16th-Apr-2022

I am backing Echoes Of Family in this mares’ handicap chase.  I think that she is over-priced.

Eddie and Patrick Harty’s mare is 10 now, and she hasn’t won yet, but she stayed on to take an admittedly remote second behind Envoi Allen in the Grade 2 intermediate chase at Down Royal last October, and she put up one of the best performances of her career at Leopardstown last time.

She did well to survive a bump from a rival at the fourth last fence that day, and Harry Swan did well to recover his equilibrium, but it didn’t help.  Even so, she travelled into her race well, and she looked a likely winner when she jumped to the front over the final fence.  She was just out-battled up the hill by Super Citizen, but the pair of them pulled nicely clear of their rivals.

A 2lb hike for that was not harsh, and the fifth horse, Champagne Beauty, ran subsequent winner Presenting Point close next time at Thurles.  The form looks solid.

She should appreciate going back against her own gender today.  This is her ideal trip, the good to yielding ground should be perfect, and Mike O’Connor is really good value for his 5lb claim.  He was seen to good effect on Life In The Park at Tramore on Sunday.

She’s Commanche is a danger, racing off a mark of 97, 5lb lower than her hurdles mark, but, at a bigger price, I prefer Echoes Of Family.

ECHOES OF FAMILY WON (SP 7/1)