The highlight of Europe's turf calendar is the five day Royal Ascot meeting held at Ascot in Berkshire, England. Almost all the top-class Thoroughbreds in training in England, Ireland and France, as also a few from further afield, will see racing action. This preview summarizes the main Pattern Races on the agenda on the first two days. All times given are Indian Standard Time.

Tuesday, June 17^th

Queen Anne Stakes (Gr.1; 8 fur.), 7:00 p.m.

10 older milers face off here in this mouth-watering clash. Despite the presence in the field of the high-class Toronado (by High Chaparral), making his seasonal debut here under Richard Hughes, Coolmore have been very bullish about the prospects of the US-raced Verrazano (by More Than Ready), to be ridden by Joseph O'Brien. Of course Toronado cannot be ignored – he has been the subject of glowing reports and is odds-on in some places. However, the fact that Ballydoyle's Magician has been re-routed away from here in favour of Verrazano suggests that the chocolate brown winner of the Gr.1 Haskell Invitational and the Gr.1 Wood Memorial is considered to be very special.

Aiming to spoil the party is Freddie Head, who has supplemented Goldikova's full-brother, Anodin (by Anabaa), and sent him over from France. Others to watch out for are the South African-bred Soft Falling Rain (by National Assembly) and the Hannon second string Producer (by Dutch Art), the mount of Ryan Moore.

King's Stand Stakes (Gr.1; 5 fur.), 8:15 p.m.

Often the target of Australian speedsters, this year's renewal is missing runners of that ilk from amongst the 17 declared. An interesting overseas challenger is the American-raced Ancil (by City Zip) – unless the aroma of strawberries and champagne has woken him up, he has no chance whatsoever on a bare reading of his form. The principal contenders are last year's winner, Sole Power (by Kyllachy), with Hughes booked, as that gelding's regular rider Moore partners Aidan O'Brien's exciting three-year-old Guerre (by War Front) instead; Qatar Racing's consistent Hot Streak (by Iffraaj), favoured with Jamie Spencer choosing the three-year-old over the same owner's Pearl Secret (by Compton Place); and the 2013 runner-up, the high-flying South African sprinter, Shea Shea (by National Emblem), continuing his partnership with Christophe Soumillon in a bid to gain revenge over Sole Power.

St. James's Palace  Stakes (Gr.1; 8 fur.), 8:55 p.m.

Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated battle is the resumption of the rivalry between the leading three-year-old milers, with seven in opposition, particularly in light of the fact that events have shown the 2014 running of the Qipco 2000 Guineas to have been a truly "hot" race. The answer to the question of whether Juddmonte's Kingman (by Invincible Spirit), runner-up in that event, is better than his conqueror Night Of Thunder (by Dubawi) or whether one of the also-rans like Toormore (by Arakan) or War Command (by War Front) had an off day at Newmarket will become known once this race is run. James Doyle, Hughes, Moore and O'Brien are the respective riders of this quartet.

Wednesday, June 18^th

Jersey Stakes (Gr.3; 7 fur.), 7:00 p.m.

A mind-boggling 44 have accepted for this informative event! Of course, not all will run and at this distance of time, one can do no more than make a short list. Prominent on that compilation is the the unlucky Lightning Thunder (by Dutch Art), runner-up in two fillies' classics over a mile under Harry Bentley for the Ollie Stevens yard. The shorter trip should suit her better. Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien, with his son able to make the weight, is aiming for a hat trick in this event and their nominee this time is Giovanni Boldini (by War Front). Next, John Gosden's Muwaary (by Oasis Dream), the likely mount of Paul Hanagan, fits the profile perfectly.

Assuming that lightly-raced unbeaten sorts have more to give than may readily be evident leads to the conclusion that runners like That Is The Spirit (by Invincible Spirit) and Muteela (by Dansili) could pop up at the business end. Incidentally, previous winners of this race include the Pratap Stud stalwart, Tecorno[USA], along with current incumbents Strong Suit[USA] (Manjri Horse Breeders Farm) and Tariq[GB] (Equus Stud).

Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Gr.1; 10 fur.) 8:15 p.m.

This race features several of the best older horses in training, and the eleven runners include one of the very best, Treve (by Motivator), who will hope to regain the lustre she enjoyed last year when unbeaten. Narrowly touched off by the great Cirrus des Aigles (by Even Top) last time out in the Prix Ganay in April, the Al Shaqab Racing-owned four-year-old ought to be able to return to winning ways. At this stage, Frankie Dettori has been pencilled in for the ride.

Hoping to thwart her bid are Magician (by Galileo), from Ballydoyle and Mukhadram (by Shamardal), trained in Newmarket by William Haggas, who are accompanied by a pair of leading members of the distaff set, Dank, from Sir Michael Stoute's barn and John Gosden's The Fugue. Like so many other good fillies this year, these two are daughters of Dansili. Nor can one neglect last year's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby hero, Trading Leather (by Teofilo), now plying his trade under the Godolphin banner.

Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Gr.2; 8 fur.) 8:55 p.m.

Seventeen older fillies and mares are engaged in this absorbing tussle. The protagonists who fought out the finish of the Qipco 1000 Guineas last year, Sky Lantern (by Red Clubs) and Just The Judge (by Lawman) are back to vie for supremacy. One who could not face them last year due to the Al Zarooni scandal unfolding at the time was Godolphin's Certify (by Elusive Quality) – she could well have gone close then and will hope to prove that here. Later developers like Integral (by Dalakhani) and Fiesolana (by Aussie Rules), both in good form, are joined by Esoterique (by Danehill Dancer) from France and Purr Along (by Mount Nelson) from Ireland.

There is another challenger of note from France. It would be fair to state that Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla would have hoped for more from his €900,000 purchase, Kenhope (by Kendargent), than she has delivered so far. That said, the mount of Olivier Peslier from Henri-Alex Pantall's stables showed signs of revival last time out when a close third to Mondialiste at Saint-Cloud 26 days ago, and it must be remembered that she was runner-up to Sky Lantern here last year.

Photo Courtesy http://www.ascot.co.uk/