Blast Of Koeman belatedly opened his account when landing the odds in the Buy Tickets Online For The 6th April Spin Southwest Student Raceday Maiden Hurdle at Limerick.

The Shantou gelding showed plenty of promise in bumpers last season including when runner-up to Invitation Only at the Punchestown Festival and when switched to hurdles this term.

The 4/6 favourite travelled strongly to lead early in the straight, and quickly asserted after the penultimate flight.

Odds-on punters had their only scare when Phillip Enright’s mount took off too early and dived at the final flight but he got to the other side and went on to score by an easy five and a half lengths. Lyreen Lad took the runner-up spot, with Harden a further two and a half lengths adrift in third.

Winning trainer Robert Tyner said, “He was unlucky not to win a bumper, and has had a couple of good runs over hurdles.

“I was going to wait another few weeks for nicer ground but when this race came up we had to take our chance. I’d imagine he will go back for a handicap, and he is also a novice until November.

“He’ll make a nice chaser and jumps very well. He’s probably a bit better going right-handed.”