Pivotal must defy Derby draw stats
The lightly-raced four-year-old filly will be stepping into Group Three company for the first time, having previously faced the starter just five times.
She warmed up for a crack at this £56,700 first prize with victory in a handicap over the course and distance seven weeks ago in her first race since May.
Only two horses in the last 10 years have defied a double-figure draw in the Winter Derby, but despite Silver Pivotal breaking from gate 14, Butler is expecting a bold show.
“This has been then plan for a very long time. We’re looking forward to a good run from her tomorrow,” said Butler.
“Jamie Spencer has been very pleased with her work at home – we’ve always been pleased with her work – and she has had a good preparation for the race.
“She won over the course and distance on January 26. We’d planned it like this so it doesn’t make any difference to her. She’s fine, in good shape and all set for tomorrow.”
Red Moloney has travelled across from Ireland to represent Kevin Prendergast, having won four times last season and twice at Listed level.
Prendergast said: “He’s in good shape but whether he’ll be up to that standard I don’t really know.
“We’ll soon find out tomorrow though, he came on all last year and he won his last start well on the dirt at Dundalk.
“That mightn’t have been a great race but he has progressed up to a mark of 110 over here and hopefully he’ll have improved a bit since he last ran to compete at this level.
“He arrived over there this morning and that all went well, he travelled well.”
Among the opposition, Prendergast underlines Zaham, winner of the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot, as one he is particularly wary of.
“It looks a pretty good race and Mark Johnston’s horse (Zaham) seems to be very good,” the County Kildare trainer added.
“He was quite a good horse last year and has a rating of 113, so to me he looks the paper favourite.”
Rabbah Bloodstock are responsible for three of the 14-strong field – Dubai’s Touch, Great Hawk and Hattan.
Dubai’s Touch, owned by Salem Suhail and also trained by Johnston, ran Dansant to a head second over course and distance last month on his first run this year.
Rabbah’s racing director Bruce Raymond said: “Dubai’s Touch gave a very encouraging seasonal reappearance when he was second in the Winter Derby Trial.
“He is entitled to have just come on for that and must have a chance of going one better from his low draw in one.
“He is a very decent horse as he showed when fourth in an Italian Group One last autumn.”
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Great Hawk, owned by Saeed Suhail, showed a liking for a Polytrack surface when winning by four lengths at Kempton back in 2006.
“It won’t be easy for Great Hawk as this is his first start since last September,” Raymond went on.
“But he has done plenty of work alongside Lang Shining and we know he is more than comfortable on this surface and is happy to face the visor. His draw in five is just fine.”
Saeed Manana’s Hattan, trained by Clive Brittain, has shown himself to be a very classy performer on numerous occasions, having twice finished second in Group One company.
“Hattan is perhaps a little burly but can’t be forgotten as his form in the book at the highest level means that he has to be respected,” Raymond added.
