Sweet Will (left) just leads So Des Flos over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Charlotte Butler partnered her first winner in Ireland when guiding So Des Flos to victory in the Race And Stay Ladies Handicap Chase.
A daughter of Newmarket trainer John Butler, the amatuer rider was successful aboard Split Elevens for her father on the level at Southwell in March.
Aboard So Des Flos for the first time this afternoon, the Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old was sent off a 9/1 chance on what was his handicap debut.
Never far from the pace, the Joshua Tree bay wasn't fluent four out and took closer order in second on the approach to the penultimate obstacle.
Ridden to challenge before the last, the David L'Estrange-owned victor soon improved into a share of the lead and only edged to the front inside the final 50 yards, with half-a-length the margin of victory.
On what was his debut for Emmet Mullins, Sweet Will was the one just denied, with Fern O'Brien aboard this well-backed 7/2 chance (7s early).
There was another three-and-a-half lengths back to Where's Frankie in third, with this one also coming in for good market support, returning at 5/1 from 11s early.
A winner at Thurles on Thursday, Reddys Island (16/5f), also trained by Elliott, finished fourth under Sophie Carter.
"He gave me a great spin. He jumped the whole way around and probably needs further in time," Butler commented.
"He filled up around the back, winged the last and he stayed going.
"I've been going into Gordon's one day a week and he’s been very good and let me have the ride on him. I’m in a few other pointing yards as well.
"I rode a winner on the track at Southwell and that’s my sixth winner all together (including point-to-point's) but my first over fences on the track."
Elliott added: "It's been a good start to the weekend, with a winner and a second in the first two races here.
"He's a grand, big horse and I thought he probably wanted further than this. Charlotte gave him a great ride, though, and it's nice to get a winner on the board with him. I haven't thought beyond today with where he might go next."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
