Calf stretch gave time for finalists - blanketing provided (6)
I believe the answer is:
heifer
'calf' is the definition.
(I know that heifer is a type of calf)
'stretch gave time for finalists blanketing provided' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'provided' could be 'if' (eg 'provided it's sunny' means 'if it's sunny') and 'if' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for heifer that I've seen before include "beast" , "part of stock" , "Female bovine that has not given birth" , "a little lower" , "Cow that has borne one or no calves" .)