Heron's Butler gets Thurles maiden win after stewards enquiry The Dermot McLoughlin trained Heron's Butler lost his maiden status over flights having been awarded the www.thurlesraces.ie Maiden Hurdle following a stewards enquiry. Tracking leader Additional Time for much of the race, the 2/1 chance came through to throw down a strong challenge to the market leader on the approach to the last. Nothing separated the pair on the run-in, as they battled it out, flashing by the winning post in unison. Although a photo showed that Additional Time had prevailed by a short head, the subsequent enquiry overturned that result due to the 'winner' drifting close home. Winning jockey Liam McKenna said: "It was a small margin and being carried left made the difference, as the other horse didn't run in a straight line. To me it looked like we were only beaten a nose, so it was very tight. "He is a big baby, is a real stayer and the last day at Clonmel, I was suspended so couldn't ride him. I couldn't say he was done with (when exiting at the second-last) but looking back now, it was a good job as he was able to get into today's race (for unplaced horses). "That ground is as quick as he wants and he'd like softer ground and a more galloping track. He has a lot to learn though, as he is very backwards. "I'm riding out with Dermot one day a week, I'm with Ross O'Sullivan two days and Mark Molloy another day." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
