Sweet win for Butterscotch in Naas opener

Butterscotch made it third time lucky, as she got off the mark in the opener at Naas this evening, the House Of Finance Supporting Kildare Chamber Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

A close fifth on debut at the Curragh in May, the Aidan O'Brien trained bay was since beaten into second by Sometimesadiamond at Fairyhouse.

Having opened at evens on-course, the daughter of Galileo eventually went off the 5/6 favourite under Seamie Heffernan.

Behind the leaders on the outer in the early stages, she hit the front from halfway and went a few lengths clear from over a furlong out, staying on well to record a comfortable five length success.

Newcomer Dawn Hoofer finished second under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger at 9/1, while Grace Rafaela (10/1) was another length away in third with Shane Kelly aboard for Michael O'Callaghan.

Heffernan said afterwards: "She is starting to do things right. She didn't do things right the last day but she did today. Aidan's horses tend to improve from run to run, and it's taken a while for the penny to drop with her."

The winner holds plenty of big race entries, and she is a half-sister to Listed winner Coach House who was second in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot in 2013.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee