Andrew Balding to race Beat the Bank against favourite Ribchester in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot

  • Andrew Balding has decided to run gelding Beat the Bank on Saturday at Ascot
  • Beat the Bank carries the colours of Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
  • The Queen Elizabeth II takes place on Qipco British Champions day at Ascot 

Trainer Andrew Balding has given the green light for Beat The Bank to take on favourite Ribchester and Classic winner Churchill in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II on £4.3million Qipco British Champions day at Ascot.

Balding, who secured his second group one win of the season when Blond Me won the EP Taylor Stakes in Canada on Sunday night, was unsure whether Beat The Bank would go to Champions Day after he slammed Sir John Lavery in the last month’s Joel Stakes at Newmarket.


But the fact Beat The Bank is a gelding has to be influential in Balding deciding to run the horse which carries the colours of Leicester City’s Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Andrew Balding secured his second group one win of the season via Blond Me on Sunday

Andrew Balding secured his second group one win of the season via Blond Me on Sunday

Balding, who will also run his Sussex Stakes winner Here Come When in the QE II Stakes, said: ‘It is a difficult time of the year to read horses after they have had a long campaign but Beat The Bank still seems in good form.

‘The fact he is a gelding is significant. If he was a colt, you’d be trying to make sure he did not get beaten. As a gelding, he is going to be around for a while and if it is a bridge too far (on Saturday) it is not the end if the world.

‘He has always looked a handy horse at home. Before Royal Ascot, we really fancied him for the Jersey Stakes. He was not right that day and did not run his race.

Beat the Bank will challenge Ribchester and Churchill in the Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot

Beat the Bank will challenge Ribchester and Churchill in the Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot

‘Apart from that he has done nothing wrong but this is a different assignment altogether so he will have to raise his game again.’

Srivaddhanaprabha has been expanding his racing interests and was active at the recent bloodstock sales where his yearling purchases included £2.625m daughter of Frankel.

Balding could also run Montaly and Duretto (Long Distance Cup), Horseplay (Fillies & Mares Stakes) and Donjuan Triumphant (Champion Sprint) at Ascot.

Britain’s richest race day could also be where Aidan O’Brien equalling or surpasses record of 25 Group One triumph in year.

O’Brien needs one more to equal the previous best set by late US trainer Bobby Frankel in 2003.

As well as running Churchill in the QEII, O’Brien looks like starting sprinter Caravaggio, stayer Order of St George and Winter, who has the Champion Stakes in her sights, a race which should feature John Gosden’s Great Voltigeur Stakes and Prix Niel winner Cracksman, Richard Hannon’s Barney Roy and, possibly, Sir Michael Stoute’s Eclipse and International Stakes winner Ulysses.

Stoute has also supplemented the Queen’s Yorkshire Cup winner Dartmouth for the Long Distance Cup which should feature Michael Bell’s Ascot Gold Cup winner Big Orange.

Ribchester is the favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II on Qipco British Champions day

Ribchester is the favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II on Qipco British Champions day

 

Trainer Amanda Perrett says her stable has received condolences from around the world after the tragic accident at Kempton on Saturday which claimed the life of her groom Ken Dooley.

Intermodal, who Dooley had looked after for the last two years, ran at Windsor on Monday but was unplaced behind Jus Pires in the Pride of Biffa Handicap.

Perratt, who said Dooley had previously worked in the US and Japan, added: ‘The whole racing industry has rallied around and I've had condolences from all around the world.

‘Racing was Ken's life. He was one of those 4.30 in the morning guys, always cheerful, never anything but a great big grin on his face. One of the world's enthusiastic guys.’

 

Sarah Ferguson was a spectator at Windsor on Monday. The Duchess of York was in the party of Hong Kong owner Dr Jonny Hon, who won the first race with Ed Dunlop-trained Global Exceed. 

Ferguson is advising Hon’s Investment Company to break into the film and entertainment industry