ANNO POWER IMPRESSES AT ASCOT

Anno Power confirmed the promise of her debut at Exeter with a thrilling victory charge from last to first in the mares’ bumper at Ascot on Saturday 17 February in the colours of Pat and Edward Dolan-Abrahams.

Closely related to the family of the superb mare Annie Power she was very well bought for us a year ago by Kevin Ross from Colin Bowe shortly before she was due to run in a Point-to-Point in Ireland.

Anno Power has always shown lots of speed at home, and it was frustrating that we got the tactics wrong on her first start for us when she was too keen and just got outbattled in a duel with Dunskay, who has since won under a penalty at Huntingdon.

We decided to fit a hood at Ascot to help her settle better and then it was down to Johnny Burke to drop her in, try to get her relaxed and hold his nerve before making his move late on.

He carried out the tactics to perfection to the point that she was still last turning for home before showing a brilliant turn of foot to pass the entire field and win going away. It was great to watch and the plan is to keep Anno Power for the £50,000 Nickel Coin mares’ bumper on the opening day of Aintree’s Grand National meeting.