Mullins refuses to rule out return for wonder mare Annie Power

A return to action for Annie Power has not been ruled out by trainer Willie Mullins, despite the mare not being seen since last April.

Last year's Champion Hurdle heroine was confirmed as being in foal to Camelot last month and debate has raged for several months as to whether she would be seen on the track again.

Winner of 15 of her 17 races, including four at Group 1 level, Annie Power's last start was at the Grand National meeting when she won the Aintree Hurdle by 18 lengths from My Tent Or Yours.

Mullins said: "She's working away doing fast work, just no spark. If she sparked she might go to France, have a run or two on the Flat, we'll see. I haven't discussed that yet with the owner yet."

Annie Power is one of the stars owned by Rich Ricci, along with Faugheen, another who has not been seen on the track since January 2016. A stress fracture sustained in February forced him to miss a second successive Cheltenham Festival.

Faugheen: long-term absenteeCredit: Caroline Norris

Although not confirming any immediate return to action, Mullins is reluctant to turn Faugheen out in a field as he enjoys his food.

"He's big as a float at home and hacking away," the trainer added. "I think if I put him out to so much grass he'll come back as big as a Clydesdale.

"I'm wondering if we should keep him going all season, canter away and maybe just give him a mini-break. He doesn't need a break this minute to look at him."