The two mile six hunters chase at Limerick developed into a match between Cork Citizen and Aurora Bell and it was the former who made a visit to the winners' enclosure.

Aurora Bell wasn't entirely fluent at the second last and that enabled Cork Citizen (5/1) to edge in front before the final fence. Maxine O'Sullivan kept him honest as he maintained the lead to win by a length and a quarter from the 16/1 chance.

Handler Eugene O'Sullivan said: "He's a lovely horse. He's owned by Alurie O'Sullivan, no relation, from Manchester. They bred him and we bred the dam.

"He hasn't had too many races, but the ground was too fast in Listowel and this time last year he had a wind issue which we got sorted. It has been upward from there.

"He'll run in Thurles at the end of January and then in both Foxhunters'. He's a stayer and you won't see the best of him until he's eight."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes