Tuesday
As golden sun balms the South Downs, there's no wait for the first Group One. Gregory arrives from victory with our ambassador on Day Two of Royal Ascot. Frankie today, though, is aboard Courage Mon Ami, his winner later that week in the Ascot Gold Cup. Watch out for Coltrane, St Leger winning Eldar Eldarov, and Yorkshire Cup winning Giavelotto. Oh, and there's Curragh Cup winning Emily Dickinson to contend with. The Goodwood Cup comes a race after the Lennox, where Champions Sprint and Prix de la Forêt winning Kinross looks to reclaim a crown he lost last year. This time he has our ambassador aboard. Can he see off Isaac Shelby, an impressive winner of the Greenham, and of the Superlative last year?
Wednesday
Day Two is all about the Sussex, so often the big race of the meeting. Inspiral makes her return today, after trailing in the Queen Anne. Modern Games is here too: the Godolphin superstar who sat a game second to Baaeed twelve months back. That was during a 3-year-old season that saw him rack a French 2,000 Guineas, a Breeders Cup Mile, and a Woodbine Mile in Canada. Elsewhere, keep an eye on Berkshire Shadow for the Baldings, and on Modern Games' Lockinge second, the sharp-toothed Chindit. Ulimately, however, Paddington is the star. Unbeaten this season, he arrives with an Irish 2,000 Guineas, a St James's Palace, and an Eclipse to his name.
Thursday
The girls take centre stage on Ladies Day. The Magnolia Cup begins proceedings, and this year's amateur female riders include an author and businesswoman, a 72-year-old racing enthusiast, and the Sunday Times Royal Editor. The Richmond Stakes sees a kettle of 2-year-olds at 2:25, the Gordon welcomes an appearance from royal winner Desert Hero, and the Nassau is our feature. Blue Rose Cen (winner of this year's French 1,000 Guineas and the Prix de Diane) has journeyed over with Christopher Head, looking to see off Al Husn and last year's glittering heroine, Nashwa, fresh from reclaiming winning ways at the Newmarket July Festival.
Friday
Friday's showpiece is the Qatar Stakes, one race on from the Golden Mile, where our very own RacingBreaks Ryder will perform. Taking steps forward from Royal Ascot (where he let the weight of the pack get the better of him), and on his way to York's Ebor Festival, Brave Emperor is Ryder's danger. With wins in France and Germany (and a close second in Sweden's Stockholms Stora Pris), Brave Emperor represents Archie Watson and Middleham Park Racing. The Qatar, though, also sees entries from the likes of last year's Queen Mary winner, Dramatised, and from last year's Nunthorpe winner, Highfield Princess.
Saturday
There's the Langtry on our concluding day, but it's the Steward's Cup that takes centre stage. Question is: will we have another royal runner in the form of King's Lynn, who we last saw in July on the course at which he'd come home ninth in the Wokingham a month earlier? Play attention to Tiber Flow in this, and to Charlie Hills Orazio, who went one better than King's Lynn in the Wokingham: left in sixth position on the line.
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