Day one at Royal Ascot will start on ground described as good to firm, good in places, with clerk of the course Chris Stickels opting not to apply any more water the Monday before the five-day spectacular.
Stickels did not rule out watering after racing on Tuesday, with the forecast set fair for the week, and on Monday evening said: “It’s been a drying day and the ground is good to firm, good in places.
“We’ve not watered today, but given the forecast we may have to after racing tomorrow.
“It’s meant to be a generally dry week. Tuesday’s the most overcast day, and from there it should get warmer, with the forecast dry with sunny spells.”
Royal Ascot day one cards and betting
There was, meanwhile, good news on Monday for anyone planning to go to Ascot by train on Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
A planned three-day strike on South Western Railway would have caused havoc, but it was called off after talks between the transport provider and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.
Cracksman the star on show as he heads seven in Prince of Wales’s
Racegoers on the second day of Royal Ascot will be treated to Cracksman’s bid to land a fourth Group 1 as he heads seven runners for the feature Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
The son of Frankel, who was a narrow winner of the Coronation Cup at Epsom this month, is odds on to bring his winning sequence up to six and his rivals include Brigadier Gerard winner Poet’s Word, dual Group 1 scorer Hawkbill and last year’s Derby runner-up Cliffs Of Moher.
Watch Cracksman’s Coronation Cup win
Hydrangea, who was taken out of Wednesday’s showpiece, heads the 11-strong field for the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes and bids to give trainer Aidan O’Brien a first win in the race. Lockinge Stakes winner Rhododendron, as expected, is an absentee as she runs in the Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday.
O’Brien also saddles three of the 12 runners for the 1m6f Queen’s Vase with Ballysax Stakes winner Nelson, Kew Gardens and Southern France declared, while John Gosden runs Almoghared and Stream Of Stars.
Wesley Ward’s unbeaten Chelsea Cloister is one of a field 22 for the 5f Queen Mary’s Stakes, where she will go head to head with European challengers such as Marygate Fillies’ Stakes winner Signora Cabello and the unbeaten Forever In Dreams.
In an attempt to get his career back on track, Expert Eye runs in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes alongside James Garfield in a field of 23.
Last year’s Royal Hunt Cup winner Zhui Feng heads the weights and the 29-runner field in the heritage handicap.
Wednesday’s runners, form and betting
fonte : RacingPost
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