YOUR ULTIMATE ROYAL ASCOT ARMCHAIR GUIDE
WHERE TO WATCH
ITV4 — The Opening Show (9.30am). ITV/VIRGIN MEDIA 1 — Live coverage (1.30-5pm each day). Hosted by Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani with Mick Fitzgerald, Jason Weaver and Luke Harvey. SKY SPORTS RACING (Sky 415; Virgin 418) Coverage starts at 9am and includes all races. Presented by Alex Hammond with Jim McGrath, Hayley Moore, Josh Apiafi and Freddy Tylicki.
WHAT YOU WILL SEE
NO SPECTATORS or owners, with protocols allowing only a groom and trainer, or their representative, per horse. No more than 500 people a day on track. The meeting usually has 300,000 spectators over the five days. Face coverings to be worn by all whose jobs mean they have to get within 2m of each other, such as starting stalls handlers. Traditional Royal Ascot dress codes have been suspended.No royal procession or presentations, with the Queen missing her first Royal Ascot in her 68-year reign. Field sizes limited to 24 per race. Overseas runners allowed in races at Listed level and above but not handicaps.
HOW TO BET
BETS can be placed with all major bookmakers online, while shops in
Ireland re-opened yesterday.
TOP ROYAL ASCOT JOCKEYS
FRANKIE DETTORI (67 WINS) BEST RIDES: Frankly Darling (Ribblesdale Stakes, today); King Leonidas (Jersey Stakes, Thursday); Stradivarius (Gold Cup, Thursday); Eye Of Heaven (Norfolk Stakes, Friday); Sceptical (Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Saturday). RYAN MOORE (58 WINS)
BEST RIDES: Circus Maximus (Queen Anne Stakes, today); Mogul (King Edward VII Stakes, today); Jubiloso (Duke of Cambridge Stakes, today); Japan (Prince of Wales’s Stakes, tomorrow); Wichita (St James’s Palace Stakes, Saturday).
TOP ROYAL ASCOT TRAINERS
SIR MICHAEL STOUTE (81 WINS)
BEST RUNNERS: Mustashry (Queen Anne Stakes, today); Queen Power (Duke of Cambridge Stakes, today); Jubiloso
(Duke of Cambridge Stakes, today); First Receiver (Hampton Court Stakes, tomorrow); Laafy (Duke of Cambridge Stakes, Friday). AIDAN O’BRIEN (70 WINS)
BEST RUNNERS: Circus Maximus (Queen Anne Stakes, today); Mogul (King Edward VII Stakes, today): Japan (Prince of Wales’s Stakes, tomorrow); More Beautiful (Albany Stakes, Friday); Anthony Van Dyck (Hardwicke Stakes, Friday); Peaceful (Coronation Stakes, Saturday).
INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGERS
TRAVEL restrictions mean fewer runners from outside Britain and Ireland but a significant handful have made the effort. UNITED STATES SUNSHINE CITY (Windsor Castle Stakes,
tomorrow) Trainer: WESLEY WARD ONE of seven two-year-olds representing trainer Ward, who has had 10 royal meeting
winners. Frankie Dettori is booked for this filly, who won on her Gulfstream Park debut in Florida in April.
SHARING (Coronation Stakes, Saturday).
Trainer: Graham Motion
DECISIVE winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita in California. Had a successful warm-up race at Churchill Downs last month for her ex-pat trainer.
KIMARI (Commonwealth Cup, Friday).
Trainer: WESLEY WARD
THREE-TIME winner who was second in last season’s Queen Mary Stakes and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
FRANCE
WASMYA (Duke of Cambridge Stakes,
today) Trainer: FRANCIS GRAFFARD TRAINER had first royal meeting winner last year and Dettori is booked to ride this lightly-raced filly.
CELESTIN (Jersey Stakes, Thursday).
Trainer: FABRICE CHAPPET
HIS decision to drop the French 2,000 Guineas fourth back from a mile to seven furlongs looks the right move.
WOODED (Commonwealth Cup, Friday).
Trainer: FRANCIS GRAFFARD
ANOTHER Graffard-trained entry who won a Group Three sprint at Chantilly last month by three-and-a-half lengths. Puts him in the mix.