After a wonderful first day when Gleneagles and Solow provided vintage performances, there is disappointing news for those who were looking forward to another terrific clash on the second day (Wednesday). And that is the scratching of Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome from the Prince Of Wales's Stakes due to a foot abscess. The remaining runners might yet be able to provide an absorbing contest but a bit of the sheen has been lost. Notes on the other runners in that race were carried in these columns a couple of days ago.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday collectively contain a further 4 Group 1 events and it is to these that we now turn our attention. Before doing so, it needs to be mentioned that the RWITC Ltd.'s website has live streaming of the Channel 4 feed so those without TV coverage can log in and view all the races on the card. Incidentally, the club, which is often at the receiving end of brickbats from commentators, deserves full credit for this initiative.

For decades the race which most people wanted to win in preference to all others was the Ascot Gold Cup, a true test of stamina given that it is run over 2-1/2 miles. These days the race has lost some of its gloss but a glance at the record books shows that the list of victors includes such illustrious names as Isonomy, St. Simon, Cyllene, Bayardo, Gainsborough and Solario. In modern times, the most famous winner has been Yeats who graced the winner's enclosure for an amazing four consecutive years from 2006 to 2009. 

This year's renewal (4:20 p.m. BST on Thursday, June 18^th – 8:50 p.m. in India) has drawn 14 candidates but there could be some defections due to the prevailing fast ground. One of those who could be missing is the lightly-raced ante-post favourite Forgotten Rules (by Nayef), whose fine record reads 4 wins from as many starts. Dermot Weld’s five-year-old will take a lot of beating if he runs.

A couple of offspring of the Coolmore stalwart, Galileo, could rule the roost should Forgotten Rules find conditions not to his liking. These are the Group 3 Longines Sagaro Stakes winner Mizzou (from Luca Cumani's yard) and the Listed Seamus and Rosemary McGrath Saval Beg Stakes hero Kingfisher, a resident of Ballydoyle. The level of prowess displayed by the former seems the superior, more so as the form was franked when runner-up Vent De Force (by Hurricane Run) – who re-opposes here – landed the Group 3 Cantor Fitzgerald Investments Trusts Henry II Stakes subsequently. William Buick has been booked for the ride on Mizzou with the man of the moment, Ryan Moore, on Kingfisher.

A new Group 1 event for three-year-olds, the Commonwealth Cup (6 fur.), to go off at 3:40 p.m. on Friday, June 19^th, is a welcome addition to the sprinting opportunities for sophomores. The fine run of five wins in a row enjoyed by the pre-race favourite, Limato (by Tagula) was rudely brought to a halt last time out by Adaay (by Kodiac) in the Group 2 888sport Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock. With James Doyle returning astride Henry Candy's gelding, normal order could well be restored.

Or could it? One attempting to stand in the way will be American trainer Wesley Ward, a frequent visitor to Royal Ascot, who has had marked success there both on the track and with the opportunities for commerce that such victories provide. This time his team, which could fill half a small plane, is headed by Hootenanny (by Quality Road), winner last year of the Windsor Castle Stakes over the course. Should the Coolmore-owned colt reproduce the breathtaking style of his last effort at Keeneland, he could easily account for the opposition. Frankie Dettori will be at the controls.

A couple of fillies also demand attention – these are Tiggy Wiggy (by Kodiac), a tad disappointing this season so far, and Anthem Alexander (by Starspangledbanner), who might help to mitigate any feelings of disappointment trainer Edward Lynam might have felt with Sole Power's loss on Tuesday. The front-running Kool Kompany (by Jeremy), coming down in distance, and the progressive Adaay (by Kodiac) are others of the gargantuan 26-runner field to keep on the right side.

Forty minutes or so later the connections of Ervedya (by Siyouni) will know whether they took the right decision by coming here for the 14-runner Coronation Stakes (1 mile on the round course at 4:20 p.m.) instead of remaining in France for the Prix de Diane Longines last Sunday. In hindsight, one could say she had that event at her mercy. As the only Guineas (or equivalent) winner in the field, the Aga Khan home-bred has every chance at 7 to 2. However, if the ground is too firm, she may not start.

The market estimates the chances of a couple of Guineas runners-up as superior. Found (by Galileo), second to Pleascach in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas last month, is the best-backed runner at 2 to 1. Of course, her stable of origin (Ballydoyle) allied with the presence of the magical Ryan Moore in the saddle will have had something to do with her quote.

Also beaten by but a solitary rival in the Qipco 1000 Guineas is the 3 to 1 Lucida (by Shamardal), from the Jim Bolger stable. As the trainer of the afore-mentioned Pleascach, Bolger will probably be able to estimate the worth of Found accurately. Facile winner of the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at her only appearance this term, Arabian Queen (by Dubawi) will attempt to show that was no fluke. Silvestre De Sousa, who has an excellent record in India, will guide David Elsworth's 20 to 1 chance. Finally, expat Englishman Graham Motion would assuredly not have shipped Miss Temple City (by Temple City) 5,000 miles from Fair Hill, Maryland, without being reasonably confident of her chances.

That brings us to closing day when Australia will fire a pair of silver-tipped bullets in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 fur., 4:20 p.m. on June 20^th), with 19 left in at the time of writing. Three decades ago any hypothetical visitors from "Down Under" would have fired blanks in such a setting, but the domestic racing and breeding programmes there – open to all comers – have wrought phenomenal improvement in the calibre of the stock produced, particularly those of the short-running variety. Such progress cannot be made by carding faceless handicaps for five-year-olds and up!

Chris Waller’s 3 to 1 Brazen Beau (by I Am Invincible) will have a different rider up – after the disappointing effort put up by Able Friend, Joao Moreira has had to return to Hong Kong to fulfil other commitments. Craig Williams is his replacement but as he has ridden the speedster before, and spent a whole summer in England to boot, this should not be a disadvantage. When last seen Brazen Beau proved best of the Australian sprinters, defeating Chautauqua, Terravista, Lord Of The Sky and Lankan Rupee in the Lexus Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March. The brown colt is said to have been valued at $10 million!

Even though he hails from the famous Tulloch Lodge stables of Gai Waterhouse in Sydney, Wandjina (by Snitzel) is almost forgotten at 12 to 1. Successful over the metric mile in the Australian Guineas in March, he was runner-up in the Schweppes All-Aged Stakes over 1400 m. last time. “We wouldn't be here if we didn't think we could be competitive" said Mrs. Waterhouse. Another foreign raider is Wesley Ward's US-trained Undrafted (by Purim), who has both previous experience in England and the presence of the effervescent Frankie Dettori to boost his chances.

The European team is headed by Sheikh Hamdan's Mustajeeb (by Nayef), who comes over from Ireland, which is the homeland also of Aidan O'Brien's Due Diligence (by War Front) and Cougar Mountain (by Fastnet Rock), if he reappears after his encouraging effort on Tuesday. Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla's Gordon Lord Byron (by Byron) is another from the Emerald Isle in the fray but won't have his preferred soft ground.