Royal Ascot dates, tickets, TV details plus tips for each day’s feature race

There is no other race meeting in the calendar which resonates more around the world than Royal Ascot.

It’s not only a major destination in the racing year, it’s a not-to-be-missed event in the social calendar. Over five days of top class horse racing, champions will be crowned in front of the King Charles and Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family and their guests.

Off the track the occasion is a colourful blend of high fashion, pageantry and style which attracts many famous faces and celebrities.

Racing has taken place at the Berkshire track since 1711 with the fixture which became known as Royal Ascot evolving into a four-day event, now five, from 1768.

When is Royal Ascot?

Royal Ascot will take place over five consecutive days from Tuesday, June 18 to Saturday, June 22.

There will be seven races each day with the first race at 2.30pm and the last at 6.15.

The Royal procession traditionally arrives at 2pm when the King and Queen travel by horse- drawn carriage from Windsor Castle through the Ascot gates and up the racecourse to the enclosures.

How can I get tickets?

There are three main public enclosures at Ascot, the Queen Anne Enclosure, Village Enclosure and Windsor Enclosure, but tickets are selling out fast.

The Queen Anne Enclosure in the Grandstand is already sold out on Thursday and Saturday. There is very limited availability on Tuesday and Wednesday and limited availability on Friday. Tickets cost from £90.

The Village Enclosure (from £85), which is on the inside of the course, provides live music from Thursday to Saturday when tickets are also limited.

There is good availability in the Windsor Enclosure (from £49) where there is no formal dress code, on Friday but limited space on the other four days.

Where can I watch Royal Ascot?

ITV will provide exclusive terrestrial coverage and show every race live each day

The meeting will also be available in full to subscribers of Sky Sports Racing.

What are the main races?

There will be eight Group 1 races, events for elite horses, over the week and three on the first day.

Tuesday, 3.45 King Charles II Stakes
This championship sprint, previously known as the King’s Stand Stakes, has been renamed this year in honour of the King. It’s been a magnet for Australian sprinters who have won the race five times this century. They are back again this time with the mare ASFOORA (8-1). A warm-up race at Haydock should have put her right for his main challenge.

Wednesday, 4.25 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes
Last year’s Derby winner AUGUSTE RODIN (7-2) can be brilliant one day, terrible the next. This year he flopped in Dubai in March but ran much better behind White Birch at the Curragh. There should be a lot more to come from him at Ascot.

Thursday,4.25 Gold Cup
Royal Ascot’s oldest race, first run in 1807, is a two-mile marathon which traditionally anoints the champion stayer. KYPRIOS (4-5) claimed the title in 2022 but missed last year’s race owing to an injury setback. He has looked back to his best in two runs this year and with defending champion Courage Mon Ami missing, he is the one to beat.

Friday, 3.05 Commonwealth Cup
ELITE STATUS (7-1) went off favourite for the Norfolk Stakes last year but could only finish third. He won next time out before his form tailed off. He ran out a very impressive winner at Newbury first time out in a race notable for having produced last year’s Commonwealth Cup winner Shaquille.

Saturday,3.45 Hardwicke Stakes
Multiple Group 1-winning mare EMILY UPJOHN (7-1) has been some way short of her best so far this year but this race has become her first main target of the summer after defeats in Dubai and at Epsom. It’s a must win for the five-year-old.