James Doyle mount halved in price to make a successful debut at Ascot

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes favourite Auguste Rodin is on the drift as support for Rebel's Romance mounts. Auguste Rodin has been eased from 6-5 to 7-4 for the Ascot Group 1 that headlines Saturday's racing.

The son of Deep Impact was last of ten in the £1.25m contest (3.40) last year but quelled any doubts about handling the track when bouncing back to form in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. Auguste Rodin returns to the same mile-and-a-half trip that he won last year's Derby over but concerns about the four-year-old's reliability seemingly have lingered for some punters.

Rebel's Romance beat Auguste Rodin by 22 lengths on one of the latter's no-shows in the Sheema Classic and Charlie Appleby's globetrotter is 3-1 (from 4) to secure a fifth win in a row. The six-year-old is unbeaten in five starts in Britain and has won at the highest level in Germany, the US and Hong Kong as well as his Sheema Classic victory at Meydan in March.

Auguste Rodin's stablemate Luxembourg has also shortened to 8-1 (from 10) as he bids to improve on last year's fourth-placed effort in this race off the back of his Group 1 Coronation Cup success at Epsom.

On the big race, which is the centrepiece of ITV's seven live races shown from Ascot and York, William Hill spokesman Lee Phelps said: "The King George is an intriguing contest if not a vintage renewal and much of the intrigue surrounds favourite Auguste Rodin.

"Brilliant at his best, but more than capable of throwing in a poor run, punters clearly feel they could be seeing the off-colour version today, as he’s weak in the market at 7-4 from 6-5.

“Elsewhere on the card, the money has come for Metal Merchant in the International Stakes (3.00), with Jack Channon’s charge 10-1 from 16-1, while a significant drifter is Carrytheone at 15-2, having started the day at 100-30.

“Friendly Soul has also been popular in the Valiant Stakes (2.25) betting, shortening into 100-30 from 9-2 and now behind only favourite Devoted Queen in the market.”

Posted at 2.08pm

Punters turn to previous winners in Jump Jockeys' Nunthorpe

Punters are latching on to proven performers in the Jump Jockeys' Nunthorpe (2.05), the unique opener to York's Premier meeting on Saturday.

The race offers jump jockeys the chance to test themselves over five furlongs on a Group 1 track and Micheal Nolan and Jonathan England are two members of the weighing room who have already enjoyed success in the race.

Nolan is reunited with Soul Seeker, who he steered to victory off a 2lb lower mark last year. The David O'Meara-trained seven-year-old has been backed in to 6-1 favouritism (from 10) to record a third win in the race, having also scored under Tom Scudamore in 2021.

Micheal Nolan on Soul Seeker holds off Harry Reed on Ecclesiastical

Soul Seeker: strong support for last year's winner of the Jump Jockeys' NunthorpeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Strong Johnson, who bids to provide Sam Twiston-Davies with a breakthrough win in the sprint on his seventh attempt, is a general 7-1 chance. Twiston-Davies has ridden in every Jump Jockeys' Nunthorpe since its inception in 2017 and came closest to ending his duck when second on Leodis Dream, who was beaten a neck by the Jonathan England-ridden Birkenhead in 2022.

England is back for more on Birkenhead, who is 9-1 (from 12) to regain his crown. Overnight favourite and James Bowen's mount Woobay has drifted o 9-1 (from 7) with William Hill.

Watch: Paul Kealy and Seb Sanders mark your cards on The Morning Post

Of the 18-runner contest that kicks off the card, York's racing manager Anthea Leigh told ITV Racing's Opening Show: "It’s a proper 30-grand sprint and the jump jockeys love it.

"They were on to their agents weeks ago trying to get rides in this. They’ll have a box and they’ll enjoy the whole day with their families.”

Market movers

Ascot
2.25 Friendly Soul 100-30 from 9-2
3.00 Carrytheone 15-2 from 100-30
3.00 Metal Merchant 11-1 from 16
3.40 Auguste Rodin 7-4 from 6-5

York

2.05 Soul Seeker 6-1 from 10
2.05 Birkenhead 9-1 from 12

Updated at 2.08pm

Going latest

The going at Ascot remains good to firm, good in places after Friday's fixture was run on the same going description. 3mm of water was applied to the track after that six-race card to maintain conditions and the forecast is for a dry day.

The going at York for the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes card is good to firm, good in places. Raceday clerk Anthea Leigh said: "We might catch a light shower but the Met Office are taking that risk down all the time so we look as though we’re set for a good day."

Updated at 10am