The four-day Cheltenham Festival kicks off today, and the card's feature race, the G1 Stan James Champion Hurdle, could prove to be a contest of the ages, with favoured Annie Power (Ire) (Shirocco {Ger}) looking to become just the third mare since World War II to take the famed race.
One of those mares was Dawn Run (Deep Run {GB}), winner of the Champion Hurdle in 1984 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup two years later.
Jonjo O'Neill, who rode Dawn Run all those years ago, said Annie Power will have to prove just as good as that great mare to take the spoils. “She gets the weight allowance, but it all depends what turns up on the day as regards to the ground and if she is in the best form she can be in,” said O'Neill. “It is hard to judge and compare from something more than 30 years ago. Dawn Run was very special. The bottom line is she has got to be as good as Dawn Run to do it.”
Annie Power's trainer, Willie Mullins, did not express concern about bringing the 8-year-old back in distance. “She's taken on geldings before and I don't think coming back to two miles will be any problem to her. I think it might actually be easier for her to race over two miles with the pace they'll be going. It will be easier to ride her, anyway.”
The Festival kicks off at 1:30 p.m. local time.
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