Charlie Hills’ William Hill Blog: Hoping Cogitate can be on Point in the Acomb

York is a great meeting and it’s four days all the team really look forward to. The prize money is fantastic and I can see why many refer to it as the ‘Royal Ascot of the North’. We’ve had plenty of success up there in the past with the likes of Battaash and hopefully we can have more of the same this year.

Wednesday, York

We kick off with Equilateral in the five-furlong handicap (1.50pm) and I’m looking forward to running him. This is his first start in a handicap since January 2021 and this looks an easier test that what he’s run in so far this season. The draw in 12 looks fine and the big field should hopefully suit him. They usually go a good strong gallop in this and that should play to his strengths. He looks great and I’m hopeful of a big run.

Next up is Cogitate in the Acomb Stakes (2.25pm). He looks a nice strong colt and I was delighted with his debut at Newbury. He’s always shown a really nice attitude at home and his work at home has been impressive. He’ll need to step up against better horses here, but this has always been the plan.

Zabriskie Point runs in the closing nursery (5.20pm). He’s high enough in the weights but he probably deserves this on the form he has shown so far. He’s a real trier and I thought he was a bit unlucky last time at Salisbury where things just didn’t quite go right. This sort of race should suit him as he’s a very tough and hardy horse.

Thursday, York

The Clipper Handicap (3.00pm) is one of the most competitive handicaps of the entire week and we’ve got Racingbreaks Ryder in it. He’s progressed at a rate of knots this season and, while he’s now up in the weights, I still think he can be competitive off this sort of mark. My only concern would be rattling fast ground as he prefers it slightly softer than that.