Sunderland have failed in their bid to lure Derek McInnes from Aberdeen, with the Dons gaffer staying at Pittodrie.

Former striker Kevin Phillips has been eased to 5/1 with BetVictor for the job, having been as short as 13/8 this time last week.

Phillips will venture into management eventually. However, he remains Gary Rowett’s number two at Derby County and BetVictor have seen money elsewhere for Simon Grayson who is the new 6/4 from 16s favourite to replace David Moyes.

Grayson has worked wonders at Preston, achieving promotion from League One and then keeping the Lilywhites up last season. Grayson similarly impressed at both Leeds and Huddersfield and would be considered a safe option for the club’s owners.

It remains to be seen whether Grayson would be able to attract players of the sufficient quality to send Sunderland back up next term, and BetVictor make the Black Cats 9/2 underdogs to bounce straight back to the top-flight.

Next permanent Sunderland manager prices from BetVictor: Simon Grayson 6/4 (from 16s); Kevin Phillips 5/1; Chris Wilder 6/1; Nigel Pearson 6/1; 12/1 Bar

Royal Ascot kicks-off tomorrow and BetVictor have a terrific incentive for punters; new customers that place a £10 bet on the first day then receive a £1 free bet for every race at the five-day festival.

Ribchester and Churchill have been odds-on favourites for their respective Group 1 races heading into tomorrow’s opening day however, with fields of 16 and eight runners for the Queen Anne and St James’s Palace Stakes respectively, it would be no surprise to see the pair a shade of odds-against.

It will be a big week for jockeys William Buick and Ryan Moore, and it should likewise prove a pivotal one for pilot Martin Harley. The winner of the King’s Stand Stakes in 2015 aboard Goldream (16/1 with BetVictor), Harley again partners Robert Cowell’s gelding in the Group 1 contest and should pick up plenty of rides for his burdening relationship with the respective yards of William Haggas and Ralph Beckett.

For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com - be lucky.