Dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Corey Brown has landed the ride on English horse Magic Circle in his quest for a third.

The Ian Williams-trained Magic Circle is owned by Marwan Koukash whose Mount Athos finished fifth in the Melbourne Cup in 2012 and third the following year.

Brown, who rode Shocking to win in 2009 and Rekindling last year, is in England to ride in this weekend’s Shergar Cup teams challenge at Ascot.

He said his manager Paul Webster had identified Magic Circle as an ideal type to win the big race in November.

“Paul Webster has sent through a few replays of him, and I just love the way he hit the line in his last run,” Brown told the Racing Post.

“We both like what we saw with this horse so it made sense to grab the opportunity quickly.”

Magic Circle’s regular rider Fran Berry has been ruled out because of weight the horse is expected to get in the Cup.

Magic Circle has firmed from $26 to $18 with the TAB to win the 2018 Melbourne Cup.