Looks like the weather gods are smiling on Ascot this year for most men and beasts.

Some of the horses may not like it if the ground firms up too much.  We shall keep an eye out for scratchings later in the week.

As usual proceedings get underway with the Queen Anne, G1 straight down the 1600m with 7 horses running and Baaeed an-odds on favourite – he would have to stop and turn round to get beaten.  Jim Crowley as usual on board for William Haggas.  Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor's Real World is next best in the market on 7/1.

The Coventry G2 is for the babies – 2yos, with Blackbeard by No Nay Never on 10/3 for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore and Persian Force by Mehmas on the same quote for Richard Hannon and Rosse Ryan.  Both unbeaten.  Age of Kings is another O'Brien with Dettori getting the ride this time – he's by Kingman and on 5/1 and we'll add Bradsell on 13/2 for Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle.  17 to line up – might be fun trying to load them!

The King's Stand is over 1000m G1 with 18 runners but here we think it will be very hard to beat our Nature Strip.  One of the best sprinters in the world if not the best 9/4 looks quite generous.  Wesley Ward has had success here with his sprinters and Golden Pal is his chosen raider for this, with Irad Ortiz on board.  The Queen's Kings Lyn is on 12/1 – Andrew Balding and Dan Tudhope – which will have a lot of sentimental money on it.

Coroebus is the odds-on favourite for the Saint James's Palace Stakes over 1600m for the 3yos.  My Proposal and Maljoom are both in the market on 7/2 and 7/1.