Annie Power

It was impossible not to be really impressed by the performance that Annie Power put up in winning the Grade 2 novice hurdle at Naas on Sunday. In so doing, Willie Mullins’ mare beat into second place the highly-regarded and previously impressive Defy Logic, who was really well-backed, with the another highly-regarded horse in Don Cossack back in third.

Annie Power travelled really well in behind Defy Logic through the race, she jumped accurately and Ruby Walsh always looked comfortable. She moved up nicely on the outside of Paul Nolan’s horse on the run to the final flight, easily drew alongside, flew the obstacle and picked up impressively to come clear, with the runner-up himself finishing a long way ahead of Don Cossack.

A daughter of Shirocco, Annie Power is now unbeaten in six runs to date, the first two for Jim Bolger and the last four for Willie Mullins, three bumpers and three hurdle races, and it is impossible to put a limit on her potential. The time was really good, the fastest comparative time of the day, and it is probable that she still had a fair bit left to give if more had been required.

She has yet to race on anything better than soft ground, but she doesn’t shape like a mudlark, and she may even be even better on better ground. She would be really interesting if she were to run in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with her 7lb mares’ allowance, although it seems that she won’t be going to Cheltenham this year. Even so, she will be of big interest wherever she runs next, and she is a hugely exciting mare for the future.

24th February 2013