ANNIE POWER HAS won the 2016 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle under Ruby Walsh.
A year after falling at the last when having the Mares’ Hurdle at her mercy, Annie Power became the first mare in 22 years to the claim the first day’s feature race when storming to victory.
Advertisement
The 5/2 favourite made the running throughout and quickened three from home to put her gelding rivals to the sword with My Tent Or Yours (10/1) and Nichols Canyon (15/2) trailing home in second and third.
It’s a third Champion Hurdle in four years for trainer Willie Mullins who lost both Faugheen and Arctic Fire to injury before the festival.
Speaking to Channel 4 after the race Mullins admitted that the eight-year-old exceeded even his expectations.
“It was a huge performance. I think he Ruby has been watching videos of Dawn Run the last few days.”
Annie Power wins the 2016 Champion Hurdle
ANNIE POWER HAS won the 2016 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle under Ruby Walsh.
A year after falling at the last when having the Mares’ Hurdle at her mercy, Annie Power became the first mare in 22 years to the claim the first day’s feature race when storming to victory.
The 5/2 favourite made the running throughout and quickened three from home to put her gelding rivals to the sword with My Tent Or Yours (10/1) and Nichols Canyon (15/2) trailing home in second and third.
It’s a third Champion Hurdle in four years for trainer Willie Mullins who lost both Faugheen and Arctic Fire to injury before the festival.
Speaking to Channel 4 after the race Mullins admitted that the eight-year-old exceeded even his expectations.
“It was a huge performance. I think he Ruby has been watching videos of Dawn Run the last few days.”
More to follow…
Altior and Douvan impress in the first two races as Cheltenham gets under way
The complete chancer’s guide to getting through the Cheltenham Festival
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Champion Hurdle Cheltenham 2016 Cheltenham Festival Nicky Henderson Ruby Walsh we are the champions Willie Mullins