IT'S not just EURO 2020 to get excited about next week, Royal Ascot also kicks off in style.
The five-day meeting gets going on Tuesday so sit back, enjoy and take in our ultimate guide with the action all on ITV and ITV4.
Tuesday
2.30 – Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)
3.05 – Coventry Stakes (Group 2)
3.40 – King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1)
4.20 – St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1)
5.00 – Ascot Stakes
5.35 – Wolferton Stakes (Listed)
6.10 – Copper Horse Stakes
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The Big Name – Battaash (King’s Stand 3.40)
Charlie Hills’ speedball was originally a doubt for the meeting but has come good just in the nick of time.
Battaash broke his Royal Ascot duck last season at the third time of asking and is favourite to make it number two.
But he faces competition from the northern-trained Winter Power and Glass Slippers as well as American raider Extravagant Kid.
New Stars On Show – Mostahdaf (St James’s Palace 4.20)
John and Thady Gosden have had a quiet start to the year by their standards but things could burst into life on Day 1.
They are lacking some firepower in the three-year-old department and didn’t have a single runner in both Guineas, the Oaks or the Derby.
But Mostahdaf may be about to change that and could be a big player in these top-end races for the rest of the summer. He’s set to take on the likes of Guineas winner Poetic Flare, Highland Avenue and Battleground at Ascot.
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Wesley Ward Gamble (Kaufymaker – Coventry 3.05)
American hotshot Ward needs no introduction at Ascot and his latest sprinting sensation could be this filly if the market is anything to go on.
After a dazzling piece of work last week Ward confirmed his two-year-old would be Coventry bound and she quickly was cut into 3-1 favourite with most bookies after a deluge of money.
Ward has never won the Coventry but the likes of Lady Aurelia and Campanelle have shown the handler knows what it takes.
Wednesday
2.30 – Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2)
3.05 – Queen’s Vase (Group 2)
3.40 – Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)
4.20 – Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1)
5.00 – Royal Hunt Cup
5.35 – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed)
6.10 – Kensington Palace Stakes
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Big Name – Love (Prince Of Wales’s 4.20)
Aidan O’Brien is set to take the bubble wrap off his star filly who dominated all before her last season.
She clocked up three Group 1s on the spin, including the 1000 Guineas and Oaks, and was hot favourite before the Arc before her trainer was forced to pull all his runners.
This won’t be plain sailing though and she takes on defending champ Lord North, Addeybb and probably one or two from her own stable.
Handicap Hotshot – Njord (Royal Hunt Cup 5.00)
Thirty runners charging down the Ascot straight, what’s not to like?
And in Jessica Harrington’s Irish raider we have a lively contender at decent odds.
He won the Balmoral here at the end of the season last year and bounced back to form with an eye-catching second in Group company last time. He looks better than a handicapper and you need to be to win this these days.
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Girl Power – Lady Bowthorpe (Duke Of Cambridge 3.40)
William Jarvis and owner Emma Banks have already had a season to remember with Lady Bowthorpe, but it could reach new heights if she can land a Royal success.
A Group 2 winner at Newmarket earlier in the campaign, she found only Palace Pier too good in the Lockinge last time at Newbury.
Queen Power, Angel Power and Onassis look set to lead the opposition.
Thursday
2.30 – Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)
3.05 – Hampton Court (Group 3)
3.40 – Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2)
4.15 – Gold Cup (Group 1)
5.00 – Britannia Stakes
5.35 – King George V Stakes
6.10 – Buckingham Palace Stakes
Big Name – Stradivarius (Ascot Gold Cup 4.20)
The Euros will be in full swing by now, but Thursday is all about Stradivarius and his attempt to match Yeats with a fourth win in the Ascot showpiece.
Frankie Dettori and the Gosden team have mixed up their preparations this year by running him in the Sagaro.
But he faces a new opponent in Mark Johnston’s Subjectivist and confidence is high in their camp. But this is Stradivarius and write him off at your peril.
Stoute Star – Noon Star (Ribblesdale 3.40)
Sir Michael Stoute’s exciting filly skipped the Oaks after a minor setback but should be back on song for a whirl at this Group 2.
She burst onto the scene with an easy win at Wetherby earlier this season before finishing second to Oaks winner Snowfall in the Musidora and looks more than up to this level.
Roger Varian’s unbeaten Eshaada and Mark Johnston’s Dubai Fountain could be her main rivals on the day.
New Kid On The Block – Ebro River (Norfolk 2.30)
Trainer Hugo Palmer has been in the shade since Galileo Gold’s win in the 2016 Guineas.
But his two-year-old Ebro River, whose dad is Galileo Gold, looked every bit a potential star with an impressive win in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown.
He’ll lead the home charge against the Wesley Ward speedballs and the best from Aidan O’Brien.
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Friday
2.30 – Albany Stakes (Group 3)
3.05 – King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)
3.40 – Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)
4.20 – Coronation Stakes (Group 1)
5.00 – Sandringham Stakes
5.35 – Duke of Edinburgh Stakes
6.10 – Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes
Big Name – Mother Earth (Coronation Stakes)
Aidan O’Brien’s 1000 Guineas winner could only manage second in the French equivalent and will be out to set the record straight in this Group 1.
Ryan Moore will likely be back on board for the first time this year and they will be hoping to follow in Winter’s footsteps who starred in this back in 2017 for the same team.
Ed Walker’s Primo Bacio, Andrew Balding’s Alcohol Free and Joseph O’Brien’s Pretty Gorgeous should make up the formidable opposition.
French Fancy – Suesa (Commonwealth Cup 3.40)
Unbeaten French sprinter Suesa adds another international flavour to the Royal meeting.
Francois Rohaut’s filly is four from four and only behind Wesley Ward’s Campanelle in the betting for this six furlong Group 1.
The race has only been going since 2015 but already has an impressive roll call thanks to the likes of Muhaarar and Caravaggio.
Archie Watson’s Dragon Symbol and Clive Cox’s Supremacy will lead the home charge for the Brits.
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Derby Castoffs – Mohaafeth (King Edward VII Stakes 3.05)
William Haggas pulled his three-year-old from the Derby at the last minute to save him for a tilt at this race.
There will be no excuses on the ground with the weather set fair and we’ll see whether this Listed contender is the real deal or not.
Sir Michael Stoute’s exciting Bay Bridge will likely be sent off favourite from Aidan O’Brien’s unexposed Sir Lamorak. It’s shaping up to be a cracker.
Saturday
2.30 – Chesham Stakes (Listed)
3.05 – Jersey Stakes (Group 3)
3.40 – Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
4.20 – Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1)
5.00 – Wokingham Stakes
5.35 – Golden Gate Stakes
6.10 – Queen Alexandra Stakes
Third Time Lucky – Dream Of Dreams (Diamond Jubilee 4.20)
Sir Michael Stoute’s ace sprinter has been beaten into second in the last two years in this and his team will be hoping he can finally go one better.
He was beaten a head by Hello Youmzain last season and by Blue Point the summer before. If any horse deserves it, it’s this hardy seven-year-old.
But he faces stiff opposition in the face of Ed Walker’s Starman, Nahaarr and Glass Slippers.
Seven Heaven – Ilaraab (Hardwicke Stakes 3.40)
William Haggas has this four-year-old on a remarkable run of six wins on the spin with his only defeat coming on debut.
His latest victory came off 102 in a handicap and now rated 111, connections have opted to jump into Group 2 company.
But this is no gimme and the likes of Hukum, Irish raider Broome and Sir Ron Priestley set a high standard.
Handicap Hotshot – On The Warpath (Wokingham 5.00)
Another cavalry charge that will either make or break you at this point in the week.
And Charlie Appleby’s On The Warpath might just be the horse you need to ensure you end the meeting on a high.
He’s not been seen since Boxing Day but on his day is a smart animal and might still just be on a handy enough mark.
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