Charlie Hills’ William Hill blog: King’s Knight in super form

It was great to get a handful of more winners over the past week or so. I was particularly happy with Wanees, who toughed it out really well at Salisbury on ground that he wouldn’t have really liked. We’ll put him away for the season now, but he’s certainly one to keep an eye on next season.

Newmarket Friday

I’m looking forward to running Allayaali in the Oh So Sharp Stakes (2.25pm) at Newmarket. She wasn’t quite right at Sandown two starts ago but she was much better at Doncaster last time, where she won pretty decisively, and this looks the logical next step. It’s obviously a jump up in Class, but she’s been in good form since Doncaster and it will be interesting to see if she’s up to this sort of grade.

We then have Garrus in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (3.00pm). We ran him up quickly after his good win in France in the Sprint Cup at Haydock and he ran a fine race to be beaten by just over three lengths. We’re stepping him up to seven furlongs for the first time because he does his best work at the finish, so we wanted to see if the extra furlong might actually be in his favour.

York Friday

Over at York, we’ve got King’s Knight in the mile handicap (3.15pm). He’s run some nice races this season, including at Chelmsford last time, where he was only just touched off by one of Karl Burke’s. He’s been nudged up another two pounds for that, but he’s been in really great form since and has been working lovely at home, so I’m pretty hopeful he’ll be involved on ground that will suit.

Our other runner there is Spoof in the five-furlong handicap (4.20pm). Since winning at Chester he’d been a bit disappointing, but he was much more like his old self at Ascot last time where he really stuck it out on pretty deep ground. As such, he should be fine on the ground and if he can come back to his best he should be there or thereabouts.

Newmarket Saturday

We kick things off on Saturday with Point Lynas in the nursery handicap (1.10pm). He’s been a bit unlucky this horse as he keeps bumping into one or two who are just a bit better on the day, but he’s been very consistent and it can’t be too long till he gets his head in front.

York Saturday

Snash should come on for his run at Newbury in the Sprint Trophy Handicap (3.15pm). He got quite tired last time and you’d like to think he’ll improve for the experience here, albeit the fact it’s a very competitive race.