The John Joe Walsh trained Lady In Lavender landed a gamble to win the opening McSweeney Sports Surfaces 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle on day one of the Limerick Festival today, scoring under Rachael Blackmore.

The daughter of Jeremy (backed from 12/1 this morning in to a 4/1 shot) spectacularly ran out, on the home turn, at Cork on her previous start but was much better behaved under Blackmore today, scoring a three parts of a length win over Randalls Ur Poet

Afterwards Walsh said “Rachael gave her a good ride — she's a good girl to ride there's no doubt about it.

“She never settled in Mallow and was unlucky: I don't know what happened, she's always free but we put a hood on her today and it settled her. They went a good gallop which was also a big help as well. She has a bit of foot though, and might prefer a bit of better ground.

“Her owner Conor O'Brien is a vet in Fermot and is flying overhead at the moment. He's coming home from Vienna and couldn't be here today. He said to me 'ye'll get on fine without me, I won't be riding her!”