Silver Pivotal, who has come in for plenty of support with the sponsors, can win Saturday’s Betdirect.com Winter Derby for trainer Gerard Butler and jockey Jamie Spencer. The filly impressed when landing a Class 2 handicap at the end of January and is now 9/4 favourite with Betdirect, having opened at 10/1.

The four-year-old filly looked a promising sort in the spring of last year, but went missing after winning a listed event at York in May. However, she looked better than ever when returning to action over this course and distance in January. That may have been only a handicap but she couldn’t have been more impressive, bursting clear in the closing stages despite racing against the inside rail, which at the time was the slowest part of the course. She deserves even greater credit for that effort as that was only her fifth start, only her second run on Polytrack and her first run since may last year. What’s more, her up-with-the-pace style of racing has proved ideal for this race down the years.

The in-form Mark Johnston has two entered and both Zaham (6/1 Stan James) and Dubai's Touch (5/1 bet365) merit serious respect. Dubai’s Touch was second to Dansant in the Winter Derby Trial last time out, but Butler should have a good idea where he stands with that one as he trains the winner. Zaham looks more of a danger, having proved a real money-spinner for the stable last season winning a Listed race at Royal Ascot and then finishing just a head adrift of Ask in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at the same track in September. He has a fine chance at the weights (would be much worse off in a handicap) and has no problems with the ground or trip.

Of the rest, Orchard Supreme (33/1 Betdirect) will find this trip too far, so more of a threat will come from recent handicap winners Philatelist (8/1 Stan James) and Evident Pride (14/1 bet365). However, in a race where plenty may have reached a plateau in their form, Silver Pivotal stands out as unexposed and progressive. I just wish I was on at 10/1!

Recommended bet:

Silver Pivotal 3pt @ best morning-line price*

*bet365 and Stan James offer a best odds guarantee