The veteran Spare Brakes held on by a head to reward favourite backers at 2/1 in the claiming hurdle that got Limerick's card under way.

He tracked Prospectus and took over from weakening rival over a quarter of a mile out. Shane O'Callaghan's mount got a lovely run up the inner and hugged the rail turning for home. There were plenty of possible contenders taking closer order in behind, though.

The 12-year-old jumped the second last with Sight Nor Seen almost upsides and another veteran, the 13-year-old My Manekineko attempting to get involved on the outer.

Spare Brakes put in a lovely jump there which enabled him to inch ahead of a ridden Sight Nor Seen on the run to the final flight.

He popped the last but Sight Nor Seen and My Manekineko weren't done with yet and both rallied on the run-in.

Spare Brakes was all out on the inner in the closing stages, but got his reward for trainer Robert Tyner from Sight Nor Seen (40/1) with My Manekineko (9/1) half a length back in third in a driving finish.

O'Callaghan said: "He travelled great and was hard on the bridle for me everywhere. I probably got there too soon but I got a lovely split up the inside turning in and he took it.

"Jumping the second last, the other horse came to him but he stuck his head down and the other horse was never going to get past him.

"He is as honest as the day is long."

This was Spare Brakes' fifth career success.

Runner-up Sight Nor Seen (€5,000) and sixth-placed Sevenna Star (€4,000) were claimed by Andrew McNamara while eighth-placed Clonguile Way (€5,000) was claimed by John McConnell.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes