Dublin Racing Festival aim for Thurles winner Blanketontheground Blanketontheground (11/2) was weighted to reverse Limerick Christmas form with second favourite and eventual fourth placer No Grey Area’s at Thurles. This she accomplished in style to win the Leugh Handicap Hurdle for Eoin McCarthy and Gearoid Brouder. Market-leader Whatsnotoknow tried to get it done from the front under Rachael Blackmore. However he had no answer to Blanketontheground from before the last. The successful Flemensfirth mare was taking her most recent form figures to ‘121’ — all since joining McCarthy — going away up the run-in to triumph by four lengths. "She is a lovely filly and I suppose we got the tactics wrong at Limerick but that is behind us,” said McCarthy. "She is entered in the big mares' handicap at Leopardstown and we need a couple to come out but that is the plan." A. McCurtin, rider of Sullane Hill trained by P.C.O'Connor, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung left throughout. (TW & EM)
