Charlie Hills’ William Hill blog: Gimcrack always been the plan for Orazio

We’ve enjoyed a really nice spell over the last week or so with several winners, including a couple in the William Hill Racing League. We’ve got a small and select group heading up to York over the next couple of days and hopefully they can continue the good run we’ve been having.

York Friday

I’m looking forward to seeing how Orazio gets on in the Group Two Gimcrack (3:00pm).

He was a really impressive winner on debut at Windsor and things really didn’t go right at Newbury on his next start. They went no gallop at all and after getting off him Frankie [Dettori] just said it was inexperience which caught him out. He wasn’t beaten very far, and this race has always been at the forefront of our minds since.

He’s a very straightforward horse to train and I’ve been happy with him since Newbury, so I’d be hopeful he’ll be there or thereabouts.

We run both Killearn and Dream Show in the Convivial (4.10pm). It’s a lovely track to give them both more experience and I’d hope both will run well, but these races are very competitive with plenty of useful types lining up against us.

Finally, Il Bandito takes his chance in the mile handicap (5.10pm). He’s only finished outside of the first three on one of his 10 career starts, so is about as consistent as they come and never seems to run a bad race. I’ve decided to stick some cheekpieces on to help him concentrate a bit more and given his nice low weight and the fact the track will suit, I’m hopeful he’ll run well.

York Saturday

Conditions look really in Pogo’s favour in the City Of York Stakes (3:45pm). It’s perhaps not the strongest renewal of the race there has ever been with Space Blues looking like the one we all have to beat, but our lad is a top-class horse in his own right and is another who consistently runs really well.

I’m not sure why he almost always goes off a double-figure price because he’s as genuine as they come and rarely disgraces himself. He’s rated 112 for a reason and hopefully, he can show why that is on Saturday.

Lingfield Saturday 

We have a nice filly running on the all-weather at Lingfield on Saturday over six furlongs (7:20pm) called Loves Me Likearock. She ran with plenty of credit on her debut at Windsor and she should come on plenty for that.