The historic meeting is regarded by many as one of England’s last bastions of pomp, pageantry and tradition. In the royal enclosure, gentlemen are still required to wear top hat and tails.
But while many will use the event as a social occasion to continue the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the equine action on the track is what matters most to racing fans.
Thirty-five races, including eight Group Ones, spread across five days (Tuesday to Saturday), with some of the best horses in the world competing for record prize money of £8.6 million. That adds up to the best week of racing on the planet.
For the first time since 2019 and the Covid-19 pandemic, capacity crowds will be back at Ascot this year. It is uncertain whether the Queen herself will make it, although she has two or three fancied runners, but the fields will include international raiders from France, Ireland, Australia, the USA, Germany and even Czechoslovakia.
You can watch every race on ITV or ITV4, and also Sky Sports Racing. And to give you a taste of what’s to come, we’ve picked out 13 horses to look out for. Not tips, but horses likely to steal the limelight as the week progresses.
9. Perfect Power
An attempt to stretch his stamina to 1m backfired in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, but Perfect Power is back to sprinting in the 6f Commonwealth Cup for three-year-olds on Friday, and his explosive turn of foot could prove decisive. Ehraz and Flaming Rib are two dangerous opponents, but trainer Richard Fahey is confident Christophe Soumillion can steer his colt home. (PHOTO BY: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
10. Inspiral
The best performance of the season so far came from Homeless Songs in winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas. But she looks likely to miss Friday's Coronation Stakes because of fast ground, so the focus is now on John Gosden's undefeated filly Inspiral. This will be her first run of the season but, last year, the daughter of Frankel thrashed Cachet, the subsequent winner of the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas. (PHOTO BY: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images). Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
11. Hurricane Lane
Hurricane Lane (pictured centre), owned by Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby, was one of the stars of last term, winning the Irish Derby and St Leger and finishing third in both the Derby and the Arc. His return to the track is eagerly awaited in Saturday's Hardwicke Stakes when the drop to Group Two level should be right up his street. (PHOTO BY: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
12. Home Affairs
As well as Nature Strip on Tuesday, the Aussies are very much looking forward to another of their ace sprinters, Home Affairs, in Saturday's Platinum Jubilee Stakes. He's only three, but trainer Chris Waller, who saddled the amazing mare Winx to a world-record 28 Group One wins between 2014 and 2019, raves about his ability and potential. (PHOTO BY: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images). Photo: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images