‘Improved’ Adjuvant ready to stake his claims in this weekend’s Northumberland Plate.
Michael Bell tasted Royal Ascot victory again last week when his progressive three-year-old Burdett Road landed the Golden Gate Stakes (Handicap) on Saturday and is already eyeing further Saturday success with the similarly improving Adjuvant as short as 7/1 in places for this weekend's Cumbria-based feature.
The improving four-year-old only found subsequently Royal Ascot runner-up HMS President too strong at Newmarket on his reappearance and duly went one better on the Rowley Mile just over a week later when running out a ready two-length winner. The form took a boost when the Charlie Johnston-trained Pons Aelius, who finished second in that Newmarket handicap, went on to score comfortably at Goodwood on his next start.
All fourteen of Adjuvant career outings to date have come on turf and he's yet to tackle the two-mile trip. However, Bell, who landed the 'Pitmen's Derby' [Northumberland Plate] back in 2007 with 5/1 favourite Juniper Girl remains optimistic about his chances.
We're happy with the draw [seven] and he looks an improved horse this year – his racecourse performances suggest he's improved," Bell said when speaking to Sky Sports Racing.
"He's officially a pound well-in and his form this year is very solid. He was just beaten by HMS President, who then ran very well in the Duke of Edinburgh, and then he beat Charlie Johnston's horse who has won since.
"We've had one winner of the Northumberland Plate and apparently, we haven't had a runner in the race since 2009, but he's got a very good profile.
"I think he'll like the surface, he's relatively lightly raced, and he's had a racecourse gallop at Chelmsford.
"There are few chinks in his armour. He just needs Billy Loughnane to give him a good ride now!"
The Fitzroy House-based trainer added: "We were hoping to go for the Copper Horse, but I think we dodged a bullet there with Vauban.
"He hit the line very strong in both races at Newmarket and this was actually my preferred option, but the owner is a very sporting guy and could have gone to Ascot and sadly can't get to Newcastle.
"Due to the fact horses are there to entertain the owners, Ascot was Plan A and this was Plan B, but this race is probably more suitable for him, so I'm happy."
