Limerick racegoers were treated to a second gripping finale in as many races when Knockfierna short-headed Start Me Up in the Grade 3 Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle.

The victorious daughter of Flemensfirth threw a brilliant leap at the last under Niall 'Slippers' Madden when slugging it out with Start Me Up and this partly enabled her to prevail by the narrowest of margins.

There was concern for the winner when she came back in as she stopped dead approaching the number one spot but after a prolonged struggle (showering her with buckets of water) the five-year-old consented to walk up to the winner's berth where she was photographed with connections.

Charles Byrnes trains Knockfierna for Mrs Karina Healy who also bred the mare.