Royal Ascot

Twice cruelly denied by his nemesis Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the last two runnings of the G1 King's Stand S., Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was on Tuesday the undisputed ruler of Royal Ascot's five-furlong strip of verdant racing ground to provide the opener's undisputed highlight. Out of the first four for only the second time in his career when last seen trailing in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, Shadwell's 6-year-old may have had a slight question mark over his head as he exited the stalls but...

In the midst of some predictable results on Royal Ascot's opener, there was the shock of a hammer blow to some big reputations as the 18-1 shot Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) took the G2 King Edward VII S. without any hint of fluke. Largely disregarded despite flashing talent at two and when runner-up in the June 3 G3 Classic Trial at Kempton, Guy and Hugh Leach and Roger Devlin's bay was also low-profile in the race itself, anchored towards the rear early by Martin Dwyer along with the 10-11...

Narrowly denied in the Queen Anne, Frankie Dettori was quick to gain compensation getting off the mark at Royal Ascot 2020 on Anthony Oppenheimer's Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G2 Ribblesdale S. Free early despite being provided with an ideal lead from Golden Lips (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), the 11-8 favourite who scored at Newcastle on the opening day of the season June 1 nevertheless had abundant fuel when committed at the two-furlong pole. Chased up the straight by Ennistymon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the homebred had already sealed...

Forget Junes in years past. Forget the top hat and tailcoat. Forget the long airline flight to London. Forget the face mask and gloves. It's a new world in 2020 for those who love top-quality horse racing and believe that "mass follows class" on both sides of the Atlantic. Now in the light of COVID-19, the unique Royal Ascot meet will take place on the same heath behind closed doors for the first time since 1711, when Queen Anne decreed that the beautiful flatland just a mile or so from...

Royal Ascot, which will feature 36 races for the first time as the coronavirus results in a spectatorless meeting, will reach over 120 countries via television broadcasts, Ascot Racecourse announced on Monday. ITV1 in the UK will display the iconic, five-day meeting, while the royal meeting will also be available in America, Australia, the Middle East, India, the Caribbean and Europe. ITV will cover 30 races on their main channel. Sky Sports Racing, reaching 14 million homes in the UK and Ireland, will broadcast all 36 races, and the Royal...

Despite the lack of spectators throughout its five-day run due to the coronavirus, Royal Ascot will still offer awards for the leading jockey, trainer and owner. Last year's champion jockey Frankie Dettori will face fellow past champion Ryan Moore among others, but unique to 2020, there will be no transferable armband for the leading jockey throughout the meeting. Aidan O'Brien, a 10-time winner of the Leading Trainer Award, faces previous winners Sir Michael Stoute, John Gosden, Mark Johnston and Saeed bin Suroor. Created in 2017, the Royal Ascot Leading Owner...

It's Royal Ascot once again, but not as we know it. No crowds, no fashion, no Queen. It is a case of "Royal Ascot At Home" for virtually everybody this year, even for the main players whose money makes it all possible. That said, at least there is still Frankie, Aidan O'Brien, Wesley Ward, Sir Michael Stoute and Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and all the other working equine and human cast and crew that make this week so special. One of Britain's most brilliant racehorses of recent years, Battaash...

TVG will offer complete coverage of this week's Royal Ascot meeting. Coverage, presented by Lane's End Farm, will feature analysis and insight from Scott Hazelton who will be covering the races remotely from Los Angeles, California. First post time Tuesday through Friday is 8:15 a.m. ET and first post Saturday is 7:40 a.m. "I was at Royal Ascot the last four years and it provides incredible handicapping challenges and wonderful payoffs in big fields," said Hazelton. "It is the best week of the year for racing given the international interest...

Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) will bypass Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. in favour of the G1 Diamond Jubilee on the final day of Royal Ascot. The winner of four of five career races, the Hilltop Racing representative posted a three-length tally most recently in the Listed Woodlands S. at Naas June 8. Trainer Denis Hogan tweeted: "After discussing with @RacingHilltop +jockeys, weighing up all options, we have decided in the best interest and welfare of the horse--and considering long season ahead--to skip the King's Stand in favour of...

Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will miss the chance to renew his rivalry with Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) after being removed from consideration for the June 18 G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. A tweet from Ballydoyle on Friday morning read, "We weren't 100% happy with Kew Gardens this morning and he will not be entered in the Ascot Gold Cup." The winner of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 St Leger at three, Kew Gardens was runner-up in the G1 Coronation Cup and G1 Irish...

Kenzai Warrior (Karakontie {Jpn}) will attempt to make amends for a luckless G1 2000 Guineas run at Royal Ascot next week, but connections have yet to decide in which race. Last year's G3 Horris Hill S. winner jumped in the air at the start of the Guineas before winding up ninth, and holds entries in both the G1 St James's Palace S. over that same mile trip and the G2 King Edward VII S. over 12 furlongs. "I have got to discuss it with his owners and [jockey] Jason Watson,...

Ascot Racecourse has unveiled details of its virtual owner experience for next week's Royal Ascot meeting behind closed doors. The racecourse has launched a Racing Hub that will house the Turftrax live feed to real time weather data and going stick readings, access to a 360 degree parade ring camera feed and full sectionals from each race. Ascot's official photographer will photograph every horse in the parade ring. Owners will receive a pair of traditional printed Royal Ascot racecards in advance of racedays, personalised with the name of their horse....