One of the most famous sporting events on the planet has arrived, with the Flat racing showpiece, Royal Ascot, set to get underway in unfamiliar conditions.
The meeting has thankfully survived the coronavirus shutdown which saw the latter part of the National Hunt season – including the Grand National – cancelled and the start of the Flat campaign delayed.
However, given the government restrictions in place around mass gatherings, there will be no fans in attendance this year at what is usually one of the highlights of the British sporting summer.
Fortunately, there will still be a plethora of equine superstars, with five days of racing featuring eight Group One contests and some of the sport’s most recognisable names.
Here’s everything you need to know…
When is Royal Ascot?
Despite the delay to the start of the Flat season and the rescheduling of various other meetings, Royal Ascot has remained unmoved from its original planned date of June 16-20.
It's part of a bumper schedule in the early weeks of racing's restart, coming less than two weeks after the Guineas meeting at Newmarket and only a fortnight before the Derby and Oaks at epsom.
What time are the races?
There are a total of 36 races on this year's card at Ascot - six more than in a normal year - both to give more horses a chance to run following the shutdown and to accommodate smaller field sizes.
On each of the first four days of the meeting, there will be seven races, the first starting at 1:15pm BST and the last going off at 4:40pm BST. The exception is the Saturday of the meeting, which will see eight races running from 12:40pm to 4:40pm.
When are the key races?
As ever, there are eight Group One races on the card with at least one each day, but some have been moved from their traditional slots to allow as much time as possible between other key races in the same division during this condensed part of the season.
| Race | Day | Time |
| Queen Anne Stakes | Tuesday | 1:50pm |
| King's Stand Stakes | Tuesday | 3:35pm |
| Prince of Wales Stakes | Wednesday | 3:00pm |
| Ascot Gold Cup | Thursday | 3:35pm |
| Commonwealth Cup | Friday | 3:35pm |
| Coronation Cup | Saturday | 1:50pm |
| St. James' Palace Stakes | Saturday | 3:00pm |
| Diamond Jubilee Stakes | Saturday | 3:35pm |
What's the weather forecast?
While racegoers won't have to worry about dressing for the weather this year, the elements will still play their part in determining ground conditions. The long-range forecast currently suggests there could be light rain on the first two days of the meeting before drying out as the week goes on.
A more up to date forecast will be posted here closer to the off.
Ascot Gold Cup odds via Betfair
Odds subject to change, UK users only. Correct as of 11/06/2020.
- Stradivarius 4/6
- Kew Gardens 4/1
- Technician 9/1
- Broome 10/1
- Cross Counter 11/1
- Dee Ex Bee 16/1
- Nayef Road 20/1
- Royal Line 20/1
- Search For A Song 20/1
- Sir Dragonet 33/1
- Sir Ron Priestly 33/1
- Withold 33/1
- Il Parodiso 50/1
- Mekong 66/1
To place a bet or view other Royal Ascot markets visit Betfair.
