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Horse Racing

Auguste the Ace in King George pack

July 2024

Auguste Rodin is the pick for King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes glory at Ascot.

The odd blip on his record means his supporters must tread carefully in what looks a cracking renewal - but given that record also contains six Group One victories, even his detractors must concede he is the horse to beat if putting his best foot forward.

It is a concern that one of his handful of disappointments was a listless effort in this very race 12 months ago, although whatever the problem was that day he showed it is nothing to do with not liking Ascot in producing a performance full of class and guts to land the Prince of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting last month.

Aidan O'Brien is certain to have him spot on for this, not least because he can look forward to a break after it before coming back for the myriad of big-race options open to him in the autumn.

The Flexjet Pat Eddery Stakes could throw up a star of the future, as it did last year with Rosallion, with a host of youngsters boasting untapped potential lining up for the Listed 1400m affair. Chancellor is one such horse, having made a very nice start to his career in victory at Doncaster.

Slowly away and last through the opening exchanges, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Kingman colt - who is out of the Breeders' Cup-winning Queen's Trust - moved sweetly into it from the 600m marker before showing his greenness when asked to go and win his race by Robert Havlin.

Displaying what looked a huge engine, he eventually strode clear to win in the manner of a good horse. There was a fair bit of cut in the ground that day on Town Moor, but there is no reason why he should not be at least as effective on quicker.

Carrytheone could finally land the victory he has been threatening in the big handicap on the card, the Moet & Chandon International Stakes.

Michael Bell's seven-year-old very much caught the eye when third in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, slowly away and seeing his route blocked at key moments of the race before running on strongly to no avail late in the day.

It was a similar tale at Newmarket when sent off favourite for the Bunbury Cup, repeatedly seeing his momentum checked yet still finishing in the frame in fourth.

He will need better luck in running this time, but remains on a mark of 101 and deserves a bit of good fortune to fall his way.

Devoted Queen should take the beating in the Longines Valiant Stakes if all is well after missing Royal Ascot, where she was due to run in the Coronation Stakes.

Charlie Appleby's filly looked smart in winning at York's Dante meeting, to take her unbeaten record to three. It speaks to the regard in which she is held that connections were willing to jump from Listed class to top-level company at the Royal meeting.

Mandurah strikes as another good one for Simon and Ed Crisford and she should be followed in the Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes.

The daughter of Kingman was really stylish in making a winning start on the July course at Newmarket and is certain to enjoy this extra 200m.

There is classy action to enjoy at York, too, where the feature is the Sky Bet York Stakes, for which King's Gambit gets the vote.

Harry Charlton's three-year-old turned the usually competitive London Gold Cup into something of a one-horse race at Newbury and was all the rage to land the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot.

Plenty went wrong there, before he flew home and just failed to catch Jayarebe. He remains a horse of serious interest. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

ASCOT: 14.15 Al Misbar, 14.50 Mandurah, 15.25 Devoted Queen, 16.00 Carrytheone, 16.40 AUGUSTE RODIN (NAP), 17.15 Chancellor, 17.50 Elnajmm, 18.25 Woodhay Wonder.

CHESTER: 15.10 Wiltshire Lad, 15.45 Lincoln Rockstar, 16.20 Vince Le Prince, 17.05 Garfield Shadow, 17.40 Secret Mistral, 18.20 Hyperfocus, 18.50 More Thunder.

GOWRAN PARK: 14.42 Canto Della Terra, 15.17 Golden Days, 15.52 Gegenpressing, 16.25 Kinesiology, 16.55 Evening Blossom, 17.30 Pier Pressure, 18.05 Mayo For Sam, 18.35 Star Kissed.

LINGFIELD: 18.15 Sneaky Blinder, 18.45 Scylla, 19.15 El Fox, 19.45 Vinaka, 20.15 Miss Stormy Night, 20.45 Milliethemollie, 21.15 Nordic Glory.

NEWCASTLE: 15.00 Roger Henry, 15.35 Baltic, 16.10 Bear Kode, 16.50 Danielsflyer, 17.25 Martin's Brig, 18.00 Split Elevens, 18.30 Musical Diva.

SALISBURY: 19.00 Invited, 19.30 Media Guest, 20.00 Makes Sense, 20.30 Moe's Legacy, 21.00 Daisy Roots, 21.30 Calvert.

YORK: 15.05 Reigning Profit, 15.40 Korker, 16.15 King's Gambit, 17.00 Spherical, 17.35 Eagle Day, 18.10 Ziggy, 18.40 Istanblue.

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