Annie Power surges to easy success

Willie Mullins’ long wait to land the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle came to an end in emphatic fashion as Annie Power once again evoked memories of the magnificent mare Dawn Run with another display nothing short of sublime.

After crushing her rivals in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month, the eight-year-old produced a performance of equal quality to follow up in the Grade One prize and become the first horse since the mighty Istabraq in 1999 to complete the double

Having moved effortlessly into the lead heading out for the final circuit, shortly after the departure of 2014 winner The New One, the 4-11 favourite barely got out of cruise control for the remainder of two-and-a-half-mile contest.