Emmet Butterly registered his first Irish flat winner when his Akasaka landed the Christmas Race & Dine Packages Handicap at Dundalk this evening, scoring an eighth career winner and his first the Co Donegal trainer.

Ridden by Tom Madden, the seven year old gelding battled well in the closing stages to hold off the challenge of Tennessee Wildcat by a head.

Akasaka had been claimed from Eddie Lynam's yard following his third placed finish in a Claimer on November and having finished second on his first start for Butterly, improved one placing tonight to record his first win since July 2013.

Former high profile apprentice jockey Butterly, who previously trained eight flat winners in Britain and three over jumps in Ireland, later stated “we claimed him for E9,000 and he's a cheap horse now.

“He's rock solid and we'll have a bit of fun with him. He's in again next Wednesday and we'll see how he comes out of this.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson