Flamborough was especially strong in market trading for the Annual Membership Rated Novice Hurdle over two miles in Cork and the money proved right.

He won a course and distance maiden hurdle on his penultimate start and a return to Cork saw him go in again.

The even-money favourite made his challenge after two out and soon had the the measure of Striking as he went for home approaching the last.

Darragh O'Keeffe guided the top-weight home by two and a half-lengths from Morning Soldier (17/2) who was in the process of landing a blow when he made a mistake two out. He kept on well on the run-in, though, to come through for second from a weakening Striking.

Trainer Tom Gibney said: "It was a very suitable race and was almost made for him. It's great if you have a horse who fits into these novice rated races and he did. He didn't travel great in the race so we are delighted to get the result.

"We hummed and hawed about going to Limerick (over Christmas), but in the end we sat tight and decided to come back to a track he had won at. It looks the right thing to have done now."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes