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2.30pm - Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1, 1m)
Looking beyond the brilliant Lockinge winner BAAEED seems futile in the opening race. William Haggas' son of Sea The Stars has emerged as the headline act on the Flat scene this season and he was very impressive in that Newbury win.
He signed off last season with a win over Palace Pier in the QEII here, taking the scalp of last year's winner of this race and, to that point, Europe's best miler. If he can emulate Frankel by winning this race, comparisons to the great horse will continue for another while yet.
Real World (second) and Chindit (third) had no answer to Baaeed's brilliant in the Lockinge and it's hard to see them overturning that form. Order Of Australia was disappointing in this race a year ago, but he chased home Baaeed in a French Group 1 in September and could be the closest pursuer again if master-trainer Aidan O'Brien has him right.
Selection: Baaeed
Next Best: Order Of Australia
3:05pm - Coventry Stakes (Group 2, 6f)
Aidan O'Brien's record tally of Coventry wins stands at nine and the Irishman will have leading hopes that unbeaten Blackbeard can take him into doubles figures. The No Nay Never colt is 3-3 so far and the step up from 5f to this trip at the Curragh last month yielded his best performance so far as he easily won a Group 3. He's got an outstanding chance.
As many as seven of the 17-runner field are unbeaten - combining to win 11 races between them - so there plenty alternatives to the forecast market leader.
Bradsell made a striking debut at York last month for Archie Watson and likely has plenty improvement to come under Hollie Doyle now. They are leading contenders, as are the likes of Scholarship for Clive Cox and Richard Hannon's Persian Force.
ROUSING ENCORE was impressive at Pontefract in his latest win, giving weight and a sound beating to a promising maiden winner. He's got more on his plate now but might be some each-way value as Richard Fahey and new stable jockey Oisin Orr look for a perfect start to their alliance.
Selection: Rousing Encore
Next Best: Bradsell
3:40pm - King's Stand Stakes (Group 1, 5f)
Trainer Wesley Ward has talked the talk in the run up to this race, but can Golden Pal now walk the walk for him? The US trainer is no stranger to big-race success at this meeting but his charge is 0-2 on UK soil and was disappointing in the Nunthorpe last summer.
He did go close here in the 2020 Norfolk Stakes, however, and his trainer believes that at four-year-old he is now better than ever.
Winter Power won that York Group 1 last summer but will need a big step forward from her comeback in the Temple Stakes at Haydock where she was down the field as King's Lynn just managed to hold off Twilight Calls. The latter might be a contender for places for Henry Candy with Ryan Moore taking over on board.
It's great to see NATURE STRIP coming to this party. Chris Waller's charge has won eight top-level sprints and is, on ratings, the best sprinter in the world. The Aussie speedball might well prove best on the grass too and can become the latest southern hemisphere winner of the King's Stand.
Selection: Nature Strip
Next Best: Golden Pal
4:20pm - St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1, 1m)
Another hot favourite on day one, this time in the shape of COROEBUS for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. He really powered home to win the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on his comeback and will be expected to confirm himself as the leading three-year-old miler now.
He took the scalp of stablemate and champion 2YO Native Trail in that Rowley Mile Classic and that form has been positively advertised since, the runner-up an emphatic winner of the Irish Guineas and Royal Patronage (eighth) chasing home Desert Crown in the Dante at York before the latter easily won the Epsom Derby.
Coroebus is clear on ratings and there's a strong chance he's going to carry on improving through the summer.
Berkshire Shadow won the Coventry on this card a year ago and outran a big price in the Guineas, finishing fifth. Andrew Balding's charge is an outsider with potentially more to give on only his second mile start, while Heron Stakes winner My Prospero is going the right way for the Haggas/Tom Marquand team.
That same trainer also saddles unbeaten German 2000 Guineas winner Maljoom and it would be dangerous to discount him too.
Selection: Coroebus
Next Best: Berkshire Shadow
5:00pm - Ascot Stakes (Handicap, 2m4f)
After a triple helping of Group 1 action, day one concludes with a trio of tricky handicaps for punters to assess.
The first is the 2m4f Ascot Stakes, the longest handicap of the meeting and a race so often prone to going the way of a jumps trainer in recent times.
Willie Mullins (2012, 2015, 2017, 2018) has a fantastic record and he relies solely on Bring On The Night, fourth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and the mount of Ryan Moore here - the top pilot looking to secure a third Ascot Stakes win for the Mullins yard.
Last year's winner Reshoun is the lone contender for Ian Williams, winner of this race in 2019 and 2021, with Derby-winning rider Richard Kingscote on board, while Alan King saddles old favourite Who Dares Wins - third in this race in 2017 and a Royal Ascot winner in 2020.
Gordon Elliott's Pied Piper was desperately unlucky not to land a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree in April and could be a major player now, while John & Thady Gosden saddle MARSHALL PLAN, whose near miss on AW Finals Day at Newcastle over Easter was a hint that he might excel at this extended trip.
He has Mr Ascot Frankie Dettori on board and looks one of the better chances for the Italian on day one.
Selection: Marshall Plan
Next Best: Pied Piper
5:35pm - Wolferton Stakes (Listed, 1m2f)
Perhaps CADILLAC hasn't entirely fulfilled his early potential but the Jessica Harrington inmate looked as good as ever when scoring in a Listed event at Leopardstown 12 days ago. First-time blinkers appeared to revitalise him and a similar level of form here may be good enough for him to gain a second success in quick succession.
Dangers abound of course. Perotto won the Britannia Stakes at this meeting a year ago and should be able to see this trip out for Dougie Costello, while New Mandate was a Listed winner over C&D in April before being out of his depth in the Lockinge next time.
Regal Reality has made the frame in this before and can go well, while it would be dangerous to allow Majestic Dawn an easy time in front.
Selection: Cadillac
Next Best: Perotto
6:10pm - Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap, 1m6f)
Juan De Montalban was a decisive winner over shorter here last month and, while 9lb higher now, Kevin Philippart De Foy's charge isn't one to dismiss in the follow-up attempt. He's got his claims again.
Bandinelli requires a bounce-back following his below par Haydock effort, while Cleveland is a rock -solid contender for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore on the back of last month's Chester Cup success.
It could be another O'Brien that lands the day one finale however as Joseph sends out unexposed OKITA SOUSHI in the hands of Declan McDonagh.
The Galileo colt only has three runs behind him but his seasonal return saw the Fairyhouse maiden winner finishing second behind smart stablemate Raise You in a Listed contest at the Curragh. He likely can build on that now sent handicapping and looks worth a chance.
Selection Okita Soushi
Next Best: Juan De Montalban
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