In the training I have received, we are instructed that it is a slide catch not a slide release. This seems to be inline with all of the serious professional instruction I am aware of.
The slide is best released by reaching over the top of the slide, pulling it back, and letting it slam home. You get an extra 3/8 of an inch of slide travel to aid reliable feeding, and it requires less fine motor skill. This method works with gloves on and if your hands are wet. This same motion works very well for clearing malfunctions. Keep in mind that in stressful situations your brain is sending more blood to your vitals and less to your limbs. This has a serious effect on your fine motor skills.
An instructor told my class a story of a soldier in Vietnam they found dead with the slide locked back on his 1911, an empty mag on the ground, a full mag in the pistol, and blood smeared all over the slide release. Food for thought.
If you insist on using an extended catch Brownells carries a good assortment of 1911 parts. Wilson makes one of very good quality. I personally do not recommend them however. They can be bumped to easily, and sometimes just the added mass alone can cause the catch to move unintentionally.
My .02 FWIW