Their hopes ended at the last flight in the preceding heat when Mr Coldstone fell, but there were no such problems for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend through 1/6 shot Yukon Lil in the Bruree Mares Hurdle at Limerick.

Townend is on to the 93 winner mark for the season now, ahead of Rachael Blackmore on 85.

The leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival was on Felicidad here.

That Denise Foster runner had no answer to Yukon Lil (first time tongue strap) over the closing couple of flights and eight lengths eventually split them.

"The tongue-tie didn't inconvenience her anyway and I suppose she was the best horse in the race and on that ground she wasn't stopping and it's funny all her wins are over two miles,” said Townend.

"The race was a good find and she maybe she wasn't seeing out 2m4f brilliantly over fences on her last couple of runs but that will do her the world of good to win again."

(TW & EM)