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Was really impressed by the way this one quickened up at Stratford at the weekend and I see he’s bolted up by 24 lengths at Worcester today , although at work and didn’t see todays race. Given I’ve always thought there’s not a lot between top handicappers and championship class, would anyone care to speculate on how much William would have to improve to be top class on top of the ground. If he needs to improve at all.
William Butler ran today off an effective rating of only 111, and will go up to 121 after the weekend, with further re-assessment to come for his last two wins, as well as today’s romp (I have unashamedly pinched these stats from forum member DPRP, who posted them on another site.
).There’s every likelihood that he will get punted up into the high-130’s (possibly more) after he has been fully re-assessed. He does look very progressive, but I’d like to see how he fares against decent opposition, rather than the utterly moderate yokes he’s been cuffing recently, before getting too carried away.
I watched him sloosh home today, but I didn’t see anything extra special.
Good stamp of a beast and plenty left in the tank.
Perhaps he is more of a nice stayer in the making?
Zip
Was really impressed by the way this one quickened up at Stratford at the weekend and I see he’s bolted up by 24 lengths at Worcester today.
I think you mean Uttoxeter.
There’s every likelihood that he will get punted up into the high-130’s (possibly more) after he has been fully re-assessed. He does look very progressive, but I’d like to see how he fares against decent opposition, rather than the utterly moderate yokes he’s been cuffing recently, before getting too carried away.
Agreed on all points.
There’ve been several examples of horses running up a quick sequence of wins in handicaps during the summer jumps season (none of whom I can recall at the mo
) seeing off "yokes", only to find the rise up the handicap renders them uncompetitive in a higher class when meeting the heavier artillery of autumn.Entered in the two handicap chases at Southwell on Friday, edit in which he was set to carry 13-2 (21lb penalty) and 12-9 (14lb penalty) prior to todays win!
Once more to the well Evan?
Anyone else think he might run in the Summer Plate on Saturday? Yes it’s classes above what he’s done already but he needs just one to drop out (which will likely happen) to get in..
Technically he is thrown-in on Saturday, and as long as he can give his running after so many recent outings (not totally certain, but the races would seem to have taken little out of him) then he will have a serious chance in the Plate, imo.
There’ve been several examples of horses running up a quick sequence of wins in handicaps during the summer jumps season (none of whom I can recall at the mo
) seeing off "yokes", only to find the rise up the handicap renders them uncompetitive in a higher class when meeting the heavier artillery of autumn.
Il Penseroso, perhaps? Or Cheeky Lad?
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
He didn’t run up a sequence but Chicuelo was a great example of how pressure on jumping is much more of an issue when stepped up in class.
As a recent example, is it possible to include Venn Ottery in the category that you are referring to?
I think he won three or four handicaps in a short space of time during the summer (or early season) before being stepped up in class only to never win a race again (or look like winning one).
Mike
Mikky
Are you sure he never looked like winning another race? The sight of Ruby looking between his legs coming round the final bend in Azertyuiop’s Champion Chase and seeing Venn Ottery still there with Murphy still with a double handful is possibly my favourite ever Festival moment.
So impressed was I by the ease and manner of William Butler’s recent victories, that it would have been remiss of me not to awake from my slumbers and risk some of the house keeping money on him extending that winning run yesterday.
My sole bet of the day.
Strike while the iron is hot, my old grandpappy used to say.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
As a recent example, is it possible to include Venn Ottery in the category that you are referring to?
I think he won three or four handicaps in a short space of time during the summer (or early season) before being stepped up in class only to never win a race again (or look like winning one).
Mike
You can’t really lump poor old VA in this category. He did indeed win a string of handicaps for Paul Nicholls in 2004 prior to his incredible effort in the Champion Chase, but then there was the predictable falling-out with the "eccentric" owner and he went back to life living in a barn in South Devon. He did get sent to Martin Pipe’s for a while in 2005 but by then the horse was well past his best, although Pipe worked wonders to get him to finish 7th in the Topham at Aintree.
The tale of Venn Ottery is a very sad one – he was unbelievably talented and if he had been trained in a "normal environment" from a young age (and had been cured of his chronic wind infirmity) he would more than likely have gone right to the top of the tree.
With regards to William Butler, this has been a real rags-to-riches story as he is an appallingly bred creature, and is to Evan Williams’ credit that he has improved so much (or does it highlight the shortcomings of Steve Brookshaw?), but he has yet to race against anything of note, and we will learn a lot more if and when he takes his chance in the Summer Plate.
[it] is to Evan Williams’ credit that he has improved so much (or does it highlight the shortcomings of Steve Brookshaw?).
Hmm, let’s see if The Sneakster – a similarly-profiled Brookshaw animal that only got off the mark after 30-odd starts in a Cartmel handicap in May – turns up in a seller or the auctions any time soon, and gets picked up by another halfway useful trainer. I think there’s a bit more to her than she’s been able to show so far.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
For me it’s a combination of both. Williams wouldn’t get any more out of the horse unless he was a better trainer than Brookshaw. It’s amazing the improvement some of these Welsh yards have shown over the last few years. Is it more than coincidence? What is it that in in the water there?
What are you suggesting, David?????.
If it is the water, it must be a different supply to the one poor old Milt has.
Colin
Slightly off topic.. but still regarding sequences. The most prolific winner I can recall over the jumps, albeit in lower grades, was a horse call Mighty Marine who used to clean up in the southwest in the summer when I was lad. Trained by Milton Bradley IIRC. Anyone know how many it won.
Stu
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