Camelia De Cotte blossoms after punters scent likely winner

Camelia De Cotte emerged as the shortest-priced runner at a well-attended meeting at Tramore, winning the opening tramoreracecourse.com Mares’ Maiden Hurdle in the manner expected of a 1-5 chance.

The Willie Mullins-trained mare was sent on racing into the back straight for the second time and, after Blazes Peg closed the gap on the turn for home, she quickened away again for a bloodless victory.

Of the winner, now as short as 5-1 for the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, winning rider Ruby Walsh said: “I’d say she’s not too bad. She has been a bit keen at home, so we didn’t know how she’d react on the track, but she settled relatively well, and jumped well.