Glad rags on and star runners aplenty as Royal Ascot opens up to thousands

'Freedom Day' has shuffled off into the distance, like the Aintree winning post that Crisp was trying to reach, but there has been no move to rein back on admission plans for Royal Ascot, may the good God be praised. It means 12,000 people will be donning their glad rags each day from now until the weekend and travelling in hope to the best week's Flat racing anywhere.

No one imagines this is a return to normality but there are aspects of normality that will not be missed, like the mile-long queue for a train back to Waterloo or baking in a stationary car on the Windsor road. Not even the depredations of Covid can have made many people nostalgic for those ordeals, although they did provide a useful alibi for anyone inclined to socialise in the car parks until nightfall.

With a bit of luck, those are things we will all have to worry about next summer. For now, the gilded 12,000 will be gifted a glamorous venue that can hold six times as many and invited to luxuriate in their presence at an actual live sporting event.

We are not yet where we hoped to be but a crowd of that size will bring meaning as well as mirth to proceedings. Jubilant jockeys seeking to make the most of career-defining seconds can take affirmation from their cheering and share in the joy, rather than being reduced to mugging for solo cameramen, as was the case at Cheltenham just three months ago.

Royal Ascot Tuesday card

And what a parade of equine talent has been laid on for those lucky enough to get a ticket. The opening Queen Anne Stakes alone has three runners who already have Royal Ascot Group 1 wins to their name. Having to take a lateral flow test can get right up your nose, but surely this is fair reward for brief discomfort?

The undoubted star of today's opening show is Palace Pier, unbeaten except for a single day when the going was measured in fathoms. Ascot's lovingly nurtured turf could never be subjected to an adjective like 'parched' but surely the recent warmth will have made it the perfect platform for this elegant individual to show off a bit, despite the best efforts of those popular veterans Accidental Agent and Lord Glitters.

At the age of seven, Battaash now merits the prefix 'good old' but he will try to put the kids in their place in the King's Stand. Poetic Flare, who was not foaled but quarried, lines up for his fourth Group 1 since the start of last month in the St James's Palace. He resisted the late charge of Lucky Vega by mere inches in the 2,000 Guineas. Can he confirm the form after such a hectic schedule?

Battaash: will bid to put the kds in their place in the King's StandCredit: Alan Crowhurst

A thrilling Prince of Wales's Stakes has been put together as tomorrow's centrepiece, thanks in large part to Aidan O'Brien's willingness to field both Armory and Love, either one offering several open goals for the headline writers. Lord North, an emphatic winner of last year's race and now a millionaire through victory in the Dubai Turf, may not even start favourite.

There is not much question about whether his stable will field the favourite in Thursday's Gold Cup. But which version will we see of Stradivarius, imperious or ponderous?

The race is spiced up by the possible presence of two Derby winners from last year, Serpentine and Santiago, both of whom are in need of another success to shore up their reputations. Mohaafeth took some of the interest from this year's Derby when he was a late non-runner; his backers will get a glimpse of what they could have won in the Hampton Court Stakes.

ITV Racing tips: one key runner from each race on ITV on day one at Royal Ascot

Suesa will try to become the first French-trained winner of the Commonwealth Cup on Friday, no small task in times of Covid and Brexit. From Ireland come two Guineas winners in Mother Earth and Empress Josephine to contest the same day's Coronation Stakes, and Starman could round off the week by blazing up the straight course in Saturday's Diamond Jubilee.

Our opening-day card features 117 declared runners and why would it be otherwise, with £6m in prize-money on offer this week, a significant bounce-back from the reduced levels of last year. With the extra handicaps, provided for those who find Group races too easy to solve, the royal meeting now sets seven puzzles per day and anyone who goes through the card can reasonably ask for their statue to replace Frankie's by the gates. Be lucky!

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Tuesday's Royal Ascot previews:

2.30 Royal Ascot: 'Palace Pier looks like the best miler for a long time but Ascot suits us'

3.05 Royal Ascot: US filly Kaufymaker bids to become first female Coventry winner for 105 years

3.40 Royal Ascot: can Battaash make it six out of six first time out? Graeme Rodway gives his view

4.20 Royal Ascot: 'I think he has a big chance' – will Guineas hero Poetic Flare strike at Ascot?

4.20 Royal Ascot: can one-of-a-kind Jim Bolger pull off more Group 1 heroics with Poetic Flare? (Members' Club)

5.00 Royal Ascot: Rachael Blackmore bids for more big-race glory – but this time she's on the Flat

5.35 Royal Ascot: 'I can't believe his price' – find out who's bullish before the Wolferton

6.10 Royal Ascot: can Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore strike with ante-post punt Saldier?

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