Martin Dixon's Saturday tips: Butler can serve up treat

Paul Robson's horse was having his second start for the stable last time out at Newcastle and he bumped into the really well-handicapped Fat Harry.

That horse continued his improvement subsequently should have landed a hat-trick of wins the other day but for a mistake at the last. I was impressed by the fact that he was able to keep tabs on him and give him a little bit of a race.

Two and a half miles on a galloping track like Wetherby will be a perfect test for him and he's only a six year old - I think there's going to be more to come.

Kilbarry Hill is making his second start over fences and he ran in a race at Carlisle first time up one won by The Jukebox Kid. I think that was a really strong race.

He's a proper staying horse and the return to a three-mile trip here will very much be in his favour  and I liked the way that he finished off up the hill at Carlisle. He was never really put in the race, but it did stay on to good effect and passed a lot of horses in the latter stages and obviously the step back up in trip ought to bring about plenty of improvement.

He's got untapped potential as a staying chaser and I think he'll step forward plenty from his seasonal comeback run.

I'm expecting this horse to improve this season going over fences. He’s big, good-looking individual who won an Irish point to point back in March 2023 and from day one under Rules he has looked very talented, winning his only start in bumpers before taking a novice hurdle at Kelso. 

Those victories came for the Pauline Robson yard. He's joined Ruth Jefferson this season made a bright start for the stable in a handicap hurdle at Ayr last month, for all that he was turned over a short price. 

It was a good run behind a course specialist who had race fitness on his side, whereas Captain Butler was probably caught out by the lack of a recent outing. 

I'm hoping he can build on that, now he’s sent chasing. He's got the physique and background, with a mark of 123 looking favourable.