Equilaterial can go one better for Hills

Lambourn

IF OLD favourite Equilateral repeats his last performance he could be the one to beat in the Achilles Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

The eight-year-old has been placed at the highest level and is a class act on his day, although – at his age – might not be able to make his mark in Group 1s now.

However, this contest carries only Listed status and Equilateral is officially rated the best horse in the race.

He ran with credit in Dubai this year and then finished second to Dramatised in Haydock’s Temple Stakes recently.

That came over 5f – the distance of the Achilles Stakes – and it was one of the finest of his life on Racing Post Ratings.

Charlie Hills has his team in decent nick and the son of Equiano appeals.

The form of the Hills yard is also a reason to side with Shobiz, who is entered in the Golf At Goodwood Handicap on Sunday.

A speedy sort, he won over course and distance last year and looked a sprinter going places, but did not progress as anticipated.

However, he enjoyed a winter break that has helped him improve and went close at Goodwood at the start of last month before recording success at Newbury last time, looking better than ever in the process.

The five-year-old may be reaching his peak and is versatile with regard to ground, but ideally wants a sounder surface, which he should get.

Like Shobiz, Helm Rock has a career-high mark to defy, but might be up to it in the Sky Bet Sunday Series Handicap at Beverley.

He won at Haydock off a mark of 86 in September and is rated 93 now, which tells its own story, but the Daniel and Claire Kubler string have hinted they will soon sparkle and Helm Rock has gone close in arguably stronger races at Ascot and Sandown this term.

The shrewd Clive Cox has exploited one initiative to great effect with the likeable Tregony, who might join Helm Rock in the winner’s enclosure at Beverley in the Sky Bet Sunday Series Fillies’ Handicap.

She won a Racing League race in 2021 and then landed three on the spin last season.

Cox is likely to have had this in mind for a while for the five-year-old, who has a fine strike-rate, winning eight of her 18 starts.

Also worth noting

Sioux Warrior (Charlie Hills) in the 2.10 at Goodwood on Sunday

King Eagle (Nicky Henderson) in the 6.45 at Beverley on Sunday