Bell Maps Out Plan After Mike Strike

Royal Ascot 2007 has yet to get under way but Michael Bell has already pencilled in one of his team for the big meeting next year in the shape of Hoh Mike, winner of the Cherriesracing.com Scurry Stakes at Sandown.

The Derby-winning trainer has deliberately avoided pitching last season´s Norfolk Stakes runner-up against his elders this summer, and his plan is working to perfection having yielded two wins from three starts.

The three-year-old had some stiff competition dropped back to five furlongs but handled the challenge with great tenacity under Jamie Spencer.

Once pulled out for a run, the 7-4 favourite displayed a neat turn of foot and only needed to be pushed out to collect by two and a half lengths from Irish raider City Of Tribes, whose compatriot Contest was third.

Bell said: 'His performance in the Norfolk against Dutch Art, when he was arguably unlucky, was a very good run, but certainly this is his best this year.

'It is hard for three-year-old sprinters against the older horses so we have kept him to his own age group.

'This was the last opportunity to run him against three-year-olds only and we will now look to a Group Three here next month on Coral-Eclipse day to see how he gets on against older horses.

'We made a conscious decision to give Ascot a swerve and we will up him in class next year, although he could go for the Abbaye at the end of this season.'

Spencer was back on the five-furlong track 35 minutes later and added to his tally with popular 3-1 chance Efistorm, who took the Diamond Sports Bets Handicap by a length for trainer Conor Dore.

One horse definitely heading to Ascot is Black Charmer after Jean-Pierre Guillambert drove the 8-1 shot home by a tidy three lengths in the RBS Handicap.

Mark Johnston´s four-year-old is now 25-1 from 40s with totesport for the Royal Hunt Cup following a comprehensive victory.

Owner Alan Spence said: 'We kept him in at Ascot at the five-day stage on the basis that if he won here then he would go (to Ascot).

'It will depend on the draw there but he has got the toe and he looks back to the form of his two-year-old days.'

One Hour (8-1) called time on his rivals to claim a brave victory for Marcus Tregoning in the Cherries Racing Handicap.

The lightly-raced three-year-old was bouncing back from a below-par effort at Newmarket and stuck his head out in game fashion for Martin Dwyer to deny Royal Rationale by three-quarters of a length.

Tregoning said: 'He has been very immature and has needed time.

'I would think staying races will be his thing. I am not sure how far he will get but he will progress.'

Tregoning and Dwyer were denied a double up as Mutanaseb came away under Richard Hills inside the distance to collect by a length and a quarter in the PaddyPower.com Handicap.

Michael Jarvis´ assistant Roger Varian said of the 3-1 winner: 'He has a great attitude; he puts his head down and gallops all the way to the line.

'Richard said he will have no trouble getting a mile and he should keep improving.'

Jarvis notched a double as Spence´s colours returned to the winner´s enclosure after Black Rock (6-4) finally opened his account in the RBS Maiden Stakes.

The Rock Of Gibraltar colt was beaten by the 4-6 favourite Spring City last time out but he knuckled down to reverse the placings by three-quarters of a length.

Staying was the name of the game in the closing RBS Private Banking Handicap and the John Dunlop-trained Swan Queen saw out the mile-and-six-furlong trip best of all.

Kerrin McEvoy´s mount was having her first crack at the distance and was roared home as the 15-8 favourite.

(C) PA Sport