Kate Appleby Shoes impresses at Limerick for Mullins and Townend

Kate Appleby Shoes was a comprehensive winner of the Kerry Group EBF Shannon Spray Mares Novice Hurdle at Limerick.

The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old was the 6-4 favourite to follow up last month's success at Clonmel and did so in some style in the hands of Paul Townend.

Magic Of Light took the field along for much of the two-mile-six-furlong contest before Townend decided to commit for home in the back straight.

The Green Lady went in pursuit after the home turn, but never looked like bridging the gap, with Kate Appleby Shoes finding enough to take the Grade Three prize by five lengths.

Townend said: "We didn't think the step up in trip would be any problem and it suited her.

"She stays galloping - that's all she does.

"It's bottomless out there and it's tough to stay galloping like she does."

After having struck gold aboard Michael Hourigan's Donegal Tuesday (11-4 favourite) in the two-mile-five-furlong handicap hurdle, Townend completed a treble as the Mullins-trained Daisy's Gift (11-2) outfought odds-on favourite Slowmotion in the Grade Two Charleville Cheese EBF Mares Novice Chase.

Slowmotion loomed up ominously between the final two fences, but Daisy's Gift jumped the final obstacle the better of the pair and stuck to her guns to prevail by a length and a half.

Townend, who claimed two winners at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday, said: "The luck is in!

"The key with her was to get her jumping and she quickened well off the bend.

"She was a bit slow at the first couple but once she warmed up to it she got her confidence back and was away.

"She picked up lovely when she got the gap on the inside."