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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tony Paley, with Greg Wood at Ascot

Royal Ascot 2024 day one: Rosallion wins St James’s Palace Stakes after 80-1 shock – as it happened

Royal Ascot (Organization)
Sean Levey smiles broadly after steering Rosallion to victory in the St James's Palace Stakes.
Sean Levey smiles broadly after steering Rosallion to victory in the St James's Palace Stakes. Photograph: John Walton/PA

Notable Speech came to the party at Royal Ascot as the potential star of the week but it was Rosallion on Tuesday turning the tables on the disappointing Guineas winner and running out a deserved winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes to live up the high billing his trainer, Richard Hannon, has always had of him.

Rosallion will head now for the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood next which is threatening to be quote some contest. “He’s in the Sussex [at Goodwood], he’s in all those big races, and I can’t wait,” said the trainer afterwards. “He’s already done enough for me if he never does another ... It’s not about being proven right either, it’s about the work that goes into these horses from everybody at home. We’ve been watching him all winter, this kind of makes it a shorter winter.”

That was the undoubted highlight of day one. See you on Wednesday for day two. I’ll leave you with Greg Wood’s report …

Updated

Belloccio victorious for Mullins in Copper Horse Stakes (6.15pm)

Result:
1 Belloccio (W Buick) 4-1
2 Lmay (K Shoemark) 40-1
3 My Mate Mozzie (G F Carroll) 12-1
4 Alsakib (Oisin Murphy) 11-2
16 ran

Updated

Copper Horse Stakes (6.15pm)

And they’re off … Intinso and My Mate Mozzie are up with the leaders as they set off in the final race of the day … A Piece Of Heaven grabs the lead along with Drawn To Dream … and they kick for home off the home turn … Lmay grabs the lead in the home straight … Belloccio takes the lead close home … and wins for all-conquering Irish (normally jumps) trainer Willie Mullins!

Updated

Copper Horse Stakes (6.15pm) betting

  • Fox Journey 4/1

  • Belloccio 9/2

  • A Piece Of Heaven 9/2

  • Alsakib 13/2

  • Intinso 9/1

  • My Mate Mozzie 10/1

  • Naqeeb 16/1

  • Party Central 20/1

  • Maxi King 22/1

  • 25/1 bar

  • Full betting via Oddschecker

Copper Horse Stakes (6.15pm) preview

The punters left the bookies on the floor after the “getting out” race 12 months ago, when Willie Mullins’s Vauban was backed down to start at even money and won well. If there is a candidate for a similar gamble this time around it is probably Joseph O’Brien’s A Piece Of Heaven, who is having his first run for the stable following an easy four-length success at Leopardstown last month, but there is plenty of strength in depth, including Sir Michael Stoute’s Fox Journey, who made a fool of the handicapper when striding 11 lengths clear of his field at Newmarket last month. I’ll be having a little bit each-way on Denis Hogan’s Tyson Fury, who arrives on the back of a promising run at the Curragh last month, but there are many, many alternatives.

SELECTION: TYSON FURY

Updated

Israr bolts home in Wolferton Stakes (5.40pm)

Result:
1 Israr (Jim Crowley) 11-4 Jt Fav
2 Haunted Dream (C Soumillon) 14-1
3 Torito (James Doyle) 7-2
15 ran
Non Runner: 7

Updated

Wolferton Stakes (5.40pm)

And they’re off … Ancient Rome leads … and is kicking on fast ... Cemhaan is there as they turn for home … Israr comes there strongly and bursts through for an easy win.

Updated

Appleby at loss to explain Notable Speech flop

Charlie Appleby was at a loss to explain the disappointing performance of Notable Speech after the 2000 Guineas hero beat just one horse home in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot – but raised the possibility of him being dropped in trip on his next start.

So impressive in winning his first three starts on the all-weather at Kempton, the Dubawi colt proved his top-level capabilities with a brilliant display on his turf debut in last month’s Rowley Mile Classic, beating the subsequent Irish Guineas winner Rosallion, who was again in opposition.

In a deep race that also featured the French Guineas victor Metropolitan, Notable Speech was the 6-4 favourite to confirm his status as number one in the three-year-old miling division – but after seemingly travelling strongly into the straight under William Buick, the response was limited once push came to shove and he eventually passed the post seventh of eight runners as Rosallion stole the show.

“We probably won’t have an explanation at this moment to be honest with you and Will rode his race as he has done many a time, we have always sat off the pace and he’s a horse who has always picked up when asked,” said Appleby.

“Will said when he pulled him out and asked him to pick up, he didn’t, and more importantly he didn’t run through the line, that is probably the biggest thing I’ll take out of it at the moment as well as getting beat.” PA Media

Wolferton Stakes (5.40pm) betting

  • Botanical 5/2

  • Torito 7/2

  • Israr 7/2

  • Astro King 12/1

  • Haunted Dream 14/1

  • Mujtaba 14/1

  • Cemhaan 25/1

  • Ancient Rome 33/1

  • 33/1 bar

  • Full betting via Oddschecker

Wolferton Stakes (5.40pm) preview

Not one of the most historic or fabled events on the royal meeting’s schedule, but that probably won’t matter too much to the Wathnan Racing operation if their colours come home in front on Torito, given the rate at which they have been splashing the cash on horses with Ascot entries in recent weeks. James Doyle, who jumped ship from Godolphin to join the Emir of Qatar’s upwardly-mobile racing operation from the start of the season, takes the ride on John & Thady Gosden’s runner, and may well see Roger Varian’s Botanical as the main threat, with Israr, the runner-up in a Group Two at Chester last month, also worth an honourable mention.

SELECTION: TORITO

Pledgeofallegiance victorious in Ascot Stakes (5.05pm)

Result:
1 Pledgeofallegiance (L Morris) 20-1
2 Divine Comedy (Kaiya Fraser) 8-1
3 Kyle Of Lochalsh (Billy Loughnane) 12-1
4 Get Shirty (D Tudhope) 33-1
20 ran

Ascot Stakes (5.05pm)

And they’re off … only two-and-a-half miles to go … Kyle Of Lochalsh was a slow starter and it’s Boher Road who takes them along in the early stages of the contest … Zanndabad, the well-backed favourite, is in about ninth spot on the rails … next to him is Divine Comedy who has also been well supported in the betting … Pledgeofallegiance is in a good position as they turn towards home with a mile to go … on the home turn now … Pied Piper makes progress … Pledgeofallegiance leads and Divine Comedy comes with a big run … but Pledgeofallegiance holds on!

Updated

Think you’ve seen the best Royal Ascot pic? Close, but no cigar

Ascot Stakes (5.05pm) betting

  • Zanndabad 9/2

  • Divine Comedy 8/1

  • Nusret 8/1

  • Pied Piper 9/1

  • My Lyka 9/1

  • Boher Road 11/1

  • Tritonic 12/1

  • Kyle Of Lochalsh 14/1

  • Almuhit 16/1

  • 16/1 bar

  • Full betting at Oddschecker

Ascot Stakes (5.05pm) preview

It is always one of the grand Royal Ascot spectacles as a big field of staying handicappers pounds around two-and-a-half miles, and there is a potential dash of controversy to add to the mix in this year’s race too, as the favourite, Zanndabad, was trained until recently by Tony Martin, who is currently serving a three-month ban from racing after one of his runners failed a dope test. In his absence, the horse is running in the name of his sister, Cathy O’Leary, who has taken control of many of her brother’s horses for the duration of his ban. She could therefore pull off the unusual feat of training a Royal Ascot winner with her first runner, but there are many very live contenders out to stop her, including Harry Eustace’s Divine Comedy, who looks sure to appreciate the extra half-mile after a strong-staying success over two miles at Haydock in May.

SELECTION: DIVINE COMEDY

Aussie raider Asfoora sprints to success

Australian sprinting star Asfoora justified the long journey across the globe to power to King Charles III Stakes glory. Henry Dwyer’s charge had finished fourth on her British debut in the Temple Stakes at Haydock last month, but she clearly enjoyed the faster ground at Royal Ascot to become Australia’s sixth winner of this race by a length.

Asfoora joins Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti(2007), Scenic Blast (2009) and Nature Strip (2022) on the Australian roll of honour in what was formerly the King’s Stand Stakes.

A jubilant Dwyer said: “We’ve got so many people here – not only the owners of Asfoora, but 40 or 50 of my owners from home who would saw the end of their leg off to have a runner at Royal Ascot. It’s amazing. I think there will be the mother of all parties tonight!

“We needed a lead-up run at Haydock, so she came over early, but just with the changing of seasons we wanted to be here before it was too cold in Australia and too warm over here. We came over in the nice interchange period, and we need not have worried because she settled in brilliantly, and the proof was in the pudding today.” PA Media

Updated

Rosallion storms the St James's Palace Stakes (4.25pm)

Result:
1 Rosallion (S M Levey) 5-2
2 Henry Longfellow (R L Moore) 11-2
3 Metropolitan (Alexis Pouchin) 20-1
8 ran
Also: 6-4 Fav Notable Speech.

Updated

St James’s Palace Stakes (4.25pm)

And they’re off … Henry Longfellow is out speedily but it’s Unquestionable that has the early lead … Notable Speech is towards the back … they turn for home … Rosallion is stuck behind horses but gets through and catches Henry Longfellow to win.

Updated

St James’s Palace Stakes (4.25pm) betting

  • Notable Speech 11/8

  • Rosallion 9/4

  • Henry Longfellow 9/2

  • Alyanaabi 12/1

  • Almaqam 20/1

  • Unquestionable 28/1

  • Metropolitan 28/1

  • Darlinghurst 33/1

  • Full betting via Oddschecker

St James’s Palace Stakes (4.25pm) preview

As previously noted, this is a cracking renewal of Tuesday’s feature, and the first time for eight years that the winners of the English, Irish and French 2,000 Guineas have all gone to post. Notable Speech, the Newmarket winner, is currently around 5-4 to confirm the form of his win over Rosallion, who then went on to win the Irish equivalent, while Metropolitan, the winner in France, is now – a little surprisingly, perhaps – the 40-1 outsider of the entire field having been priced up at around 20-1 yesterday. The French form does have a representative near the top of the betting, though, as Aidan O’Brien’s Henry Longfellow, who got no run at all at Longchamp, is the third-favourite at around 5-1. Anyone looking for alternative to the three Classic winners will probably want to give Almaqam, the Heron Stakes winner, a once-over, while Alnayaabi, who finished fifth in the English 2,000 Guineas, is also attracting some interest at around 16-1. This actually feels quite straightforward to me: I think the Newmarket form is the best on offer by some way, and Rosallion’s subsequent success in Ireland backs that up. Notable Speech has a high cruising speed, a sharp turn of foot and plenty of scope for further progress and he looks a very worthy favourite.

SELECTION: NOTABLE SPEECH

Aussie runner Asfoora wins the King Charles III Stakes (3.05pm)

Result:
1 Asfoora (Oisin Murphy) 5-1
2 Regional (Callum Rodriguez) 6-1
3 Big Evs (Tom Marquand) 11-4 Fav
17 ran

Updated

King Charles III Stakes (3.45pm)

This will be over very quickly so pardon the brief description … and they’re off … Regional leads early … and Rogue Lightning got a slow start … Big Evs takes the lad and goes for home… Asfoora grabs the lead and takes the big prize. It’s an Aussie success.

Updated

Non-runner alert

Certain Lad is out of the Wolferton Stakes (5.40) on account of the ground.

Updated

A very moving success for Sam Sangster in the Coventry Stakes with Rashabar and great to see the famous colours associated with his family in the winner’s enclosure at Royal Ascot.

Updated

Rashabar a shock winner of Coventry at 80-1

Rashabar held off the late challenge of Wathnan Racing duo Electrolyte and Columnist to claim the Coventry Stakes in a desperately tight finish, in the process returning some very famous silks to the Royal Ascot winner’s enclosure.

Brian Meehan’s charge had not managed to get his head in front in his first two appearances, despite promising displays at Newbury and Chester, but the Holy Roman Emperor colt – in the colours associated for so long with the late Robert Sangster – had just enough in the tank to score as an 80-1 winner by a nose.

Under the guidance of teenager Billy Loughnane, Rashabar led a group of eight on the far rail, bursting ahead inside the final furlong and stretching his advantage to over a length as he looked to have a clear route to the finishing line.

Electrolyte (Hollie Doyle) and Columnist (Oisin Orr) finished strongly, however, and rapidly reduced Rashabar’s lead, but the winning post came just in time as Loughnane, 18, celebrated his first career winner at the Royal meeting by the smallest of margins.

Rashabar runs in the name of Manton Thoroughbreds, and Sangster’s son, Sam, was emotional as he said: “I’m pretty much in tears behind my sunglasses, it was amazing. Brian has believed in the horse from day one and I really did feel we had a big chance.

“There was a reason I set the syndicate up 10 years ago, to keep the colours going. We have a lot of runners, it’s been fantastic in the last couple of years. We had Isaac Shelby last year and this fellow this year. I’m a bit lost for words and emotional, especially when you talk about the colours and my old man.”
PA Media

Updated

Shirely Ballas is at the races … the Strictly Come Dancing judge has backed Giovanni Pernice amid a BBC probe into allegations of “serious misconduct” against him, as reported in those tabloid papers today.

King Charles III Stakes (3.45pm) market movers

  • Big Evs 3/1 (was 10/3)

  • Asfoora 11/2 (was 15/2)

  • Diligent Harry 14/1 (was 16/1)

King Charles III Stakes (3.45pm) betting

  • Big Evs 100/30

  • Regional 11/2

  • Asfoora 15/2

  • Believing 8/1

  • Kerdos 12/1

  • Rogue Lightning 14/1

  • Diligent Harry 14/1

  • Twilight Calls 16/1

  • Crimson Advocate 16/1

  • Valiant Force 18/1

  • 20/1 bar

  • Full betting at Oddschecker

King Charles III Stakes (3.45pm) preview

The new moniker for the King’s Stand Stakes, Ascot’s Group One sprint over five furlongs, or 1000m if you are the connections of Australian-trained Asfoora, one of only a handful of runners from outside Europe at this year’s meeting. She warmed up for today’s race when setting off as the 4-1 joint-favourite for the Temple Stakes at Haydock last month, and while she was only fifth behind Kerdos - who also lines up for this – she looked as though she would come on plenty for the outing. The likely favourite, though, is the hugely popular Big Evs, who gave trainer Mick Appleby the biggest moment of his career to date when winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita last year. He made a highly promising comeback at York in May, when Tom Marquand rode a more patient race than usual on a horse who generally races right up with the pace. That could be a useful tweak at a track where the uphill finish does not generally favour front-running sprinters.

SELECTION: ASFOORA

Rashabar wins Coventry Stakes (3.05pm) at 80-1

Result:
1 Rashabar 80-1
2 Electrolyte 40-1
3 Columnist 50-1

Updated

Coventry Stakes (3.05pm)

And they’re off … Cool Hoof Luke is off fast … they have spilt in two again … Rashabar is kicking on … that’s really close at the line between Columnist, Electrolyte and Rashabar! Rashabar wins it … and that’s an 80-1 winner!!

Updated

Charyn clear-cut winner of Queen Anne

Charyn ran out a decisive winner of the Queen Anne Stakesat Royal Ascot, the opening race of the 2024 meeting. Trained by Roger Varian and ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, the four-year-old has progressed at a rate of knots this season and went one better than last time out in the Lockinge at Newburyto win as the 100-30 favourite.

The race was something of a strange spectacle as two of the French raiders, Big Rock and Facteur Cheval, raced on their own on the far side, while the rest of the field followed Robert Havlin on Lockinge winner Audience.

De Sousa was not as far behind Audience as he had been at Newburyand looked to be holding all the aces with two furlongs to run when he kicked on. Hayley Turner and Docklands gave admirable chase to claim a clear second, beaten two and a quarter lengths, while Maljoom ran on for third, as Charyn claimed the first Group One victory of his career.

Varian said: “It doesn’t get any better, a Group One at Royal Ascot. I’m so delighted. I’m really so delighted for his owner [Nurlan Bizakov], who has invested so much in the game, he’s supported me for a number of years.

“I’m delighted for my team, everyone works so hard at home. It’s a great day and we’ll enjoy it. You have to say he’s improved as he’s got older. He ran some fine races in defeat last year, he was in the biggest races, on the top table and he didn’t disgrace himself.

“He seems to have found another level of form this year. His run in the Lockinge last time was an outstanding run, and he’s confirmed that today, so I’m thrilled. Silvestre is convinced he will stay a mile and a quarter, and I kind of agree with him, but he’s not doing much wrong over a mile at the moment, so I wouldn’t be in a rush to change things.” PA Media

Updated

Going down to the start for the Coventry Stakes …

Coventry Stakes (3.05pm) market movers

Coventry Stakes (3.05pm) betting

  • Camille Pissarro 4/1

  • Cowardofthecounty 6/1

  • Symbol Of Honour 7/1

  • Yah Mo Be There 9/1

  • Al Qudra 11/1

  • The Actor 11/1

  • Catalyse 14/1

  • Angelo Buonarroti 22/1

  • Arran 22/1

  • Star Anthem 28/1

  • Full details here via Oddschecker

Updated

Coventry Stakes (3.05pm) preview

A huge field for Britain’s first juvenile Group Two event of the season, but no standout contender in the betting with Camille Pisarro and Cowardofthecounty, trained by Aidan O’Brien and his son Joseph respectively, vying for favouritism at around 11-2. Camille Pisarro was a head behind Arizona Blaze, a leading contender for Thursday’s Norfolk Stakes, at the Curragh last time out, while Cowardofthecounty arrives on the back of a two-and-a-half length defeat of Whistlejacket, another big runner in the Norfolk, in a maiden at the Curragh in April. Andesite, who took a warm maiden at York in May, has been scratched this morning but Yah Mo Be There, the runner-up, is still in the running and prominent in the lists. There are plenty more contenders to ponder, but this felt like a race that might see an upset when I sifted through the form yesterday and I’ll be having a bit each-way on one of Richard Fahey’s runners, Columnist. He’s a 33-1 shot, but won his only start to date in a useful time and has what could prove to be a useful draw in stall 15, near several of the likeliest pace-setters.

SELECTION: COLUMNIST

Charyn wins Queen Anne Stakes (2.30pm)

Result:
1 Charyn (S De Sousa) 10-3 Fav
2 Docklands (Hayley Turner) 10-1
3 Maljoom (Tom Marquand) 15-2
13 ran
Non Runner: 13

Updated

Queen Anne Stakes (2.30pm)

And they’re off … Big Rock is out fast and leads on the far side with most of the runners on the nearside! Audience has the lead there with Witch Hunter last … Audience goes for home … Charyn has kicked clear and wins in style!

Updated

Queen’s Hat (2pm) Stakes market mover

Docklands 9/1 (was 12/1)

Full details via Oddspedia

Queen’s Hat (2pm) Stakes result

1 Blue 3-1 fav

Updated

The Queen Anne Stakes is next, the traditional curtain raiser at Royal Ascot. No doubt it won’t come close to the controversy that surrounded the 1974 running of the race. Let Chris Cook of the Racing Post be your guide … ‘You’ll all be far too busy trying to find winners, or agonising over unlucky losers, to think about this once the action starts at Royal Ascot next week. So let me mention now that we are mere days from the 50th anniversary of one of the most notorious of all horse races, the Queen Anne Stakes of 1974. For anyone who complains about interference as often as I do, it’s required viewing. If you don’t know the story, have a look at the closing stages here. “Sure to be a stewards’ inquiry here,” said Peter O’Sullevan as the runners were cantering back towards the stands. “It was a real bumping, battling finish.” But surely he did not expect the eventual verdict, that the first three finishers were all disqualified - possibly the only time this has happened in the history of British racing. The prize was handed to the Italian-trained Brook, who had stayed on into a distant fourth place.’

The notorious 1974 Queen Anne Stakes.

Queen Anne Stakes (2.30pm) betting

  • Facteur Cheval 7/2

  • Charyn 7/2

  • Big Rock 6/1

  • Maljoom 8/1

  • Audience 8/1

  • Docklands 12/1

  • Dolayli 12/1

  • Hi Royal 25/1

  • Poker Face 28/1

  • Witch Hunter 40/1

  • 50/1 bar

  • Full betting via Oddschecker

Queen Anne Stakes (2.30pm) preview

Royal Ascot gets off to its traditional flying start with a Group One event over a mile, and the race in which the mighty Frankel put up the greatest performance of his career, according to the ratings at least. There is, of course, nothing in today’s race that would get to within half a dozen lengths of the greatest horse of recent decades, but that does also mean that it is a highly competitive renewal and also one in which there are a few questions for some of the principals to answer. The good-to-firm ground may not be ideal for either Big Rock, who would be a very warm favourite on easier going having posted an immense performance to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over track and trip in October. A similar comment applies to Facteur Cheval, the runner-up behind Big Rock in that race, while the merit of the form in the Lockinge Stakes in May, when Audience raced alone and beat Charyn by one-and-three-quarter lengths, is questionable, as the winner’s time was no more than middling-to-decent. I still grind my teeth when recalling Maljoom’s desperately unlucky run in the St James’s Palace Stakes here two years ago, when he carried the additional burden of being the Guardian’s nap of the day but should really have won by a cosy length. He has not shown much in just two runs since, though, and I’m going to take a chance instead on Harry Eustace’s Docklands, who put up one of the handicap performances of the season to win the Britannia Handicap over this course and distance 12 months ago.

SELECTION: DOCKLANDS

Updated

Here are the horses you can cross off today as they aren’t turning up

Royal Ascot non-runners

2.30pm Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

13 Royal Scotsman (self cert – bruised foot)

3.05pm Coventry Stakes (Group 2)

2 Andesite (self cert – injured in box)

Updated

Queen’s Hat Stakes (2pm) preview

There was always a lively betting market on the colour of the Queen’s hat when Queen Elizabeth II was attending the meeting and while there are odds available from Ladbrokes on what colour tifter Queen Camilla will be sporting, the smart people at BestofBets.com have given would-be backers a strong pointer: “When it comes to the fashion stakes, Queen Camilla is less daring than Her late Majesty and she’s unlikely to try to live up to the rainbow-hued sartorial standards set by her late-mother-in-law. Instead, focus is likely to be on softer, less daring, colours, especially during the first half of the week.”

Ladbrokes betting:

  • 3/1 – Blue/Navy

  • 4/1 – Cream/White

  • 5/1 – Pink/Peach

  • 6/1 – Yellow

  • 8/1 – Purple

  • 8/1 – Red

Frankie Dettori’s here … but he won’t be riding. There was some speculation that he would be makein a comeback but his management team told the Racing Post: “He will be enjoying some quality time with family and friends, having his first experience of the meeting out of the saddle.”

We have the first of our regular daily market movers bulletin in courtesy of the folks at Oddschecker. These are the horses being supported in the betting today:

2.30 Queen Anne Stakes
Maljoom, was 10/1, now 7/1
Docklands, was 16/1, now 12/1

Punters favouring backing a few outsiders here, with the favourites a little uneasy in the morning markets.

3.05 Coventry Stakes
Yah Mo Be There, was 10/1, now 7/1 (with this price under threat)

This market has been impacted by the withdrawal of Andesite (6/1 at time of withdrawal)

5.05 Ascot Stakes
Nusret, was 12/1, now 8/1
Divine Comedey, was 12/1, now 7/1

Updated

Royal Procession (2pm)

The runners are in for the first event, the one that the bulk of the crowd are perhaps more captivated by than the actual races. The Daily Telegraph is reporting that the King will be there all week bar Wednesday and the Queen on all five days this week.

1st Carriage
The King
The Queen
The Duke of Wellington
The Duchess of Wellington

2nd Carriage
The Princess Royal
The Lady Gabriella Kingston
Mr. Peter Phillips
Mr. John Warren

3rd Carriage
The Earl of Halifax
The Countess of Halifax
Mrs. Simon Elliot
Sir Ben Elliot

4th Carriage
Sir Johnny Weatherby
Lady Weatherby
Mr Ralph Beckett
Mrs Ralph Beckett

“You sound and look very happy”

Chris Stickels, the clerk of the course as he is named in racing parlance, is in charge of preparing the all-important Ascot turf and he seems ultra relaxed this year.

The going for day one, as outlined in Greg’s preamble, is: Good to Firm.

We’ll be posting the going stick readings every day here at this time but it could be a waste of time given the weather forecast seems to be set fair. Perhaps the watering will make a difference. At present there doesn’t seem to be any great advantage on eiother side of the straight track.

GoingStick readings at 8am:
Stands’ side: 8.0
Centre: 7.9
Far side: 8.1

Welcome to Royal Ascot day one … the gates have been open for an hour or so and the folks in their finery are pouring in.

Preamble

Good morning from Berkshire on the opening day of Royal Ascot 2024. As the song has it, “ev’ry duke and earl and peer is here/Ev’ryon who should be here is here/What a smashing, positively dashing/Spectacle: the Ascot op’ning day.”

For the purists, there is no better day all week. Three Group One races, the first big race of the season for juvenile colts and the historic Ascot Stakes Handicap over the Gold Cup trip of two-and-a-half miles all feature on the programme, and the jam on the mid-afternoon scone this year is that for the first time since 2016, this year’s running of the St James’s Palace Stakes will include the winners of the 2,000 Guineas in England, Ireland and France.

The weather, for the moment at least, is also playing ball, with the going assessed as good-to-firm after 5mm of watering overnight. There is very little difference between the two sides of the straight course, either, with the GoingStick reading 8.1 on the far side and 8.0 against the stand rail. Friday is currently forecast to be the only day all week with much chance of a significant shower, so fingers crossed.

There is always a slightly otherworldly feel about Royal Ascot, as if it is frozen in an ever-repeating loop with minor tweaks to the hats and hemlines, but there are, of course, all sorts of other things going on this year, both within the racing bubble and outside.

The crowd figures this week will be scrutinised for any sign that the royal meeting is suffering from the same, abrupt decline in attendance that has afflicted Cheltenham and Aintree in particular this year. The sport’s prospects under a new Labour government – it’s a 1-33 chance on Betfair – will also be keenly discussed by the racing bigwigs in attendance.

Picks for all seven races on the Tuesday card are here, the Queen Anne Stakes is due off at 2.30pm and the royal procession, if you’re into that kind of thing, will be heading down the course at around 2pm. As ever, there’s no official confirmation as yet that the King and Queen will be here, but as they’ve renamed the third race on the card in his honour, it would be rather rude not to.

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Bianca Jagger feels 'empowered' in suits
Bianca Jagger was always drawn to wearing suits because she wanted to feel "powerful" like her father.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
‘A long-distance hug’: readers and gen Z on the joy – and expense – of sending Christmas cards
Sales of Christmas cards are down as soaring price of stamps means many people opt for digital festive greetings
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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