Connections of Annie Power are under no illusions about the task facing the exciting mare when she puts her unbeaten record on the line in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old has looked a potential superstar in seven starts to date, and signed off last season with a breathtaking Grade One victory against fellow mares at Fairyhouse.
But she faces her most formidable rival yet in Zarkandar, a horse whose only defeat in five outings last season came when fourth behind the Mullins-trained Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Mullins' son, Patrick, said: "She has obviously done everything right so far, but this is a big step up for her.
"Zarkandar is one of the top horses around over hurdles, especially over this distance, but the conditions of the race suit our mare.
"She gets 11lb from Zarkandar and wouldn't have got as much weight if we'd gone for the Hatton's Grace in Fairyhouse the following week, so that's why we decided to travel."
Annie Power tackles almost two and a half miles in Berkshire, but Patrick Mullins believes she is versatile trip-wise.
He said: "As of now, she could go either way. I think this race will tell us a lot more about her, but, at the same time, she could finish second and run the best race of her life so far.
"She's as ready as she can be without having had a run. We wouldn't be sending her over otherwise."
Zarkandar signed off last season with a thrilling victory over The New One in the Aintree Hurdle and has had this race earmarked as his seasonal starting point since he returned from his summer break.
Trainer Paul Nicholls said "It will be an interesting race. We've got to start somewhere. It's a long old season and this was always going to be Zarkandar's first race.
"Willie was always going to send horses over and obviously the conditions of the race suit his horse. If I was him, I'd have done the same.
"We'll see how things go. At some stage we'll have to decide which direction we're going, but I have no real future plans at this stage."
Annie Power and Zarkandar are the two star names in a field of just four runners.
Magnifique Etoile bolted up in a Stratford handicap last month, but trainer Charlie Longsdon is not expecting his charge to trouble the big two.
Longsdon said: "He got heavily punished for his win last time.
"It'll be tough for him. I know he shouldn't beat the big two, but if there are any chinks in their armour he'll be on their heels to take advantage of it.
"He will still pick up good prize-money for coming third, if that's where he comes.
"He's a real nice horse. We don't expect to beat those two but if they don't turn up he'll be there."
The quartet is completed by Karen McLintock's Bygones Of Brid.
