2016 Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy PT 1

Annie Power looms large over the field in the 2016 Stan James Champion Hurdle

and you can bank on the bookmakers taking her to an even shorter price as we get closer and get closer to the big kick off at the festival. There are a few other interesting contenders in the mix here but she really looks to be up to the standard if she can stay on her feet and actually complete the race this time out for the punters. 

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The popular Willy Mullins trained mare has been out only once this year in a three horse handicap at Punchestown where she came out of the gates at a 1/20 price tag and went on to slide home by a six and a half length margin - nice and easy. 

She remains on her mark of 162 and comes into this one looking to take on the boys and make an even bigger impression on the festival instead of just beating up on the usual cast of characters in the Mares Hurdle. She’s only lost once in her entire career despite that falling effort last year and that’s when she was done by More Of That in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2014. 

Punters will find Annie Power trading at a 2/1 margin for the race and you’re unlucky to see prices like that on the great mare at any other time unless she winds up going for the Gold Cup.

Your chief challenger appears to be Henry De Bromhead’s Identity Thief and he comes into the race having been out three times this season with two victories - one of which coming in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, and the last of which was a disappointing second place to Nichols Canyon at Leopardstown a few days before the end of 2015.