Nayyir doubtful for Dubai

Gerard Butler is not convinced stable stalwart Nayyir showed enough sparkle in his victory on Saturday to warrant another trip out to Dubai.

The eight-year-old won his first race for two and a half years at Wolverhampton but his performance in beating Appalachian Trial by one and three-quarter lengths has not booked his ticket on the plane yet.

“He did it well enough but he was getting weight from those horses and he didn’t convince me that we should take him back to Dubai,” Butler told At The Races.

“I will be talking to the owners about that.

“I was just glad to get him back in the winner’s enclosure but I’m not sure if he’s still at the standard he would need to be at to be competitive out there.

“He’s entered in the Winter Derby on March 18 and that would be a nice race to point him at if he doesn’t go to Dubai. The mile and a quarter trip should be fine for him now, he needs the step up in trip now.

“I think the race when he made Soviet Song pull out all the stops in the Sussex Stakes was his career highlight.

“I don’t think he’s at that level anymore but he’s been a fantastic servant to me personally and everyone at the yard so he owes no-one anything.”

Butler also had news of Jack Sullivan, who was successful in the Group Three Maktoum Challenge at Nad Al Sheba two weeks ago.

“We were toying with the idea of running Jack Sullivan on March 2, but I think I’ll shelve that now and wait for the Group Two Godolphin Mile (March 25).

“I’ve spoken to a couple of trainers in America and they think it is important to give horses a lot more time between races over there.

“He loves it out there. He settled very quickly and I have been delighted with his condition and it was a very good performance. I’m looking forward to World Cup night.”