Weld delights as Astrid books Chelteham place

Queen Astrid booked her Cheltenham Festival ticket with an impressive success at Limerick today.

The Dermot Weld-trained five-year-old made it two wins from as many starts over timber with a facile success from Cake It Easy in the Murray O’Laoire Architects Mares Hurdle.

“She pinged the last two hurdles and it was a very impressive performance,” Weld said of the 4-6 winner. “Ruby (Walsh) said he just gave her a squeeze and she took off in the straight.

“I hope to run her now in the Royal & SunAlliance as it is the logical race for her.

“She’s adaptable ground-wise, although she would probably not want it really firm. She is a lovely mare to train and you will see her pace to better effect on good ground.”

Elsewhere on the card, Jimmy Mangan declared himself satisfied with the effort of Monty’s Pass as the 2003 Grand National hero completed his public preparations for this year’s renewal of the Aintree showpiece.

The 12-year-old had to settle for 10th in the ladbroke.com Handicap Hurdle but the trainer said: “David Casey said he was really well in himself and he jumped marvellous.

“They got away from him a bit after the third-last but he kept going really well in the straight. He never could handle tacky ground.

“The plan now is to bring him to Tramore and pop him over a few fences before the National.”