By Jonny Turner
Form upgrades look on the cards for the three horses Bob Butt takes to Ashburton on Thursday.
Bookmakers have kept the trio safe in betting markets with Clouding Over made the early $2.50 favourite for race 4.
The filly is at that short quote on the back of a strong trial at Addington after recently joining the Butt stable.
“I haven’t had her for too long, she was with Terry Chmiel and she arrived about six weeks ago,” Butt said.
“I have been happy with her, she trialled with the good fillies at the Cup Trials and she went good.”
“They ran a good enough time and if she went as good as that again she would have to be a good chance.”
The Rage brings patchy form to race 10 but he looks to get a royal winning chance.
The four-year-old comes into his Ashburton assignment on the back of a head-scratching effort in his last start at Rangiora.
“He broke in the score up at Rangiora and then went average.”
“He had an excuse in his start before that.”
“I was happy with his runs before then and if he was at his best he would have to be in it from the draw (3).”
Butt also starts Champagne Nen in race 3 on Thursday.
Drawing barrier 14 in her 2400m standing start assignment looks her biggest challenge.
“She was slow away in her last start, on the grass over a mile you can’t afford to do that.”
“Her runs before that were good.”
“The draw isn’t ideal but if she can get away a bit better she would be a decent place or top 4 chance.”
Butt takes three outside drives at Ashburton on Thursday.
Instant Delight looks a genuine winning threat for the reinsman on the back of her beating a similar field in her last start at Rangiora.
Bellerophonte looks another winning hope for Butt after trialling solidly against open class trotters ahead of her resumption in race 5.
Butt also combines with Airpark Lightning who also starts fresh up in race 2 following a tidy fourth at the Cup Day Trials.
