Annie may return at Punchestown next week Annie Power could make her eagerly-awaited return to action next week after starring among the entries for Wednesday's punchestown.com Mares Hurdle. Willie Mullins' brilliant mare was set to seal a memorable afternoon for the all-conquering champion trainer in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle on the opening day of last year's Cheltenham Festival, only to suffer a now-infamous fall at the final flight. She has not been seen in competitive action since bouncing back to winning ways at Punchestown last May and Mullins' son and assistant, Patrick, suggested on Thursday morning that time may be running out for her to have another run before returning to Prestbury Park next month. However, she is one of 10 possible runners in next week's two-and-a-half-mile conditions event and the master of Closutton will consider letting her line up. Mullins told Press Association Sport: "She's in good form and working nicely at home. "We've given her the entry (at Punchestown), so we'll see how everything goes between now and then." Annie Power is a best priced 8-11 favourite to right the wrong of 2015 in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at next month's Festival, while she is a general 5-1 shot for the World Hurdle, a race in which she was narrowly denied by More Of That in 2014.
