Unbeaten over hurdles, Annie Power has the stamina to keep Ireland's champion trainer on the trail of success with victory in the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival
Willie Mullins endured a quiet second half to the last Cheltenham Festival, adding nothing to the five winners he had scored in the first two days. Ireland's champion trainer was recently looking for ways to ensure the form of his string was sustained through this week and perhaps that will be a factor in allowing *Annie Power (3.20) *to light up this Festival with an emphatic World Hurdle success.
In particular, Mullins, who has three winners so far, hoped to delay the arrival here of his runners for Thursday and Friday, who would normally have travelled over at the same time as his Tuesday and Wednesday runners. It is typical of the trainer to be concerned with such details but, if this chestnut is actually the talent she appears to be, it will make little difference when she sails across the Irish Sea, so long as she turns up at Prestbury Park by early afternoon.
Unbeaten over hurdles, she has won in Britain three times this winter and, although she has not yet raced against top-notchers, she has thumped those put up against her, on a variety of surfaces. Some ratings systems would have had her at the top of the Champion Hurdle field, had she lined up there. It is very rare to have the necessary pace for that race, but everything about her suggests she will have the necessary stamina for this first attempt at three miles.
While the heart might thrill to a victory for either of Paul Nicholls's veterans, Big Buck's and Celestial Halo, they are past the age at which this is race is normally won and the prevailing ground puts an emphasis on speed which they probably no longer have. Reve De Sivola may also be found wanting for pace.
At Fishers Cross has a lot to prove and his latest run was not proof of a return to form. More Of That is a credible threat, though it must be a concern that his participation was in doubt earlier in the week.
*1.30* Were he based in another stable, *Felix Yonger *might have been aimed at a more prestigious prize, but the distance of this race may suit him well. He was second to Simonsig at the 2012 Festival on ground similar to what he will face today. Oscar Whisky is interesting in a first-time tongue tie but is not yet convincing over fences.
*2.05* Some of Jonjo O'Neill's horses are running well this week and he could get a fifth success in this race with *Josies Orders*. The winner of three of his last four on a variety of surfaces, he may still have something in hand on his revised mark, though If In Doubt, who also carries the JP McManus colours, is feared.
*2.40* It is fascinating that *Hunt Ball *has been put in this race, despite the assessor dropping him to an attractive mark. A handicap winner at the 2012 Festival, he will bounce off this ground.
*4.00* *Sraid Padraig *took a big step forward when landing a handicap at Fairyhouse in November, beating Cause Of Causes, who will be fancied later on this card. He does not seem to need a saturated surface. Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.
Willie Mullins endured a quiet second half to the last Cheltenham Festival, adding nothing to the five winners he had scored in the first two days. Ireland's champion trainer was recently looking for ways to ensure the form of his string was sustained through this week and perhaps that will be a factor in allowing *Annie Power (3.20) *to light up this Festival with an emphatic World Hurdle success.
In particular, Mullins, who has three winners so far, hoped to delay the arrival here of his runners for Thursday and Friday, who would normally have travelled over at the same time as his Tuesday and Wednesday runners. It is typical of the trainer to be concerned with such details but, if this chestnut is actually the talent she appears to be, it will make little difference when she sails across the Irish Sea, so long as she turns up at Prestbury Park by early afternoon.
Unbeaten over hurdles, she has won in Britain three times this winter and, although she has not yet raced against top-notchers, she has thumped those put up against her, on a variety of surfaces. Some ratings systems would have had her at the top of the Champion Hurdle field, had she lined up there. It is very rare to have the necessary pace for that race, but everything about her suggests she will have the necessary stamina for this first attempt at three miles.
While the heart might thrill to a victory for either of Paul Nicholls's veterans, Big Buck's and Celestial Halo, they are past the age at which this is race is normally won and the prevailing ground puts an emphasis on speed which they probably no longer have. Reve De Sivola may also be found wanting for pace.
At Fishers Cross has a lot to prove and his latest run was not proof of a return to form. More Of That is a credible threat, though it must be a concern that his participation was in doubt earlier in the week.
*1.30* Were he based in another stable, *Felix Yonger *might have been aimed at a more prestigious prize, but the distance of this race may suit him well. He was second to Simonsig at the 2012 Festival on ground similar to what he will face today. Oscar Whisky is interesting in a first-time tongue tie but is not yet convincing over fences.
*2.05* Some of Jonjo O'Neill's horses are running well this week and he could get a fifth success in this race with *Josies Orders*. The winner of three of his last four on a variety of surfaces, he may still have something in hand on his revised mark, though If In Doubt, who also carries the JP McManus colours, is feared.
*2.40* It is fascinating that *Hunt Ball *has been put in this race, despite the assessor dropping him to an attractive mark. A handicap winner at the 2012 Festival, he will bounce off this ground.
*4.00* *Sraid Padraig *took a big step forward when landing a handicap at Fairyhouse in November, beating Cause Of Causes, who will be fancied later on this card. He does not seem to need a saturated surface. Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.