The Mad Well put in a gutsy performance from the front to grab the spoils in Limerick's two mile five handicap hurdle for Eugene O'Sullivan and David Mullins.

Coming to the second last Mullins was seen pushing him along as Davy Russell appeared to be going much the better upsides on Tiger Bay Lady However, The Mad Well (3/1) rallied and was in front again jumping the last.

A fluent jump at the last obstacle enabled him to pull away and beat the 13/8 favourite Tiger Bay Lady by five and a half lengths. Sydney Thompson at 4/1 stayed on for third a further half a length down.

Eugene O'Sullivan said: "He deserved it and has been very consistent. He loves this track and, while he ran well at Gowran last week, he seems to run better here than anywhere else.

"If the ground stays like this we'll keep going and maybe he'll go over fences next season. He'll have a break when the ground goes.

"He could go for a better handicap at Mallow or Fairyhouse at Easter if the ground is still soft."

David Mullins said: "I was delighted. Tiger Bay Lady came to me down the hill; that kept him company and he pricked his ears and ran straight to the line. His run the last day was good and we probably should have made it on him there. It suited him to make it today."

The Mad Well had won over course and distance over Christmas. Last-time out he was second in a Gowran Park two and a half mile handicap hurdle in a race in which Sydney Thompson was third.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee