Charlie Hills’ William Hill blog: Equilateral should go very well at the Curragh

William Hill ambassador Charlie Hills runs through his runners this weekend from Newbury, the Curragh, Doncaster and Haydock.

Newbury, Saturday

We get things going with Mutaany in the novice stakes (1.15pm). There are a lot of newcomers who we obviously don’t know too much about, but our lad goes in there with some solid form. He’s been doing things nicely at home and should go there with a live chance.

Royal Commando will be a big price in the Hackwood Stakes (2.56pm) but he likes Newbury. He ran quite flat at Ascot last time so hopefully the longer break between races will have done the trick and he can run a bit more like we know he can here.

Curragh, Saturday

I’m looking forward to running Equilateral in the Sapphire Stakes (3.10pm). He ran a cracker in the King’s Stand at Ascot after a long lay-off and was pretty unlucky last time at Sandown where not much went right. He’s been in great form since then and he should go well at a track that will suit. Having Frankie [Dettori] on board is great too and hopefully they can make it two-from-two as a partnership.

Haydock, Saturday

Lord Uhtred is a lovely horse and he should go well in the novice stakes (7.00pm). He was very green on debut at Yarmouth and just got a bit overexcited. He should have learnt plenty for the experience, though, and build on it in this contest. He’s a horse I really like.

Doncaster, Saturday

Our final runner is Tommy De Vito in the seven-furlong handicap (7.15pm). The track and trip will suit and he should go nicely in what looks a pretty open contest.

New whip rules

 There’s obviously been lots written and said about the changes to the rules around the whip this week. From my perspective, I think the new rules are a good thing and I don’t think things will change very much to be honest. Throughout my brother Michael’s whole career he always used the whip in the backhand action and it never affected him at all, so I don’t envisage the jockeys today having too many issues adjusting to it.