Mullins decides there’ll be no more Power trips

TWICE-BEATEN STAR MARE ANNIE RETIRES

WILLIE MULLINS yesterday confirmed the retirement of star mare Annie Power. The winner of 15 of her 17 starts, Annie Power was a five-time Grade 1 winner, highlighted by her spectacular all-the-way victory in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last year and her impressive, 18-length win in the Aintree Hurdle three weeks later, which proved to be her final race. Annie Power’s only defeats came at the Cheltenham Festival, when beaten by More Of That in the World Hurdle in 2014 and, 12 months later, when she crashed at the final flight when set to land the OLBG Mares Hurdle. Injury prevented the mare from returning to action this past season. And, now in foal to Camelot, Mullins and the mare’s owners, Rich and Susannah Ricci, have called time on her career. The Ricci colours will be worn by Senewalk in this evening’s Punchestown For Events Maiden Hurdle. And the well-touted five-year-old Walk In The Park gelding will be the focus of attention, having once been favourite for Cheltenham’s Supreme Novices Hurdle. Senewalk, a winner on the flat in France, disappointed on his Irish debut, finishing sixth to Moulin a Vent at Punchestown in November. It was later suggested Mullins’ charge had a wind issue. Back after a break, and racing on better ground, Senewalk should triumph at the expense of the consistent but frustrating Coeur Joyeux. Mullins and Ruby Walsh might also land the opening La Touche Restaurant Novice Chase with 139-rated Townshend while their French import Herminio might struggle to give 8lb to Gordon Elliott’s Delta Work, runner-up to the Mullins-trained Royal Hawk in Cork, in the Kildare Hunt Club Maiden Hurdle. Meanwhile, Gold Cup and Irish Grand National hero Robbie Power faces up to three weeks on the sidelines having cracked two ribs in a fall from Woodland Opera in Killarney on Monday. Elsewhere, Aidan and Joseph O’brien will be represented by seasonal debutant Exemplar (Ryan Moore) and Ballysax winner Rekindling (Donnacha O’brien) respectively in a field of 11 for the Group 2 Betfred Dante Stakes in York tomorrow.

THE END OF AN ERA Rich and Susannah Ricci-owned Annie Power is in foal to Camelot