Going updates The five-day extravaganza that is Royal Ascot gets underway this afternoon with the going sure to be on the soft side following a wet lead up to the flat racing showpiece. The ground is officially described as soft this morning following a further 4mm of rain overnight, and the forecast is for further showers today. The action clicks into top gear straight away with the Queen Anne Stakes at 2.30pm, while there are two further Group 1 races on this afternoon's card with the King's Stand Stakes and the St James's Palace Stakes. There are 22 Irish-trained runners on day one with the likes of The Gurkha and Awtaad (St James's Palace), Endless Drama (Queen Anne) and Caravaggio (Coventry Stakes) all holding strong claims. Meanwhile on the domestic front, the going is currently good ahead of tomorrow's jumping fixture at Wexford. There was 5mm of rain overnight at the south-east venue, and further rain is forecast.
