honeysuckle at Cheltenham, weakened before the last and failed to beat a rival.

It was a double for Willie Mullins after Aione and winner number 16 of the festival.

“She was very impressive. Once again Paul just rode her with complete confidence, he's transferring his confidence through to his horses and they are on fire with it," said Mullins.

“He came through around the last bend knowing Brandy Love was going to go left. He went by her like she wasn't there.

“She's improving all the time. She's hard on herself but she's just about learning to settle now.

“We'll probably go back on the Flat with her but Flat racing does upset her a little bit, it gets her too geed up for this job. We'll see and have a good chat with the owners.

“She's done the job here today and that's what counts.

“She got very wound up in Cheltenham but I think she's maturing and some year she might be good enough to go back there. She'll be aimed at it next year anyway.”

Quotes from Gary Carson