Last year's Champion Hurdler will not defend her crown after sustaining a leg injury at home.
Annie Power, the highest-rated mare in training, will not be defending her Champion Hurdle crown in March.
Trainer Willie Mullins confirmed on Wednesday morning that his superstar is now sidelined after picking up a leg injury at home.
Annie Power was a devastating four-and-a-half length winner of last season’s Champion Hurdle before bagging her fifth Grade One hurdles success at Aintree the following month.
Mullins revealed last week Annie Power was nearing a return to action, with a mares' hurdle at Punchestown on February 22 pencilled in as a potential comeback target and springboard to Cheltenham.
However, he revealed on Wednesday morning she would miss the showpiece meeting, saying: "She's picked up a leg injury and is going to miss the Cheltenham Festival."
.Her owner, Rich Ricci, will now be hoping that 2015 Champion Hurdler Faugheen comes through his intended return to action in Sunday’s Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, for which he is a current 4-6 market leader.
Faugheen hasn’t been seen since winning that contest 12 months ago and was unable to defend his 2015 Champion Hurdle crown but a convincing performance this weekend will ensure he’s firmly on track to make it three Champion Hurdle’s on the bounce for his owner.
