WAR OF ATTRITION, who came back to something approaching his best when second to Beef Or Salmon in the Lexus 'Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas, will go straight to the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

DERMOT WELD’S Queen Astrid stormed into Cheltenham Royal and SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle contention with a 20 lengths success in the Murray O’Laoire Architects’ Mares Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.