Beat The Bank cut for QEII Stakes after Newmarket Group 2 demolition job

Beat The Bank burst on to the British Champions Day scene when he routed his rivals in the Group 2 Shadwell Joel Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

The 11-8 favourite extended his record to five victories in six starts with a powerful performance, which led to a wholesale cutting of his odds for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in three weeks' time.

Paddy Power were most impressed with the Andrew Balding-trained three-year-old as they went 4-1 (from 16) for the Qipco-sponsored contest, while William Hill go 8-1 from the same price.

Beat The Bank travelled well off a fast pace set by Whitecliffsofdover before taking over the lead entering the Dip.

Oisin Murphy asked his mount for his effort and he quickly bounded clear to post a five-length victory over Sir John Lavery.

"Beat The Bank has done very well to progress through conditions, Listed and now a Group 2 class and has the feel of a Group 1 horse I would say," said the jockey. "He copes with this ground but would be better on a better surface."

Owned by Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Beat The Bank has proved a revelation this season with his only blip coming in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Options open

He is challenging for second favouritism in the QEII, with Churchill, Winter and Al Wukair at around the 7-1 mark behind market leader Ribchester, but Balding was holding fire on committing his prolific winner to the race.

"We'll have to see about Ascot, he's a proper horse who can take us to some big races next season, so I don't want to overdo things this year," he said.

"We'll see how he is working nearer the time but if he were to go to Ascot and get beat, we would halt his progress and we really don't need to be rushing him at this stage.

"He did it very nicely but I would have been disappointed if he had got beat to be honest as he has been working like a very good horse.

"The owners are keen to go to Hong Kong with him at some point so that's definitely an option next year."

Joel Stakes result