Despite the advent of racing carnivals around the globe, the most famous and prestigious programme of top-class horse racing worldwide remains the Royal Meeting held each June at Ascot in Berkshire, England. Queen Anne, monarch of England from 1702 to 1714, was responsible for instituting the first meetings at the venue and over the years the programme has morphed into an action-packed five-day extravaganza that showcases the best of the turf.

The opening event is the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over 1 mile at 2:30 p.m. local this afternoon and the programme concludes with the 30th race of the meeting – the marathon Queen Alexandra Stakes, run over 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 159 yards, at 5:35 p.m. local on Saturday.

Intense rivalry is a feature of the curtain-raiser with two of the world's top milers engaged – Canford Cliffs (by Tagula) and Goldikova (by Anabaa) – in the field of seven. Neither has been beaten since August last year and although the latter is the defending champion, the former seems hard to beat in his current form, more so as Richard Hughes will be aboard Richard Hannon's star pupil. However, some rain in the past 48 hours, allied to the prospect of some more, might shift the balance towards the latter as she acts well even with some give in the ground. After all, she has won 13 of her 18 Group 1 starts! Of the rest, Cape Blanco (by Galileo), Cityscape (by Selkirk) and Rio de la Plata (by Rahy) can be considered for the minor placings.

Although the next race, the King's Stand Stakes is also a Group 1 event, there is a slight drop in the quality as there are no stand-outs amongst the 19 runners. The 5-furlong dash has gone to a runner trained outside Britain in 5 of the last 10 years and could do so again. Very interesting runners like the American duo of Bridgetown (by Speightstown) – who will be American champion trainer Todd Pletcher's first ever participant in England – and Holiday For Kitten (by Kitten's Joy), handled by Wesley Ward, will be joined by the Hungarian ace Overdose (by Starborough), who has 15 wins from 17 starts to his credit, the Australian-trained favourite Star Witness (by Starcraft) and the Hong Kong challenger Sweet Sanette (by Jallad). Kingsgate Native (by Mujadil), from the yard of Sir Michael Stoute, heads the home defence, while Sole Power (by Kyllachy) is the best of the Irish.

This will be followed by a mouth-watering clash of nine three-year-old colts in the Group 1 St. James's Palace Stakes (1 mile) where the unbeaten Frankel (by Galileo) takes on his compatriots. As any fan of the turf knows, last time out Frankel trounced a dozen rivals in the Qipco 2000 Guineas, beating Dubawi Gold (by Dubawi), who reopposes here, by six lengths. Earlier in the season, Prince Khalid Abdullah's pride and joy had taken care of Excelebration (Exceed And Excel), also in today's field, who went on to score in the Mehl Muhlens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) by 7 lengths.

Last year's second-best juvenile colt in England, Dream Ahead (by Diktat), who will finally get the ground he has been keenly awaiting, adds pep to the mix. And the ultimate garnish could well be provided by the Japanese-trained invader, Grand Prix Boss (by Sakura Bakushin O), coming off a win in the NHK Mile. Surely he has not travelled halfway across the world merely to add to the numbers...

However, Frankel should not get beaten. His astute schooler, recently knighted Sir Henry Cecil, had this to say: "I'd love him to continue to be a champion because racing needs horses like Sea The Stars, Mill Reef and Arkle." He added: "He's more complicated than most horses. He's very sensible in most cases, but he does want to get on with things and you've just got to ease off a little." A note of caution followed: "In any Group One you've got to respect the opposition. It's not going to be easy, but I'd love to see him win and to carry on. There's no such thing as a certainty, but I'll be disappointed if he doesn't win."

Wednesday's highlight is the Group 1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes (10 fur.). Six older runners oppose the star Southern Hemisphere hope, New Zealand-bred So You Think (by High Chaparral), now with Aidan O'Brien. The amazingly consistent runner – who has run to a rating of 128 or 129 at each of his last five starts – has transferred his form from Australia to Ireland, looking imperious at both his European appearances. He is at "half-money" to take care of the likes of Twice Over (by Observatory), the French ace Planteur (by Danehill Dancer) and Godolphin's coming-down-in-distance Rewilding (by Tiger Hill).

Sixteen have accepted for the feature of the entire meeting, the famed Ascot Gold Cup (Group 1). While the field lacks a runner of the mass appeal of Yeats (by Sadler's Wells), who made history by becoming the first horse ever to win this race four times in succession, it has gained lustre by drawing Fame And Glory (by Montjeu), the 2009 Irish Derby winner. Hopefully, this move on the part of trainer Aidan O'Brien to try out a Derby winner over longer will be emulated in the future as well. Should the five-year-old see out the 2½ mile trip – never certain until attempted – he ought to score. Motrice (by Motivator), Brigantin (by Cozzene) and Holberg (by Halling) are others worthy of consideration.

Friday's Group 1 is the Coronation Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1 mile. In the absence of the winners of the English, Irish and French Guineas, there are a number of imponderables in the field of 14. Will Memory (by Danehill Dancer) take a level start? Can More Than Real (by More Than Ready) transfer her American form to Britain? Can Together (by Galileo) overcome the effects of an arduous campaign (this will be her twelfth lifetime start)? Whatever the outcome, it should be an absorbing spectacle.

As many as 26 are left in at the time of writing for the final Group 1 of the meeting, the Golden Jubilee Stakes (6 fur.). Several of the runners from the King's Stand will take their chances again, but one newcomer who could trouble them all is Delegator (by Dansili). Deprived of the chance of being ridden by Frankie Dettori – who stands suspended for the last two days of the meeting – the talented colt will be steered by the in-form Mickael Barzalona. Having been successfully recalibrated from being a miler to being a sprinter, Godolphin's big hope might yet find Elzaam (by Redoubte's Choice), as well as any of the repeat runners, a shade too fast.