Cheltenham: Unbeaten Annie Power wins ninth straight race

Unbeaten Irish mare Annie Power won her ninth straight race with an eight-length victory at Cheltenham.

The six-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, travelled smoothly through the sloppy conditions in the Dornan Engineering Hurdle to see off Zarkandar for the second time.

Jockey Ruby Walsh bore a wide grin after his only ride of the day and paid tribute to the 2-5 favourite.

"She's a good mare. It didn't seem like stamina was an issue," he said.

Walsh was referring to the way she saw out the extended two-and-a-half mile trip.

Mullins has yet to reveal whether Annie Power will be aimed at the two-mile Champion Hurdle or the World Hurdle over three miles at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Earlier, Oscar Whisky won at the track for the sixth time when scoring in the Dipper Novices' Chase.

The mount of Barry Geraghty, for trainer Nicky Henderson, justified his position as 5-6 favourite, winning by three-quarters of a length from Taquin Du Seuil.