Here to help with … Royal Ascot
Tuesday 9 June 2015 22:43, UK
In association with Cortana, this is the ninth in a series of personal assistant articles to help guide you through this summer's major sporting events. Next up, here is a look ahead to Royal Ascot.
The glitz and glamour come together at Royal Ascot for one of the iconic summer highlights of the British sporting and gentry's social events of the year.
The five day festival from Tuesday 16th - Saturday 20th June is held in Berkshire and will be attended by The Queen. It is famous for who is wearing what as the racing itself along with the pageantry and fine dining.
Out of the 30 races the week's most expensive race is The Prince of Wales's Stakes, which has a prize of £525,000 from total prize money across the five days in excess of £5.5 million.
But it is the famed Gold Cup which is Ascot's jewel in the crown. Two miles and four furlongs long, the race promises a prize of £375,000 to the winner.
It has been attended by British Monarchs ever since its inception and The Queen, who has attended every Royal Meeting during her 63-year reign, enjoys nothing more than watching the Gee-Gees.
Day one begins with a hat trick of Group One races in the form of The Queen Anne Stakes, The King's Stands Stakes and the St James's Palace Stakes which is regarded as one of the best races of the week.
Arguably the world's best miler Able Friend has travelled internationally for the first time from Hong Kong and is a firm favourite amongst bookmakers to win the Queen Anne Stakes.
French champion milers Solow, a recent winner in Dubai, and the winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile in the US, Karakontie, are also entered into the same race.
The feature races on the Wednesday are The Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Royal Hunt Cup.
The four year old colt Free Eagle is favourite to win The Prince of Wales's Stakes with California Chrome, dubbed "America's Horse" also enters the race which brings together the very best middle distance Colts and Fillies.
A field of up to 30 runners charge their way up the mile long course in the Royal Hunt Cup which is a Heritage Handicap. Last year the race was won by 20/1 shot Field Of Dream.
Classy Irish horse Speculative Bid ridden by Jamie Spencer leads the early betting amongst the bookies this year, although Ayaar, Gm Hopkins and Temptress are expected to in the running.
The famed Gold Cup takes place on Thursday over two miles four furlongs in a race that is a true test of stamina.
The current favourite is the five year old stayer Forgotten Rules, but Brown Panther, owned by former England striker Michael Owen, and Luca Cumani's Mizzou are also in the picture.
Europe's best fillies over a mile take centre stage for the Group One, Coronation Stakes, on Ladies Day as a selection of the most impressive hats and outfits in eye-catching colours turn a few heads.
The Diamond Jubilee Stakes, which is run over six furlongs, is the highlight race of the final day of the meeting on Saturday.
Top sprinters Brazen Beau, Due Diligence, Wandjina and Gold-Fun are amongst the favourites in an action-packed race which is just six furlongs.
The Queen Alexandra Stakes completes the Royal Ascot meeting for another year where the punters will be looking to get one over the bookies for one final time, but the field will need the stamina to last the course stretching 2 miles 6 furlongs. Pique Sous won in 2014 for Willie Mullins.
