Paul Townend took day one of the Listowel Festival by storm when partnering an 88/1 four-timer with Camelia De Cotte making it four winners in just over an hour and a half for the former champion in the Cheesestrings Mares Novice Chase.

Townend partnered four winners in a row on this all National Hunt card with Wicklow Brave readily landing prohibitive odds of 1/16 before Percy Veer (3/1) and Humm Baby (5/1) gained more hard-earned victories.

Considering some bookmakers likely liabilities, it was surprising that Camelia De Cotte was very easy to back drifting out from short odds of 5/4 this morning to go off the 5/2 favourite.

She was sent to the front on the final circuit, and was kept up to her work in the straight by Townend to prevail by two and three quarter lengths from the well-backed Ellie Mac

The winner’s stablemate Miss Sapphire who briefly looked a treat before the second last, was a further length and three quarters back in third.

Townend said, "She was good, bar the last and was good from the first day she schooled at home. She was very good in Roscommon and is getting older and is growing up a bit now and is more manageable now than in the past.

"She probably didn't win as cosily as it looked but there is a short run-in here."

(TW & AM)