Buttons drops her head on the line to score

Buttons just got there on the line in a thrilling juvenile fillies' maiden that got Leopardstown under way.

The daughter of Kingman, who holds a Group 2 entry at the Curragh next month, went off 4/6 favourite for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.

Jim Bolger 's Glor Tire took the field along over this extended seven furlongs and began to give best outside the furlong pole as Serious Notions picked up a narrow lead from Buttons.

Serious Notions was nothing if not game in the closing stages as Buttons challenged her along with her stablemate, Content who was staying on down the outer.

Buttons gradually cut into the deficit in the final 50 yards and flashed past the post in unison with Serious Notions. The only result that could be called at that stage was Content (5/1) in third, a head off the battling front two.

After the photo was scrutinised, Buttons got the call by a nose from Serious Notions (13/2).

O'Brien said: “We're delighted with her. We rushed her a little bit to get her out because we thought she could be a Chesham filly, but Ryan just said she's too babyish for that.

“We'll just pull back and give her a bit of time before we go again.

“Ryan said even though she's by Kingman, she will stay and seven would be her minimum. She was green turning and everything. She's a very well-bred filly.

“Wayne's filly (Lordan on Content) finished very strong and she's a well-bred filly as well.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson