Brilliant Annie powers to another success
Prominent in the ante-post markets on the Champion Hurdle and the World Hurdle, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old was running over an extended two and a half miles having been successful at just short of that trip at Ascot on her seasonal reappearance.
Like at Ascot her main market rival was the Paul Nicholls-trained Zarkandar, with the Ditcheat trainer also fielding Empire Levant.
With just three runners, Ruby Walsh was content to sit behind the pace-setting grey Empire Levant before jumping two out upsides.
Empire Levant weakened coming down the hill, where 2-5 favourite Annie Power took over.
Zarkandar tried to go with Walsh’s mount but despite a slight mistake at the final flight, Annie Power pulled a ready eight lengths clear up the hill to extend her unbeaten record to nine from nine.
Walsh said: “She’s a very good mare, and was entitled to improve from her first run back at Ascot.
“She handled the ground and jumped very well, apart from a minor hiccup at the last. Although this ground isn’t easy on the eye, it’s a pleasure to ride in and she appeared to enjoy it.
“If you look back, all the best horses go in the soft, look at Denman, Hurricane Fly and Kauto Star, they all handled those conditions.
“She’s nine from nine now, and that’s not an easy record to achieve. But from day one she has never been anything but very good.”
Paddy Power left the winner unchanged at 6-1 for the World Hurdle and cut her to 10-1 from 12-1 for the Champion. However, Walsh would not be drawn on a likely target for Annie Power back at Cheltenham in March.
He said: “This trip is not a bother for her, but where she will run at the Festival is a decision for Willie.”
