Another Power Ful Display Annie Power extended her unbeaten sequence to nine victories without having to break sweat as she cruised to victory in the Cheltenham mud. With early leader Empire Levant running out of petrol going to the second-last flight, Annie Power was left in front with sole remaining rival Zarkandar on her quarters. The runner-up tried to throw down a challenge to the 2/5 winner on the run-in, but when Ruby Walsh shuffled the reins and asked her to go on again, the response was immediate and she went on to score by eight lengths. Long-term plans remain open for the winner, but Sky Bet were sufficiently impressed with the performance to cut her odds for the Stanjames.com Champion Hurdle to 6/1 and for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle to 8/1. Spokesman Michael Shinners commented: "It's obviously hard to know which way connections will go with Annie Power, but I suspect how Big Buck's fares in the Cleeve Hurdle could have a bearing on things. She's also still got the option of the OLBG David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle too."
