Royal Ascot set to start on good to firm ground with watering in progress

The going at Ascot is good to firm, good in places and clerk of the course Chris Stickels believes the royal meeting will begin on a variation of that description on Tuesday.

Watering has taken place to maintain the state of the ground, with the week largely forecast to be warm and dry.

He said: "We're good to firm, good in places and we're watering. We put 5mm on the round course and we're putting 10mm on the straight today.

"It's generally drying conditions. We've got warm, dry breezy weather until Monday and then maybe a bit cloudier on Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures are set to rise as the week goes on so the odd light shower won't go amiss.

"We'll review track conditions once the water has gone in and really we're just replacing what is lost through C. I anticipate starting on a mixture of good to firm and good ground."

The meeting is set to get underway with the Queen Anne Stakes (2.30), in which unbeaten superstar Baaeed will bid for a fourth Group 1 victory.

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