Annie turns on the power

Annie Power proved herself a star of the future when retaining her unbeaten record in the Grade 2 paddypower.com Novice Hurdle in Naas yesterday.

The Willie Mullins-trained mare, confidently handled by Ruby Walsh, quickened past front-running favourite Defy Logic (Tony McCoy) before the final flight and had more than three lengths to spare at the line, with Don Cossack a well-beaten third.

Winner of three bumpers (two for Jim Bolger), five-year-old Annie Power has now won three times over hurdles. A delighted Mullins admitted: “I thought I’d find out today how good she is. But I’m still not sure. She beat some serious horses today and seems to keep improving and getting stronger.