Power down as Melody wins OLBG Mares' Hurdle
Tuesday 10 March 2015 17:14, UK
Annie Power fell at the final flight when in front to leave stablemate Glens Melody to land the OLBG Mares' Hurdle.
Bookmakers were left breathing a sigh of relief after the heavily-backed odds-on favourite came to the last clear of her rivals but took off too soon, hit the obstacle hard and crumpled to the ground, leaving the race wide-open.
Happily both Ruby Walsh and Annie Power were quickly on their feet, as Glens Melody - second to another brilliant Willie Mullins mare, Quevega, in the same race 12 months ago - took over the lead.
Polly Peachum and Barry Geraghty emerged from out of the pack to give chase up the run-in and it was tight at the line but Glens Melody (6/1) prevailed by a head from Polly Peachum (9/1), with the gutsy Bitofapuzzle (16/1), who was handy from the start, staying on again for third only a neck further back.
There was an unusually muted response from the Cheltenham crowd as the winner and jockey Paul Townend returned to the winner's enclosure - many of the crowd would have been clutching tickets involving the four Mullins 'bankers', the first three of whom had already won and of which Annie Power was the last to run.
Townend said: "It's not the nicest way to win, but she deserves it as she's a great mare.
"(I'm pleased) for the owners who kept her in training and gave me the ride. I'm delighted. It's brilliant."
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![Horses make their way back from the gallops on Champion Day at Cheltenham Racecourse.]()
Image: Horses make their way back from the morning gallops -
![Horses make their way back from the gallops on Champion Day at Cheltenham Racecourse.]()
Image: There's time to soak up the sun and have a pick of grass before the action gets underway -
![Horses head towards the stables at Cheltenham Racecourse]()
Image: There's a relative hive of activity at the stables -
![The 'At the Races Express' arrives ahead at Cheltenham Racecourse]()
Image: The 'At the Races Express' arrives at the racecourse -
![Racegoers arrive at Cheltenham Racecourse]()
Image: The passengers disembark on a glorious spring day -
![The Guinness flows during day one of the Cheltenham Festival]()
Image: Inside the track, the Guinness already flows -
![Racegoers study the form ahead at Cheltenham Racecourse]()
Image: Time for a little last minute form study, will these three wise men be following the star? -
![Douvan ridden by Ruby Walsh jumps on the way to winning the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle]()
Image: Douvan ridden by Ruby Walsh jumps on the way to winning the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle -
![CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Ruby Walsh celebrates on board Douvan as they cross the line to win The Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.]()
Image: There's no feeling like getting that first winner under your belt -
![Un De Sceaux ridden by Ruby Walsh (right) on the way to winning the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy from God's Own]()
Image: It's a swift double for Walsh and Willie Mullins as Un De Sceaux makes all in the Racing Post Arkle -
![Un De Sceaux, ridden by Ruby Walsh, on their way to winning the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase.]()
Image: Un De Sceaux was driven out to hold the rallying God's Own at bay -
![Ruby Walsh celebrates his victory on Un De Sceaux in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at the Cheltenham Festival]()
Image: More celebrations for Walsh as he returns to the famous winner's enclosure -
![The Druids Nephew ridden by Barry Geraghty jumps the last fence]()
Image: The Druids Nephew and Barry Geraghty have the field trailing in their wake -
![The Druids Nephew is driven out by Barry Geraghty on his way to winning the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase]()
Image: And kick clear up the hill to score convincingly -
![Barry Geraghty celebrates winning the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase on The Druids Nephew]()
Image: It's time to soak up the applause -
![Ruby Walsh riding Faugheen clear the second flight of hurdles on their way to winning The Stan James Champion Hurdle at Che]()
Image: Ruby Walsh and Faugheen have an early lead in the Stan James Champion Hurdle -
![Faugheen leads his rivals a merry dance over the last]()
Image: And go on to lead his rivals a merry dance -
![Ruby Walsh celebrates his victory on Faugheen in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham]()
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![Ruby Walsh celebrates winning the Stan James Champion Hurdle on Faugheen]()
Image: Ruby, Ruby, Ruby................ -
![The dramatic moment when Annie Power fell at the last with the race at her mercy]()
Image: But he was brought crashing down to earth in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle as Annie Power got the last all wrong -
![Racegoers react as Annie Power falls during The OLBG Mares' Hurdle Race]()
Image: It's heart in mouth time for her watching fans but fortunately both she and Ruby Walsh appeared to emerge unscathed -
![Glens Melody (L) crosses the line to win The OLBG Mares' Hurdle]()
Image: Stablemate Glens Melody takes advantage to land the spoils -
![Paul Townend celebrates on board Glens Melody (L) alongside second placed Polly Peachum ridden by Barry Geraghty]()
Image: Paul Townend celebrates alongside second placed pair Polly Peachum and Barry Geraghty -
![Jamie Codd riding Cause Of Causes (2nd left) wins the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham]()
Image: Jamie Codd riding Cause Of Causes (second from left) wins the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in the JP McManus silks -
![Trainer Gordon Elliott celebrates Cause Of Causes winning the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham]()
Image: Cause Of Causes' trainer Gordon Elliott lands another blow for the Irish -
![Paul Townend on Irish Cavalier after winning the CHAPS Restaurant barbados Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham]()
Image: Paul Townend on Irish Cavalier after winning the concluding CHAPS Restaurant barbados Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham
Mullins added: "Annie is up all right and Ruby is up all right, so everyone is fine and we can enjoy Glens Melody now.
"I thought Annie just stood off - she was probably going too well.
"I'm delighted for Fiona (McStay, owner) who was right to keep her in training and come back for this race.
"Paul is a fantastic guy. It's great he's had a winner on the first day of Cheltenham. You couldn't write a script like today.
"Last year she was robbed by Quevega having jumped the last in front and this year she got the rub of the green."
Although it may not have been achieved with the horse many had expected, Mullins was still in the winner's enclosure for an amazing fourth time on the day.
"It's unbelievable to have four winners in one day," he added. "I keep thinking this is not real and it won't last forever, so I'm going to enjoy it now."
Despite the fall, Ruby Walsh was still able to reflect upon "a super day".
"I thought she'd gallop her way through it, but instead she went to have a go at the last, hit the top bar and that's what happens. She's fine, it's one of those things," he said.
"It's been a super day. Douvan was great, Un De Sceaux was brilliant, Faugheen winning the Champion Hurdle was magic. At least Annie Power got up and there'll be another day."
Nicky Henderson said of Polly Peachum, another placed runner for Seven Barrows after Josses Hill in the Arkle: "We're getting close. There isn't a mares' race for her at Aintree and if we go to Punchestown we will bump into Annie Power again."
