Lady Buttons thrills Doncaster crowd with last-gasp win in three-way fight

The noise reverberating around the Doncaster grandstand was not far off St Leger levels after the hugely popular Lady Buttons got up on the line in a red-hot running of the Listed Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares' Chase.

The queen of the north and pride of Yorkshire had an army of supporters bedecked in purple scarves willing her every move and she granted a wish Santa would have struggled to match when denying Happy Diva and La Bague Au Roi in a gripping three-way finish.

Trainer Phil Kirby, who has taken care of Lady Buttons since she was a foal, described the victory over BetVictor Gold Cup winner Happy Diva and double Grade 1 winner La Bague Au Roi as the admirably consistent and versatile mare's career highlight.

"She's an absolute star who owes us nothing," he said. "It was a proper hot race and I'd say this is her best performance; she has put it in and done everything right.

"She's only run over hurdles this season and we switch her back and forth and she keeps doing it – over different trips as well. Not many horses can do that."

Phil Kirby: 'She's an absolute star who owes us nothing'Credit: David Carr

Kirby spared a thought for regular rider Adam Nicol after an injury suffered on Boxing Day resulted in Tommy Dowson taking over at the last minute.

Dowson, fresh from winning the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on stablemate Top Ville Ben, is no stranger to Jayne Sivills's star, having stepped in when Nicol was injured last season.

"She is Adam's ride and I wouldn't be here had he not got injured and I'm gutted for him," said Dowson.

"It's a great team effort by everyone and Phil keeps bringing her back to win good races. She travelled and jumped great and although we missed the last, she's put her head down and battled when it counted."

Lady Buttons was following up last year's success in the £75,000 contest and she is likely to return to Doncaster next month to defend her crown in the Grade 2 Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle.

Warren Greatrex was pleased with third-placed La Bague Au Roi after the 9-4 favourite showed some of her old sparkle under Richard Johnson.

"She's run well. Dickie was critical of himself in that he felt he should have kept kicking after winging four-out and then she's made a mistake at the wrong time," the trainer said.

Watch the thrilling finish to the Listed Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares' Chase

"She battled back and he said she felt the best she has all season. There were three good mares in a battling finish and for the good prize-money; that's how it should be."

The thrilling climax to a race featuring five mares rated between 154 and 149 was a feather in the cap for Doncaster and the mares' division in general.

Clerk of the course Roderick Duncan said: "I begged for this race when it was first advertised and this is one of the proudest moments of my career. To see a finish like that is a real highlight."

A fair assessment of a race that will linger long in the memory.

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