I know guys who were in the hold pool a year and got jobs and I know guys who were TR and got early release from previous employers and were on a course two weeks later. I would suggest if you have been in the pool that long to give them a ring, they are friendly enough and at least it reminds them you are there.
I don't know exactly what goes into the decision on who gets a course and when but I believe it is based on how well you scored overall through the process and your base/fleet preferences matching up to the dates of the courses they have scheduled. There is also a matrix that exists whereby someone who has more than 500 HR jet time will get priority over someone who doesn't. For example if you are a TR DEC looking for a STN base I would imagine they would bite your arm off as opposed to a NTR low hour FO who is only willing to move to ALC.
Boeing vs Airbus makes no difference if NTR, same time to complete a full TR.