Knockmaole Boy s jumping stood him in good stead as he saw off Lord Justice in the two mile rated hurdle at Limerick.

He gave Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell a quick-fire double as they were also successful with An Caisteal Nuadh in the first.

He tracked the leader Jaime Sommers before the second last and got a lovely run up the inner to take over approaching that flight.

The 4/1 joint favourite soared over that flight and was soon put to work by Russell. A swift jump at the last enabled him to keep up the momentum along the run-in and win by a head.

Lord Justice (13/2) kept gaining on the run-in but could get no closer than a head at the line. The West's Awake (7/1) kept on in third on the outer, a further half length back.

Davy Russell said: "He was brave out today and he travelled well and really enjoyed the ground. He was very brave over the last two and is very quick and is a real good hurdler.

"I thought today might stretch his limits but Gordon's horses improve from run to run and whether he can improve again, it's hard to know, but he was quite a cheap purchase and has now won two contests and 20,000 euro."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes