Echoing Silence wins Punchestown feature for De Bromhead The Henry De Bromhead trained Echoing Silence went some way towards justifying her lofty price tag when staying on best to win the Listed Matchbook 50:50 Graduation Series Mares Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. A former point-to-point winner, the five-year-old Doyen mare was sold for £410k at the 2024 Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale. Although disappointing on her initial start under Rules when only fifth in a Navan maiden hurdle last December, the Kenneth Alexander owned mare subsequently won a Down Royal bumper in March. Following a successful reappearance in a Cork maiden hurdle last month, the De Bromhead trained runner was sent off 5/2 in this stronger contest. Sitting second for much of the journey under Darragh O'Keeffe, Echoing Silence headed Carry On Heidi entering the straight. Despite being strongly pressed by market leader Switch From Diesel approaching the last, Echoing Silence stayed on best to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths. “She’s a cracker, a lovely mare. I’m delighted for Kenny, that was great, and Darragh gave her a super ride,” said de Bromhead. “She jumped great, travelled well, and picked up well. The dream is alive. “She’s a queen of a mare. We bought her off JJ Bowe and Sam Curling, who highly recommended her. “Last year she didn’t stop growing, she’s a big filly. She went a bit weak on us and we said we’d give her a bit of time, she won her bumper and she’s come back from Rathmore twice the mare this year. “I’d say we’ll work our way back from the Mares Novice Hurdle (at Cheltenham). I don’t know if we need to go anywhere before that, I don’t think so. We might freshen her up now.” Paddy Power went 12/1 (from 16/1) Echoing Silence for the Mares Novices' Hurdle. Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
