No pomp, no pageantry, no post-bandstand sing-a-long for the punters.
This is going to be a Royal Ascot like no other!
Horse racing fans are lucky that the world's most famous meeting is taking place at all.
Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, major sporting events worldwide have taken a pounding over the past three months with abandonments left, right, and centre.
Today's expanded five-day meeting will be staged under strict conditions and behind closed doors, where the finishes will be played out to eerily empty grandstands.
But that won't diminish the quality of the racing, even if the preparation for many of this week's equine Olympians has been far from straightforward.
Royal Ascot is the largest sporting event in the world to receive the green light to take place since lockdown was imposed and the racecourse is going all-out to get virtual racegoers involved.
From the UK, you can follow just about all the action on terrestrial TV c/o ITV Racing, so all you need now are a few winners to wash down the fizz.
Hopefully Philippos can deliver. Good luck. I'm here all week! (Follow me on Twitter: @moneyandmedia).
PHILIPPOS
Royal Ascot Tuesday 16 June 2020
Going: good (with potential showers forecast)
As these are crazy Covid times, I'll be suggesting three different bets per race: a selection with a good chance of winning; an each-way suggestion capable of out-running his or her odds; plus an "exotic", a combination bet that can produce huge dividends for a small outlay.
Eg, a 50p combination exacta of three different horses (that requires two of the three selections to place first and second) costs £3. A 50p combination trifecta of three horses costs the same, but you need to place first, second AND third.
NAP: Glass Slippers
NB: Daarik
1.15 Buckingham Palace Handicap 7f
A tricky opener where about half the field are yet to have run in this topsy-turvy season. May pay not to look past the blindingly obvious.
Win: Daarik
Each-way: Motakhayyel
Life-changer: combination exacta Daarik; Motakhayyel; Habub
1.50 Queen Anne Stakes Group 1 1 mile
The top-class action starts here. Upsets are not unheard of in this race and it wouldn't be a mega-surprise if the fancied runners were turned over by something lurking further down the betting market.
Win: Terebellum
Each-way: Mustashry
Life-changer: combination trifecta, Terebellum; Mustashry; Duke Of Hazzard
2.25 Ribblesdale Stakes Group 2 1 mile 4 furlongs
Usually regarded as something of a consolation race for the 3yo fillies who didn't give of their best in the Oaks run at Epsom. But the Oaks hasn't been run yet this year! It's been shunted back to 4 July.
Win: Frankly Darling
Each-way: Ennistymon
Life-changer: combination trifecta, Frankly Darling; Ennistymon; Hold Fast
3.00 King Edward VII Stakes Group 2 1 mile 4 furlongs
A similar story to the Ribblesdale. This race often comprises 3yo colts who didn't adjust terribly well to the rigours of the Derby at Epsom. But as with the Oaks, the Derby isn't being run until the start of July in this topsy-turvy season.
Win: Mogul
Win: Mohican Heights
Life-changer: only six runners declared so we'll pass this time
3.35 King's Stand Stakes Group 1 5f
A race for the sport's speedballs. The big question is whether the hot favourite, Battaash, will finally have all the conditions in his favour to run a big race. He's come up short at Ascot more than once in the past.
Win: Glass Slippers
Each-way: Sergei Prokofiev
Game-changer: combination trifecta, Glass Slippers, Sergei Prokofiev; Battaash
4.10 Duke of Cambridge Stakes Group 2 1 mile
Features last year's Coronation Stakes third, Jubiloso, but there may be more juice to squeeze from other selections.
Win: Queen Power
Each-way: Invitational
Life-changer: combination exacta Queen Power; Invitational; Miss O'Connor
4.40 Ascot Stakes Handicap 2 miles 4 furlongs
One of the longest flat races in the calendar. Jumps trainers tend to do well in a contest that requires a horse with stamina in abundance.
Win: Summer Moon
Each-way: Rochester House
Life-changer: combination exacta, Summer Moon, Rochester House, Verdana Blue
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