ROYAL ASCOT KEEPS JUNE DATE AS RACING PLANS A MOMENTOUS RETURN TO ACTION

ROYAL ASCOT will be staged behind closed doors on its scheduled dates in June amid a glut of top-class racing that was last night confirmed for the return of sport. Racing is due back on June 1, with the first Group One race being the Coronation Cup at a yet-to-be confirmed venue on June 5. The 2,000 Guineas will be held at Newmarket the following day and the 1,000 Guineas 24 hours after that. Royal Ascot will run for five days from June 16 and there will be a megaweekend at the start of July with the Investec Derby and Oaks at Epsom on July 6 and the CoralEclipse Stakes at Sandown the next day.

The running order of Royal Ascot is still being worked out but the St James’s Palace Stakes for three-year-old colts, some of which will run in the 2,000 Guineas, is likely to be switched to the end of the week to provide the maximum number of days for horses to recover. Ascot spokesman Nick Smith said: ‘The order of running will differ but it will be very recognisable as the royal meeting.’