Unbeaten jumper Annie Power's ultimate target remains undecided but her reputation has been enhanced with her five-length defeat of Zarkandar in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot.

Willie Mullins' sturdy chestnut mare had been untouchable in seven starts at home and after a long first journey across the Irish Sea, she faced her most serious test.

As expected, Annie Power and Zarkandar had the race to themselves, with Ruby Walsh and 8-11 favourite Annie Power stalking Daryl Jacob and her 15-8 market rival, and she moved closer turning for home despite a couple of untidy jumps.

Zarkandar offered staunch resistance but had no more to give after the final flight, leaving Annie Power's colourful owner Rich Ricci with plenty to ponder.

"I'm relieved," said Ricci, the American former head of Barclays' investment banking sector.

"I was slightly worried whether we had done enough with her at home, but she was very good and there is lots of improvement to come.

"Because she could be something special there's a tendency to treat them with kid gloves at home, so I was a bit worried we'd maybe been too soft-gloved.

"Anybody who knows Willie knows he always has options. There's the Christmas Hurdle, but do you really want to bump into My Tent Or Yours, I don't know, and there's the Christmas Hurdle in Ireland and she'd have to face (stablemate) Hurricane Fly.

"We came into this season wanting to keep her away from the males until Cheltenham, but that's just not possible really."

Annie Power has been cut from 14-1 to 10-1 for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.