Charlie Hills’ William Hill blog: Mutasaabeq well worth his place in Lockinge

Leading trainer and William Hill ambassador Charlie Hills has been in fine recent form and here looks ahead to his runners at Newbury on Saturday, including Mutasaabeq in the Lockinge.

Newbury, Saturday

I’m looking forward to running Rabaah in the Carnarvon Stakes (1.50pm) at Newbury. He’s an exciting horse and, while this is a big step up from novice company, his work has been really good. We’ll know where we stand with him after this, but I’m hopeful he’s up to this level as he’s a horse I’ve always liked and thought had plenty of ability. We’ve had the Commonwealth Cup in mind for him for a while, and I’d imagine that will be the target, depending how Saturday goes.

I was thrilled with Mutasaabeq at Newmarket, considering he had to carry a penalty, and we’re hoping for more of the same in the Group 1 Lockinge (3.35pm). He does go well at Newmarket but I don’t see any reason why he won’t like Newbury and he’s more than worth his place in the line-up.

Wanees goes in the mile handicap (4.10pm). The Lincoln was a non-event, and we knew after about a furlong he wasn’t right, but we’ve given him a bit of time since and I’ve been pleased with him at home over the last couple of weeks. We’re blaming the bad ground at Doncaster as he just seemed to really hate it and just never went a yard there. We know he has ability and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he ran a big race here.

We round off the Newbury runners with Shobiz in the six-furlong handicap (5.18pm). He ran nicely on his seasonal reappearance at Goodwood and I think he’s moving the best I’ve seen him which is great. If he can build on the Goodwood performance, I’d be hopeful he can be very competitive.

Newmarket, Saturday

Over at Newmarket, Mutaany takes his chance in the six-furlong handicap (2.40pm). He seems to keep bumping into one, this horse, and remarkably has finished second in four of his six starts. He’s a real trier and I think there’s a good race in him, so hopefully it’s on Saturday!

Doncaster, Saturday

Harry Magnus should go well in the six-furlong handicap (8.20pm) at Doncaster. He’s been going nicely at home since his win at Newmarket and we thought this was a good spot for him.