ANDREW Balding has hit form over the past few weeks and his well-backed Beat The Bank came between rivals to land the Group 2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile at Ascot last Saturday.

Frankie Dettori has ridden many fine races here but was not at his best on Century Dream, who chased after the free-running Zhui Feng (last) and used up too much of himself in finally mastering him.

The others were still travelling easily, with Suedois challenging on the outer in the straight and stable-companion Lord Glitters also joining issue. In a flat-out drive to the line, Beat The Bank and Oisin Murphy arrived last of all and burst between horses to outpoint Lord Glitters by a neck with Suedois a short-head behind.

Under the circumstances, Century Dream did well in fourth and there will be another day for him. Beat The Bank did not enjoy the best of luck in running when sixth in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and was reversing form with runner-up Lord Glitters and fourth-placed Century Dream.

The form-line is reliable, though the round course was used this time as opposed to the straight mile.

“He’s very effective on fast ground and he also won on the soft at Goodwood, so it’s not a concern,” Balding said. “He’ll go for the Sussex Stakes at the Glorious meeting and looking further ahead the international meeting at Hong Kong in December is a possibility.”

SPRING SETS KIRBY TReBLE

The opening Bet With Ascot Heritage Handicap over five furlongs was worth more than £62,000 to the winner and many familiar names lined up. They split into two groups and, after showing up well to beyond half-way, those close to the stands’ rails were left behind by rivals on the opposite wing. Major Jumbo receives little respite from the handicapper but started at 11/2 favourite and led overall entering the closing stages, only for Spring Loaded and Adam Kirby to time their run to perfection and go clear for a tidy two-lengths’ success over the durable Poyle Vinnie.

Major Jumbo held on for third with Encore D’or fourth, while Justanotherbottle fared best of those towards the stands’ side with Polybius taking the eye in sixth. He will be worth a look in any major sprint handicap over six furlongs.

“He met a bit of trouble in the Wokingham and that was that,” said winning trainer Paul d’Arcy. “Six furlongs here is probably his limit and the five is better for him. We’ll look at the Stewards’ Cup but maybe look again at five-furlong races. I’ll also have to look at listed and group events.”

Kirby completed his treble on Cross Counter, 13/8 favourite, and 10/1 chance Perfect Hustler. Godolphin’s Cross Counter was bustled along three furlongs out in the Woodford Reserve Handicap over a mile and half but found plenty and stayed on strongly to beat Berkshire Royal and Elegiac by a couple of lengths and a head. This was another winner for Charlie Appleby to go with his six over the three days at Newmarket.

The lightly-raced Perfect Hustler had to be ridden right out to account for Prevent by a neck in the GL Events UK Handicap over seven furlongs.

Jeremy Noseda has seen horses taken away from his Newmarket yard this season and this was a welcome boost for him.

Dettori rode a more restrained race on Owen Burrows’ 11/8 chance El Wazir in the Playboy Club London Handicap over 10 furlongs, picking off market rival Extra Elusive to cheer favourite backers.