Everything you need to know for the day's six cards as Ascot takes centre stage

We are in the middle of a Classic week but Royal Ascot becomes part of the narrative from today when the course stages its first Flat meeting on 2018.

Two Group prizes and a Listed race are up for grabs with the Sagaro Stakes a recognised warm-up for the Gold Cup and the Pavilion Stakes a stepping stone to the Commonwealth Cup.

Torceder, fifth in the Gold Cup and second in the Long Distance Cup on his last visit to the course, could be the star stayer, while Invincible Army will showcase his sprinting prowess.

Pontefract and Wolverhampton provide the other afternoon Flat action while there are evening cards at Bath, Brighton and in Ireland at Dundalk.

Going report

Wolverhampton (first race at 1.50)
Standard

Ascot (2.00)
Good to soft, good in places (GoingStick: Straight: 7.7, Round: 7.1 on Monday at 08:00)

Pontefract (2.10)
Soft, good to soft in places (GoingStick: 7.2 on Wednesday at 06:15)

Brighton (4.25)
Good (GoingStick: 7.9 on Wednesday at 06:00)

Dundalk (5.30)
Standard

Bath (5.45)
Good

Market movers

3.35 Wolverhampton - Going Native 16-1 (from 20)

3.45 Ascot - Laugh A Minute 6-1 (from 13-2)

4.25 Brighton - Princess Keira 15-2 (from 10)

4.30 Pontefract - Lexington Times 10-1 (from 12)

5.05 Pontefract - Leeshaan 4-1 (from 5)

5.35 Brighton - Shrewd Approach 11-4 (from 7-2)

6.40 Brighton - All About The Pace 12-1 (from 16)

7.10 Brighton - Rainbow Jazz 11-1 (from 14)

7.50 Bath - Handytalk 4-1 (from 11-2)

8.20 Bath - Dilinger 8-1 (from 10)

What to back

Pietro Innocenzi has cast his eye away from the day's main card in search of some sure fire winners but if you fancy a bet at Ascot, Lewis Porteous will tell you his banker in ten seconds.

What to read

The build-up continues to the Guineas festival at Newmarket with Frankie Dettori now confirmed for James Garfield in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas.

He is thrilled to be riding for his friends Bill and Tim Gredley and trainer George Scott and you can read his thoughts here.

Meanwhile in the US Mendelssohn had to take a diversion on his route to Louisville but trainer Aidan O'Brien is not concerned.

What to watch

While he awaited confirmation that Dettori would be available for James Garfield, George Scott threw open his doors to the media yesterday.

Looking beyond the weekend, the Chester May meeting falls next week where local trainer Tom Dascombe is targeting a number of runners.

The best of Racing Post Sport

Liverpool are on the brink of a place in the Champions League final as they take a 5-2 lead to the Italian capital for the second-leg clash with Roma.

Dan Childs previews the match and predicts Liverpool's stike force will be too much for their opponents' comeback hopes.

Final thought

Last year's Breeders' Cup Turf could be franked on both sides of the Atlantic within a few hours on Saturday. Mendelssohn, who won the race, My Boy Jack and Flameaway go forward to the Kentucky Derby, while Masar, James Garfield and Rajashinghe represent the race at Newmarket.

Read exclusive previews from 6pm daily on racingpost.com