Butler boots home first winner on in-form Thornleigh Frank

Dillon Butler rode his first winner aboard 11/4 favourite Thornleigh Frank with a front-running ride in the 2m2f handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan.

Thornleigh Frank got a taste for winning in Downpatrick just over a week ago and swiftly followed up.

Butler soon sent him clear of the field and things looked ominous when Thornleigh Frank blundered two out and was closed up on at the road crossing by both Natural Look and Betty Dutton

However, Butler must have known he still had plenty of horse underneath him as he pushed Thornleigh Frank clear by the last.

The six-year-old son of Yeats jumped it well and sluiced home on the soft ground to win by 15 lengths from Natural Look (3/1). Betty Dutton came in another 10 lengths away at 4/1.

Trainer Mark Fahey said: “He did it well again. We didn't know how he'd react on the ground but he obviously did it well on it.

“I'm delighted for Dillon, it's his first winner and he's only had a handful of rides. He's with me a few months. He's a great lad, works hard and he deserves the win.

“Where we go next with the horse I don't know. He's had two quick runs so we might give him a little bit of a break and see what comes up later in the year.

“He'll definitely jump fences in time as well.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson