And it looks like being a very Royal Ascot as the Queen is expected to attend.
After all she has a runner who is a hot favourite running in the G3 Hampton Court late in the afternoon.
The afternoon starts with the Norfolk Stakes over 1000m for the 2yos with 11 starters. Kodiac is responsible for two of the runners – current favourite Walbank from David Loughnane's yard with Rossa Ryan riding and Pillow Talk 13/2 from Karl Burke's in-form yard and Kieran Shoemark riding. The Antarctic from Aidan O'Brien's yard with Ryan Moore riding is by Dark Angel and is unbeaten in two outings and they are on 10/3. Michael Bell's Brave Nation will be ridden by James Doyle and they are on 6/1.
In the Ribblesdale G2 over 2400m for the 3yo fillies the trip is the big question as it will be a first for most of these. Jessica Harrington has been enthusiastic about her runner Magical Lagoon, a daughter of Galileo, which is currently joint favourite with Sea The Stars on 2/1 for William Haggas and Tom Marquand. Godolphin's Life of Dreams by Dubawi is the Appleton-Buick rep and is on 11/2.
The Gold Cup comes next – a true staying classic over 4000m with 10 runners although there are doubts about Truesham if the surface is fast. So leading the market at the moment is the Irish raider Kyprios with Ryan Moore riding for Aidan O'Brien and currently on second is the legendary Stradivarius, with the now 8yo having been 4th in this race last year but looking good when winning the Yorkshire Cup in May.
Truesham's trainer has said that he will scratch is runner if the hot weather has made the track too firm so we shall see what happens. At the moment he's on 11/2. Princess Zoe is a very honest mare and is on 7/1, and our roughie here is the French raider Bubble Smart for Delzangles-Mosse and 33/1 is value.
The Hampton Court G3 comes late in the day but the 2000m contest currently has Her Majesty's Reach For The Moon odds-on at 4/9 with Dettori riding for the Gosdens. Take a pin for other choices but this could be a happy ending to the day!
