Cheltenham crowns new queen as Annie powers her way to Champion Hurdle

TWO years and six races after she left Doncaster racegoers spellbound, Annie Power is the new Queen of Cheltenham after becoming just the fourth mare in history to win the Stan James Champion Hurdle as she drew comparisons with the immortal Dawn Run.
Jockey Ruby Walsh is lead into the winner's enclosure after winning the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on Annie Power.Jockey Ruby Walsh is lead into the winner's enclosure after winning the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on Annie Power.
Jockey Ruby Walsh is lead into the winner's enclosure after winning the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on Annie Power.

It has been a rollercoaster ride for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh since the Town Moor appearance – the mare in the million was beaten in the 2014 World Hurdle before coming to grief at the final flight of last year’s OLBG Mares’ Hurdle when she had the race at her mercy.

Yet this lightly-raced eight-year-old had so much in hand on her rivals that her seven-pound weight allowance was immaterial – Annie Power pinged the last hurdle before sprinting up the Cheltenham hill to win in a course record by four-and-a-half lengths from My Tent Or Yours with stablemate Nichols Canyon third and The New One a disappointing fourth.

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With Mullins and Walsh winning the Racing Post Arkle Trophy with Douvan and the aforementioned mares’ race with Vroum Vroum Mag, they repeated the treble they recorded on the opening day of last year’s National Hunt Festival.

Ruby Walsh after winning the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on Annie Power.Ruby Walsh after winning the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on Annie Power.
Ruby Walsh after winning the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on Annie Power.

Yet, like 12 months ago when Annie Power fell, it could have been better – Min was too error-prone for his own good in the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle and had to settle for second place behind Altior for jockey Nico De Boinville and trainer Nicky Henderson who team up with the resurgent superstar Sprinter Sacre in today’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.

However, nothing was going to detract from their collective job as Annie Power, a supplementary entry for owner Rich Ricci after reigning champion Faugheen was injured, received the ovation of her life as the 5-2 favourite justified the support of a partisan Irish crowd.

She was some substitute. The first mare to win the race since Flakey Dove prevailed in 1994 for North Yorkshire jockey Mark Dwyer, Annie Power is one of Ireland’s most popular horses since Dawn Run became the first and only horse to win both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup when winning the latter 40 years ago in, arguably, steeplechasing’s race of the century. It remains to be seen if she will now switch to steeplechase fences. “In a year’s time? Who knows what is going to happen?” said Mullins.

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“When I bought Annie Power, I thought this is the closest mare I have seen to Dawn Run.

Ruby Walsh after winning the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on Annie Power.Ruby Walsh after winning the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on Annie Power.
Ruby Walsh after winning the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on Annie Power.

“She is a different colour, but physically she is a big strong mare with speed and stamina. We bought her to go over fences like Dawn Run, but that will be discussed – the same owner has Faugheen, Douvan and some nice young novice chasers, but the way she jumps with her size and scope... if he wants to emulate Dawn Run, so be it. But it’s much easier to keep a horse sound jumping hurdles than trying to go for a Gold Cup.”

Asked if there had been any thoughts about retiring Annie Power to the breeding sheds, Mullins said retirement was not on the agenda. On a compelling afternoon, Un De Sceaux – winner of last season’s French Champion Hurdle under Saltburn’s James Reveley – took an incident-packed Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase under Tom Scudamore.

The race saw Aidan Coleman unseated on the bend in front of the stands while the win compensated trainer David Pipe for a lacklustre season.

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North Yorkshire jockey Brian Hughes, on the brink of a second successive century of winners, took the concluding novice chase on Ballyalton, who is owned by Lee Westwood’s father John. It was a second Festival triumph in three years for Hughes on a day that will long be remembered for Annie Power coming of age.

Festival news: Page 21

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