BOTTOM of the claiming scale campaigners take centre stage at Caymanas Park today when nine compete in the Roderick ‘Pilot’ Francis Memorial Cup feature on the day’s 10-race card for the major share of the $438,000 purse up for grabs.

The ‘Pilot’ Francis call for four-year-olds and upward who have started for a claiming tag of $180,000 since November 6, 2012 going 1,200 metres has an approximate post time set at 3:15 pm, with first post at 12:30 pm.

Despite of the lowliness in the claiming scale of the contending campaigners, the feature will not be bereft of talented runners.

Many of these runners may have probably seen better days, but the event is suffused with good competitive ability that can turn it into a thrilling event to live up to its highlighter billing.

Mr Butcher is a living testimony to this expectation. The nine-year-old dark bay son of Hail Orphan has ruled this level with some authority for most of his racing life. Most of his 16 wins have been garnered at this level and with the distance not a problem could register his 17th victory from his 86th career start.

In good recent form, Mr Butcher will enter the contest at a handy 51.5kg for the capable claiming apprentice Renardo McNaughton, who will be astride for shrewd trainer Dennis Lee.

Despite his predominance at the level he will face stern opposition from the speedy four-year-old chestnut maiden filly Aparajita, ridden by leading jockey Omar Walker, recent winner Green Beret, the mount of champion jockey Dane Nelson, Reds Thomas, piloted by apprentice Orlando Foster, Run Charm Run, to be partnered by apprentice Kuri Powell, and The Smoker with the leading apprentice Prince Holder.

Meanwhile, a maiden special weight contest in two divisions for native-bred three-year-olds will also highlight the programme, along with an Open Allowance contest for a purse of $786,500 that will once again pit fast imported four-year-old colt Blast Them Away against the fast imported four-year-old filly Noon It Is, going 1,200 metres.

Blast Them Away has beaten the filly in their previous meetings, but while Blast Them Away was laid up since June of last year until reappearing with a victory in mid February, Noon It Is has been a model of consistency with wins, and during the period was beaten only by Mismyrtleboyrichie in November, and Saint Cecelia in December to end her three-year-old racing career.

The filly makes her four-year-old debut in good condition under Omar Walker, and also faces the American imported Rio Cobre, the mount of Dick Cardenas, whom she has already beaten thrice. Also in the line-up is the rejuvenated Traditional Prince, with Prince Holder in the saddle, to come in at 47.0kg could run these close from a concerted effort.

The $480,000 Track Price Plus Dig-Out Handicap Race #36, a Restricted Allowance V race for native-bred four-year-old and upward (NW2) will call curtains on the local programme.