Hotpot Ciel De Neige (1/4 fav) looked to be cruising behind horses going to two out in the Keith Lynch Memorial 4-y-o Maiden Hurdle,but was hampered by Nero Rock as Donie McInerney went for a run up that one’s inner before that flight.

Davy Russell took full advantage, driving Argumental (4/1) to the front between the last two flights and just holding on by a diminishing head as the luckless favourite flew home to be a closing second.

Nero Rock (16/1) finished another six lengths away in third place.

The winner, by Stowaway, was runner-up in a point-to-point at Ballycahane for Pat Doyle before finishing fourth in a maiden hurdle at Thurles last month on his first start for Joseph O’Brien.

Assistant trainer Brendan Powell remarked: "He ( Davy Russell) gave that some ride and we were probably lucky to beat the second horse as he got murdered on the inside, which had nothing to do with Davy.

"When JP's horse came to us our fellow picked up again. Davy said he liked this horse when he rode him at Thurles and he coped with the ground and jumped quicker today as well.

"What Davy did at the last won him the race as if he sat and popped it he'd have been beaten. For a guy of his age he is as brave as he ever was. He actually used to ride a good bit for me when he was over in Britain as a young lad."

Davy Russell reflected that the last time he was at Limerick races for Christmas was at the old course in the 1990s.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes