A star who lived off scraps but took her chance when it came

As Annie Power winds down to settle into her new vocation as a broodmare, there is solace in the fact we can at least revel in what was, rather than what might have been.

She retires having earned her rightful status in the highest echelon courtesy of last year's Champion Hurdle success, an utterly dominant performance that preceded what amounted to a bloodless lap of honour in the Aintree Hurdle.

The talented, imposing daughter of Shirocco's reputation was ultimately sealed only due to the misfortune of her stablemate Faugheen.