Cabaret Queen spearheaded a fruitful afternoon for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend at Limerick as she ran away with the JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National Handicap Chase.

The seven-year-old was a reserve for the three-mile event, but sneaked into the field after a couple of horses were taken out and Townend seized the opportunity with both hands.

He was positive from the off on the 8-1 chance and she was well clear turning for home, clearing the final obstacle in fine style to win by 13 lengths from Spider Web (14-1), with Oscar Knight (9-1) third and Gwencily Berbas (20-1) back in fourth.

Townend said: "She jumped like a buck and it means a lot when you can do that around here. She improved again from Listowel and we are learning about her the whole time.

"The ground was an unknown, but she handled it well enough and I got it easy in front.

"She was a good find and I won this race in the past with Treacle (2009)."

Listen Dear had got the Closutton team's day off to a good start as she ended a long barren spell with victory in the PricewaterhouseCoopers Irish EBF Cailin Alainn Mares Hurdle.

The winner had not hit the target since May 2017, but Townend rode her with plenty of confidence and she cruised home by eight lengths at odds of 14-1.

Darver Star (13-8 favourite) took the other Listed prize, the Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Novice Hurdle.