Annie Power made it third time lucky at the Cheltenham Festival as she romped home in the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

It's third time lucky for Annie Power at #TheFestival who jumped brilliantly to win the Champion Hurdle https://t.co/swMxEyY4WQ

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 15, 2016

A dramatic last-flight faller in the Mares’ Hurdle 12 months ago and second in the World Hurdle in 2014, she justified being supplemented for the two-mile showpiece.

The decision was made due an injury to last year’s winner Faugheen for the same connections of owner Rich Ricci, trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh.

Annie Power (5-2 favourite) pulled her way to the front at the first obstacle and went on to dictate affairs, becoming only the fourth mare to win the Champion Hurdle and the first since Flakey Dove in 1994.

My Tent Or Yours (10-1) put in a strong bid in his first race for 703 days, running a gallant race to take the runner-up spot, four and a half lengths behind the winner.

Nichols Canyon (15-2) was a head back in third to give Mullins a one-three.