Charlie Hills’ Blog: Ancient Rome thriving ahead of Arc weekend

We’ve had a fairly quiet week on the winners front, but I’m looking forward to seeing how the horses go this Friday and Saturday. We’ve got some promising types in some competitive races, and it’s very exciting to have runners at Longchamp on Arc day.

I hope they will all do themselves justice and, hopefully, bring home a result.

Newmarket, Friday

MUTASAABEQ (3:35pm) didn’t finish his race off at York as well as we would have wanted him to. We really like the way he’s been training since and seems to love Newmarket, so we’re hoping for a big run. Both ground and trip look spot on for him

MILETUS (4:10pm) is a horse I like a lot. He just had a little setback, so we’re finally looking forward to seeing him on the track. I’m not saying we’re expecting him to win first time up, but he’s certainly a nice type. He’ll probably get a mile in time, but he’s got plenty of speed as well.

BODORGAN (5:55pm) won at the track as a two-year-old but is yet to get his head in front this season. He’s been running well enough to suggest a win isn’t too far away, so hopefully a return to the Rowley Mile can do the trick.

Longchamp, Saturday

ANCIENT ROME (4:43pm) loved his time out in America. He’s been absolutely thriving since and we just thought the Prix Dollar looked a great option for him. The trip should be ideal for him and, though this will be tougher and he’ll need to step up again, we feel like he’s still improving.

We’ve only had him a few months, so we’re learning all the time, but I’ve already been thinking about Dubai with him for the winter. He travels really well and the prize money out there is great, so it could be a nice option.

Chester, Saturday

ROBBO (1:30pm) is worth keeping an eye on at Chester. We’ve got plenty of nice horses out over the next few days in all the big races, but he’s the one I’m strongest on. He’s run well in three maidens without getting his head in front and this now looks the perfect spot for him to do that. The form of the maidens he’s run in have worked out pretty well and he’s a tough little horse that should be hard to beat.

Longchamp, Sunday

EQUALITY (4:25pm) ran a cracker last time to finish third in the Flying Five at the Curragh, which proved he’s up to this level. With it being a dry forecast in Paris, the ground should be ideal for him. He’s shown he can run well on anything, but drying conditions certainly wouldn’t worry him like it might some of the others.

EQUILATERAL (4:25pm) is still waiting for his breakthrough at Group level but he’s been running with a lot of credit this season. We were delighted with his win last time out at Doncaster and he’s been given a nice break since then.

POGO (5:00pm) is going to take his chance given the drying ground and the lack of Group 1 contests over 7f. He’s certainly not been as prolific this season, but he’s been in some tough races which haven’t gone quite right for us. He’s still showing us all the right signs at home.