Wondermare: Annie Power and Ruby Walsh. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
2016 CHELTENHAM CHAMPION hurdler Annie Power could be set for retirement after Willie Mullins confirmed that she will not run at Punchestown this week as planned.
Power was entered in the Mares Champion Hurdle on the final day of the Punchestown Festival, despite being in foal to iconic flat star Camelot.
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Mullins has now confirmed that the wondermare, beloved by Irish horse racing fans, will not race on Saturday.
But he refused to be drawn on any talk of retirement before having a chance to consult with owners Rich and Susannah Ricci.
“I thought she worked very well last week,” he told the Press Association, “but she was just not showing any sparkle this week and I didn’t feel happy running her.
“I don’t want to say anything about retirement yet as I need to have a discussion with the owner.”
The nine-year-old is one of the outstanding mares in recent racing history, losing just two races in her 17 starts under rules.
The most famous of those defeats came at Cheltenham in 2015 when she famously fell in the hands of Ruby Walsh when on course to comfortably win the Mares Hurdle, a result that reportedly spared the bookmaking industry €100 million.
But in a moment to savour, she bounced back 12 months later to win the Champion Hurdle, beating the boys and becoming the first mare in 22 years to take the two-mile crown.
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Annie Power, Willie Mullins' beloved wondermare, may have run her last race
2016 CHELTENHAM CHAMPION hurdler Annie Power could be set for retirement after Willie Mullins confirmed that she will not run at Punchestown this week as planned.
Power was entered in the Mares Champion Hurdle on the final day of the Punchestown Festival, despite being in foal to iconic flat star Camelot.
Mullins has now confirmed that the wondermare, beloved by Irish horse racing fans, will not race on Saturday.
But he refused to be drawn on any talk of retirement before having a chance to consult with owners Rich and Susannah Ricci.
“I thought she worked very well last week,” he told the Press Association, “but she was just not showing any sparkle this week and I didn’t feel happy running her.
“I don’t want to say anything about retirement yet as I need to have a discussion with the owner.”
The nine-year-old is one of the outstanding mares in recent racing history, losing just two races in her 17 starts under rules.
The most famous of those defeats came at Cheltenham in 2015 when she famously fell in the hands of Ruby Walsh when on course to comfortably win the Mares Hurdle, a result that reportedly spared the bookmaking industry €100 million.
But in a moment to savour, she bounced back 12 months later to win the Champion Hurdle, beating the boys and becoming the first mare in 22 years to take the two-mile crown.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
The42′s Winning Post: Everything you need to enjoy Day Three of Punchestown
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annie power Horse Racing Punchestown 2017 The Power and the Glory Willie Mullins