Hard Rain went three places better than on his recent stable debut when staying on strongly from the last to run out an easy winner of the Coast To Curagh On Saturday August 26th Handicap Hurdle at Limerick.

On his first start for Butler earlier this month, the 17-race maiden kept on nicely to finish fourth over fences at Tipperary. Back over hurdles here, off just a 2lb lower mark, the eight-year-old recorded a first career success.

Held up in mid division by J J Slevin, the gelding travelled noticeably well on the heels of the leaders turning into the straight before being produced to challenge at the second last.

Sent on between the final two flights, a good jump at the last sealed the race as the Butler trained gelding went away to win easily by nine lengths.

"I don't have the horse long and he had been working well. He was fourth in Tipperary the last day and we were trying to find something suitable and today's race cut up.

"I don't have many horses and it was J.J.'s (Slevin) first time riding riding for me and god he gave him a peach of a ride- you'd see his class."

He added "James Dullea was training him and recommended to the syndicate that a change of scenery might suit the horse. He was nearly a winner already in many of his previous runs for James.

"The syndicate had some nice horses down through the years."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.