Butler chasing five-timer

William Butler will face 15 rivals as he bids to stretch his winning run to five in tomorrow’s toteswinger Summer Plate Handicap Chase at Market Rasen.

The eight-year-old has been on an amazing run for Evan Williams, winning four times in 10 days, most recently by an impressive 24 lengths at Uttoxeter on Wednesday.

“He’s been unbelievable in the last few weeks and everybody seems to have latched on to him now,” said Williams.

“He just seems to be thriving with every run and he keeps coming back better after every outing.

“He’s in mighty form and Donal (Fahy) rode him out this morning and he came up the road bucking and kicking.

“We have had criticism from some people about running him so quickly but the horse is happy and well and he loves his racing, the travelling, the winning and all the attention he’s been getting.”

William Butler’s recent successes mean he will be saddled with a 10lb penalty but his regular conditional rider will halve that burden.

“Donal takes off 5lb so that puts us on 10st 3lb, which is bottom weight and about right,” Williams added.

“The one thing he can’t do is keep on winning but he is a very confident horse and every run has added to that.”

Although William Butler has attracted all the headlines, his Llancarfan handler also sends out two other good chances in Warpath and Mcevoy.

Warpath finished a disappointing eighth at Newton Abbot last time while Mcevoy was just beaten after trying to make all over tomorrow’s course and distance.

“I wouldn’t want my other runners to be overshadowed by William Butler as Warpath is a really progressive horse over fences,” Williams said.

“He’s the horse we have had in mind for this race all summer, the two-mile-six-furlong trip should suit and if the ground is good and fast, he should run well.

“Mcevoy ran a cracker at this track last time. He didn’t deserve to get beat but Tony McCoy rode a brilliant race on the winner.

“Jamie Moore rides him this time as Nick Williams can’t do the weight but Jamie is a good aggressive jockey and should suit Mcevoy.”

The Paul Nicholls-trained Oumeyade, a recent winner at Worcester, is a leading fancy to spoil William Butler’s party while Alan King will be double-handed with Il Duce and Kelrev.

Peter Bowen has won the last two renewals and he sends out four in search of a hat-trick – last year’s winner Iron Man, 2006 victor Yes Sir, Snoopy Loopy and Always Waining.

Seymour Weld, Lord Jay Jay, Love That Benny, Brooklyn Brownie, Borora and Oniz Tiptoes complete the field.