Beat The Bank bids for emotional Hong Kong Mile victory

Carrying the colours of the late Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Beat The Bank needs to bounce back from a lacklustre effort in the (Group 1) Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, but in-form jockey Oisin Murphy is confident that he can steer him to a third victory of 2018.

The Andrew Balding-trained gelding has already landed two Group level successes this year, having claimed the (Group 2) Summer Mile at Ascot back in July, before taking the (Group 2) Celebration Mile just over a month later at Goodwood.

Beat The Bank claims the Celebration Mile at #Goodwood with a huge performancepic.twitter.com/j25sNW6XWI (Vid: @itvracing)

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) August 25, 2018

Murphy said: "He is a fantastic horse and I've only been beaten on him once ever and that was at Royal Ascot when he wasn't 100 per cent.

"We are delighted with him at home and this was his late owner's plan for the horse. The boss has tried to keep him fresh and get the horse ready for this race.

"I think Beauty Generation is an outstanding animal but he had a hard race last time and I think if we can bring Beat The Bank here at his best he can run a big race.

"Let's put it this way, Beat The Bank is not a Group One winner in Europe yet but to be honest with you I believe in the horse.

"I've ridden probably more than any other jockey for the family and it is terrible what has happened but thankfully his family are very keen in keeping the organisation going and I would love to reward them with more big race success."

Murphy is also optimistic that Salouen can out run his odds again and build on his sixth placed effort in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last time out after having his services retained aboard the son of Canford Cliffs by trainer Sylvester Kirk in the Hong Kong Vase.

"He came very close to beating Cracksman at Epsom in June and he is a very tough little horse. I galloped him at Kempton and I was delighted with him," said Murphy.

"I was thrilled that Sylvester and the owner took my advice to bring the horse here and it would be unbelievable for a small stable if he could do the business, and let's be honest, he has a big chance.

"I think he was unlucky in the Arc as he should have finished in front of Capri but I got stuck behind him and it wasn't ideal, but the connections have retained faith in me and I'd like to try and get the job done for them."

Published at 9:45 06/12/18