Honeysuckle's biggest threat? Echoes In Rain out to show talent in the Morgiana

Sunday: 2.05 Punchestown
Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV/RTE2/RTV

A literal reading of the ratings suggest Echoes In Rain should not be at the head of the market, but the case for her to land a second Grade 1 is all about potential improvement.

Seeking a fourth win on the bounce after a most fruitful spring, the 143-rated mare is considered by many to be Honeysuckle's biggest danger in the two-mile hurdling division and is already priced between 10-1 and 12-1 for the Champion Hurdle.

Willie Mullins was denied a tenth consecutive win in this race last year when just touched off with Saint Roi, who also had yet to prove himself in open Grade 1 company but was at least rated 156.

The champion trainer was highly complimentary of Echoes In Rain in a recent Racing Post stable tour, stating his belief that "she could go the whole way to the top" if she progressed as she did last season.

Stablemate Sharjah is bound to provide a serious test for the favourite, although there is an obvious chance he will not be cherry-ripe for his first start in 198 days.

No four-year-old has won this race since Nomadic in 1998 but Zanahiyr, who made a recent winning return in the WKD Hurdle, has the potential to operate at the highest level and is a fascinating contender.

O'Keeffe relishing big-race opportunity

Closutton's number one rider Paul Townend has been sidelined since suffering a shoulder injury at Listowel in September and Sean O'Keeffe is again the beneficiary of the champion jockey's absence, picking up the plum ride on Echoes In Rain.

Having successfully deputised for Townend when steering Ontheropes to victory in last month's Munster National, the 22-year-old is relishing the opportunity to ride in just his third domestic Grade 1.

"It's great to be getting the chance to ride a mare like her in a race like this," said O'Keeffe, who also struck aboard Galopin Des Champs for Mullins at last season's Cheltenham Festival.

Sean O'Keeffe: steps in for the plum ride on Echoes In RainCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"I'm very grateful to everyone for giving me the opportunities and supporting me."

He added: "Echoes In Rain looked a very talented mare last season and seemed to progress with racing. Hopefully she can keep improving."

Sharjah to improve for reappearance

The two highest Racing Post Ratings of Sharjah's career have come at Punchestown. He recorded a peak of 168 when last seen giving Honeysuckle a scare at the festival in April, the same figure he recorded when winning the Morgiana back in 2018.

Crucially, that win in this race was on his sixth start of the season, while his latest fine effort came at the end of the campaign.

Patrick Mullins: has an excellent relationship with SharjahCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Susannah Ricci's stalwart can win fresh, as he proved when landing the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown last Christmas, but Patrick Mullins is expecting his trusted ally to improve for his seasonal bow on Sunday.

"Sharjah is just one step off the very, very best," said the record-breaking amateur rider. "He’s a proper Grade 1 horse. I’d expect a good performance, but he'll probably improve for it."

Elliott: 'We still believe Zanahiyr is a Grade 1 horse'

We didn't see the very best of Zanahiyr at last season's spring festivals, when he finished fourth as 11-8 favourite in the Triumph Hurdle and was touched off by Jeff Kidder in Grade 1 company at Punchestown, but Gordon Elliott retains every faith in his star four-year-old, who is set for his biggest test yet in senior company.

"He has the benefit of a run and I thought he won very well at Down Royal," said Elliott.

Zanahiyr: made a winning return in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal last monthCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"This is a big step-up but we thought he was a Grade 1 horse last season and we still think he is now. We're looking forward to it, even though it looks a very hot Morgiana."

Read Sunday's previews:

12.30 Punchestown: Vanillier and Sixshooter take aim at quality Florida Pearl Chase

1.10 Cheltenham: Can exciting Does He Know make it three in a row over fences?

1.45 Cheltenham: James Ewart bidding for first Cheltenham winner with fancied Empire De Maulde

2.20 Cheltenham: Keith Melrose on why the Champion Chase heroine faces a stiff task in the Shloer

2.55 Cheltenham: How good were last season's juveniles? The Greatwood could give us the answer

3.30 Cheltenham: Will I Like To Move It star in the Supreme Trial? Here's what his form tells us

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