Hoh mows down Sandown rivals

Hoh Mike (9-2) returned to form after a disappointment a week ago with a fine performance in the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Sprint Stakes at Sandown.

Michael Bell’s colt clearly hated the testing ground at Newcastle last Saturday but still had plenty to do approaching the half-way stage of this Group Three event.

While Wi Dud looked to have the race sewn up inside the final furlong, Hoh Mike finished with a flourish down the outside under Jamie Spencer to collar him by a fairly tidy half a length.

Reverence, the dual Group One winner and 5-2 favourite, was only fifth but shaped encouragingly enough on his seasonal reappearance.

Bell said: “You can put a line through his Newcastle run because he hated the ground.

“He’s in the Nunthorpe but in principal, his aim would still be the Prix de l’Abbaye.”