Queen Astrid storms into SunAlliance picture
Paddy Power tightened her from 25-1 to 20-1, Ladbrokes offered 14-1, while Cashmans went 12-1 from 14's.
Shuilan made a brave attempt from the front, but Ruby Walsh had that leader very much in his sights from a mile out. Walsh waited until approaching the second last before launching his challenge and Queen Astrid did the rest, stretching right away to beat Cake It Easy.
“We went a good gallop and I wasn’t really sure how well I was going”, reported Walsh. “But once I grabbed a hold of her she took off.” Commented Weld: “The SunAlliance is the logical target and that was a lovely ride from Ruby. She is very adaptable, although not wanting firm ground, and this was a good test. She is just a very good mare.”
Walsh began his day with an armchair ride aboard market leader, Browny Boy, in the Cheltenham Gold Cup Lunch Maiden Hurdle.
The layers seemed very anxious to lay him and there was no problem getting 6-4 and 11-8. He finally lodged at 5-4.
It was money well invested. Browny Boy led over three out and galloped well clear of Ponmeoath in the straight to score by 12 lengths.
Walsh took his tally for the season to 96 when guiding Tony Mullins’ Wolseley Lady to victory in the Smyth’s Bar and Icon Nightclub Maiden Hurdle. The winner and Practice Match had it between them over the final two flights, but Wolseley Lady flew the last and that was decisive.
“I can’t wait for her to go over fences, she is economical and precise”, said Mullins.
The long-trying Jack Of The Cross gave trainer Myles Sunderland his first National Hunt winner when taking the National Students’ Raceday Challenge Beginners Chase.
He made just about all the running for John Cullen, staying on resolutely close home to hold Move Over.
“He is getting on in years, so we have no great ambitions”, said Sunderland. “He will go for a handicap now.”
Cullen completed a 19-1 double when An Culainn Beag took the ladbroke.com Handicap Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh appeared to have this in the bag as well when powering Hordago ahead going to the home turn. But Hordago’s stride began to shorten before the last and An Culainn Beag soon eased past.
Said trainer, Denis Murphy: “She’s been knocking on the door for while. She’s going to stud and that’s why we’ve been keeping her busy.”
On a day which the bookmakers would rather forget, John Brassil’s Glabejet took plenty out of the ring in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase.
She scored doing handstands, after Andrew McNamara had sent her for glory jumping the fifth last.
“She’s a good, honest mare who has won four points’, said Brassil. “But this was a scurrilous race and I hope we can find another one.”
Adrian Maguire, who has 18 horses in his care, saddled his first winner on the track when Nina Carberry produced newcomer, Celestial Wave, to cut down fellow first-timer, Haydens First, in the Bumper.
A brilliant, but often unlucky, rider, Maguire’s greatest moment in the saddle came when taking the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Cool Ground in 1992.
Said Maguire: “It’s great to get the first one and for nice people (Cahir Racing Syndicate). They gave me my first winner as a trainer as well in point-to-points.”
