Lady Buttons fastens on to new campaign

He was speaking after the 10-year-old was named leading steeplechase mare by the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association for a third successive year.

The horse’s latest accolade was testament to ‘Buttons’ getting up on the line in a three-way thriller to land the valuable Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares’ Chase at Doncaster last December.

She was ridden on that occasion by Tommy Dowson who was deputising for the injury-sidelined Adam Nicol, the jockey who had partnered the horse to 12 out of her 15 career starts.

Dowson is likely to be given further opportunities after Nicol’s luckless run with injuries prompted him to hang up his race-riding saddle over the summer.

“Tommy Dowson will be the main person this year,” confirmed Catterick-based Kirby. “Ross Chapman is in every day and Sean Quinlan will ride out as and when he can.

“There are lots of young lads like Joe Williamson and Colm McCormack so we have got plenty of options.”

As for ‘Buttons’ who is already catching the eye on the gallops, there is one immediate target – the Listed Mares’ Hurdle at Wetherby on Charlie Hall Chase day that she will be looking to win for a third time.

From there, the plan, says Kirby, will be the Doncaster chase before he – and owner–breeders Keith and Jayne Sivils – decide to race on or retire ‘Buttons’ so she can begin a seocnd career as a broodmare.

“She’s brilliant. She’s really good now. She seems as good as ever,” said Kirby. “She’s doing plenty of work and she seems to be going well so far.

“Maybe having time off with injury when she was younger has helped. Maybe she has matured into a better horse. It will be one race at time – we will start at Wetherby with the aim of going to Doncaster.

“I’ve watched her enough times to know when she’s working well and when she isn’t. She’ll tell us when she doesn’t want to carry on.”

One of the most popular horses in training, ‘Buttons’ is equally proficient over both hurdles and steeplechase fences. This was actually her fourth award from the TBA – she also took the hurdles accolade in 2018-19 to the delight of the Sivills, who run The Tiger Inn at Easington.

“We’re thrilled that ‘Buttons’ has been recognised yet again as one of the best mares in the country,” said Jayne Sivills.

“The Doncaster race was the best mares’ chase that there was last season – and the only one that she ran in. I actually think she’s a better chaser than hurdler. She’s really well and Phil (Kirby) says she’s even better than she was at this time last year. We will just take it race by race.”

‘Buttons’ has not raced since finishing seventh to Honeysuckle in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival – a result that saw the victor named as the top hurdling mare by the TBA.

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James Mitchinson