Queen Astrid hard to oppose

Racing/Limerick preview: Dermot Weld appears to have found a suitable race at Limerick this afternoon in which to provide additional…

Racing/Limerick preview: Dermot Weld appears to have found a suitable race at Limerick this afternoon in which to provide additional hurdle education for Queen Astrid (4.45).

This Royal and SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle entry may have run only once over jumps but she put up up one of the better performances in this group at Leopardstown over the Christmas by making all the running to beat Letterman by six lengths.

He has not raced since but Washington Lad (thirrd), Pom Flyer (fourth) and Kill Devil Hill (fifth) have all won this year.

Local trainer Eric McNamara takes Queen Astrid on with Cake It Easy. She won on the flat for Mark Johnston and over hurdles for K G Reveley at Newcastle (2m 4f) in December, beating Marsh Run by two lengths.

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The market will indicate just how likely is Weld to have a double as his other Limerick runner, Russian Tsar (5.15), has yet to run over hurdles.

By King Of Kings out of a Darshaan mare he fetched €240,000 as a yearling and as he was a winner and placed at three, Dermot was in no way prepared to let him go when he could be bought back into the stable at €16,000 at Kill last autumn.

Ruby Walsh's mount Wolseley Lady won her bumper at Tramore on New Year's Day, but was well down the field over hurdles since at Limerick. That could not be her true running as she did win a point-to-point.

Polly's Dream (3.45) could add to Ken Whelan's bright run since the beginning of the year.