So many reasons to believe more will be merrier at Royal Ascot

Could it be that 2020 actually provided us with something positive? A year we will all want to forget for so many reasons may have inadvertently led to a change for the better at Royal Ascot in June.

There will no doubt be those who think adding more races to the usual 30 at the royal meeting will chip away at the lustre of the most exclusive meeting of the Flat season but, from where I'm sitting, there are far more positives than negatives.

First, the five races set to be permanently added to the programme are all handicaps so, in theory, should have a minimal impact on the quality of the Group races over the week.