Cometh the hour, cometh Annie Power

A palpable sense of relief at a past laid to rest, and wild expectation for the future emanated from Cheltenham after Annie Power became only the fourth mare in history to land the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Her triumph came on an opening day which yielded yet more success for the Festival’s leading men, Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.

From a distance we may take it for granted that the Mullins yard will continue to roll forward successfully but by the standards of the smooth-running Closutton machine it has been a turbulent few months.