THE same jockey, same colours and same trainer were back in the winner’s enclosure half an hour after Bangkok struck in the Classic Trial when Balding’s Beat The Bank kept on best in the Group 2 bet365 Mile. He denied fellow 7/4 joint-favourite Sharja Bridge by half a length, with Regal Reality third and Suedois fourth.

Tactics worked out perfectly here with Balding also saddling pacemaker Zwayyan in the King Power silks. The 40/1 shot did his job well, leading until well into the straight as Beat The Bank and Sharja Bridge arrived on the scene together. The eight-year-old Suedois briefly took it up but could not hold on as the principals surged past with Beat The Bank gaining the upper hand. Silvestre de Sousa, riding a perfectly-judged race, has not put a foot wrong since taking up the King Power appointment and his record for Balding is very impressive.

Balding reported that the Lockinge is Beat The Bank’s likely next target.

There were one or two disappointments and it may have been asking a lot of Oh This Is Us to turn out again after his blistering late run on All-Weather Championships day at Lingfield last week. He beat only Zwayyan home and is probably in need of a rest now.