Blanket lands nice touch on first start for McCarthy

Blanketontheground justified good support when claiming the rated novice hurdle at Limerick for Eoin McCarthy.

The Flemensfirth mare was backed from 14/1 this morning and went off a 7/2 shot for the two-mile contest.

Gearoid Brouder produced his mount to lead going to the penultimate flight and despite getting the last wrong she had enough in the tank to beat More Info by two-and-a-half lengths.

The winner was making her first start for McCarthy, having finished mid-division in handicap company on her two most recent outings in September.

"She had a lovely run behind Our Roxanne on heavy ground at Gowran last year and John Joe (Walsh, her previous trainer) had a great job done with her,” said McCarthy.

"She idled and had a look at the last but I wasn't too worried. 

"These are lovely races for these kind of horses and she looks to be a lovely filly and we're delighted with her.

"John Leahy, from Listowel, owns her and it's his first horse with us so hopefully he'll be lucky."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)