Mike Seeks Compensation In Tnt July Stakes

Michael Bell is hoping for compensation with unlucky Norfolk Stakes runner-up Hoh Mike when the speedy youngster steps up to six furlongs in the #70,000 Group Two TNT July Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday, July 13.

The Intikhab colt was sent off the 2/1 favourite for the Group Two Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot but was stopped in his tracks with a furlong remaining in the five-furlong contest, before being switched and finishing strongly to take second, a length and a three quarters behind Dutch Art.

Bell revealed today: 'Hoh Mike is on course for the TNT July Stakes and he´s very well. He looked a little bit unlucky in the Norfolk, penned in against the fence with nowhere to go, and we´re hoping for compensation.'

Hoh Mike´s first three starts came at Windsor, where he finished a neck second to Elamhri on his debut before opening his account in good style on good to firm going on May15. He followed up convincingly seven days later when defeating Lord Charles by a length and a quarter on good to soft ground.

The David Allport and Michael Lynch-owned juvenile is yet to race beyond five furlongs, but Bell is unconcerned by the extra furlong of the TNT July Stakes.

The Newmarket trainer said: 'Six furlongs should be well within his range and I think will probably suit him better actually. I think he might end up being a specialist six-furlong horse. He possibly won´t stay any further but nothing´s set in stone.

'He´s handled most ground already but he probably wouldn´t run if it´s as quick as it was at Newmarket last week when it was very firm, and hopefully they´ll ensure it´s not like that.'

Clive Brittain is looking forward to a big effort from Rajeem in the Group One UAE Equestrian And Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes on the first day of the July Festival, Wednesday, July 12.

The filly heads to the #200,000 mile contest off the back of a good fifth in the Group One Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, just under four lengths by the winner Nannina, who could reoppose at Newmarket.

Brittain reported this morning: 'Rajeem is a definite runner, all being well. She´s come out of Ascot very well, and she certainly ran a cracking race there. She acted on fast ground that day and she´s won in soft, so the ground wouldn´t be a factor for her.'

The Diktat filly won the Listed EBF Montrose Fillies´ Stakes on the Rowley Mile in October and was beaten only three-quarters of a length when fifth to Atlantic Waves over nine furlongs of the same course in the Listed Connaught Access Flooring Feilden Stakes on April 20.

Rajeem ran below par in the Group Two German 1,000 Guineas at Dusseldorf on April 30, finishing a distant eighth behind Lolita, and, as a result, went off at huge odds at Royal Ascot.

The Newmarket handler revealed: 'She lost 29 kilos in Germany and was in season when she got there, so we basically wrote that race off. The fact that she lost as much weight as that and didn´t get a particularly hard race shows that she wasn´t right.

'She was never in the race to win, so she wasn´t knocked around at all, and it took the best part of six weeks to put her back together again, but she showed at Ascot that she retains her form.

'I would say she´d have a good shout going into this race on her Ascot form. She won´t be 150/1, put it that way.'