Willie Mullins says a decision on Annie Power‘s future has yet to be made after she was ruled out of the Punchestown Festival.
It was hoped the nine-year-old would run in Saturday’s Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown, but she has been removed amid reports the mare has run her last race.
The 2016 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner has not been in action since her follow-up victory in the Aintree Hurdle last April and will not be at this weekend’s County Kildare showpiece.
Mullins revealed Annie Power was not in ideal shape for Punchestown but refused to confirm she will now be retired.
He told Press Association Sport: “I thought she worked very well last week but she was just not showing any sparkle this week and I didn’t feel happy running her. That is the reason we are not running.
“I don’t want to say anything about retirement yet as I need to have a discussion with the owner. We need to be respectful to the owner and we will be discussing it in the next day or so.”
