All about five days of unrivalled top-class action fit for the Queen

The week of the year bar none in the British Flat racing calendar. It is again set to be a breathless and brilliant five days with racegoers as well as horses coming from around the globe to experience the unique meeting. Here is how the week is scheduled to unfold.

Monday

First things first. Check out this week's Royal Ascot revised running order here to get a feel for the week ahead.

Then it will be time to find out the fields for day two on Wednesday and who has made the cut for the Royal Hunt Cup (5.00).

The excitement rises in central London at the innovative Goffs London Sale, which features its usual array of Ascot-entered lots in the surroundings of Kensington Palace gardens. Martin Stevens previews the lots.

Royal Windsor puts on its traditional eve-of-Ascot meeting in the Queen's back garden.

This sees New Zealander James McDonald get the chance to warm up for his Ascot rides, notably Equilateral in Saturday's Diamond Jubilee, with one mount for James Tate.

Tuesday

The popular raceday blog is back for Royal Ascot with Steve Dennis starting proceedings in his own inimitable style.

Thursday's runners and riders will be confirmed in the morning, clearing up the make-up of the Gold Cup and who stands in the way of Order Of St George regaining his crown.

Royal Ascot's historic pageantry that is the royal processionCredit: Caroline Norris

Then the Queen and her iconic procession up the course will start Ascot 2018 before the Queen Anne, the first of three Group 1s on day one.

Thirsk, Stratford, Brighton, Beverley and Sligo offer the alternative action.

Wednesday

It is the same daily timescale again as the 48-hour declarations for Friday are made in the morning so we find out if Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee runs in the King Edward VII, known colloquially as Royal Ascot's Derby, or waits to be supplemented for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby eight days later.

Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee (right) remains among the King Edward VII acceptors at Royal Ascot next FridayCredit: Mark Cranham

The afternoon at Ascot is all about Cracksman in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (4.20) proving his Coronation Cup close call was merely a blip in his season.

Check out Frankie Dettori's thoughts on his Ascot contenders.

Racing also takes place at Hamilton and Uttoxeter before the evening action comes from Wexford, Chelmsford and Ripon.

Chelmsford breaks new ground on its all-weather surface with a first Listed race at the Essex venue on the first of a two-day meeting.

Thursday

Traditionally the centrepiece of Royal Ascot is Ladies' Day and the Gold Cup with the course packed to the rafters and usually the mostly lustily rendered daily singalong at the bandstand after racing.

The last-day declarations are out in the morning with the feature Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20) field eagerly awaited to see who Harry Angel will face.

After-racing entertainment around the bandstand at Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

Friday

Two more British Champions Series Group 1s with the fillies stating their case in the Coronation Stakes (4.20) after the three-year-old sprinters contest the Commonwealth Cup (3.40).

Again there is a choice of the Flat or jumps elsewhere with Redcar and Market Rasen during Ascot hours, before three Flat meetings finish the evening at Wetherby, Newmarket and Ayr.

Saturday

The fifth and final day at Ascot, but there is no let up in the class and competition for the last six races.

The Diamond Jubilee is the Group 1 centrepiece with worldwide interest generated by Australian sprinter Redkirk Warrior and Aidan O'Brien's Aussie import Merchant Navy, plus American speedball Bound For Nowhere for the Wesley Ward team.

The 30th and final race of the meeting remains whimsically the marathon that is the Queen Alexandra Stakes over 2m5½f.

It is a busy day and Northern Ireland holds the Magners Ulster Derby (3.35) at Down Royal with a couple of potential runners from Britain set to take on Aidan and Joseph O'Brien's hopes.

Redcar, Ayr, Perth, Newmarket, Lingfield and Haydock make sure there is no excuse not to enjoy a day's racing in your area.

Sunday

The Racing Post's team at Royal Ascot will have their reflections on the week as Pontefract flies the Flat racing flag with the totesport.com Pontefract Castle Fillies' Stakes (Listed Race) and Hexham and Worcester keeping jumping fans happy.

Read exclusive previews from 6pm daily on racingpost.com