ROYAL ASCOT 15-19 June
Coverage: First five races daily on BBC TV and BBC Sport website (UK users only), big-race commentaries on BBC Radio 5 live
 Goldikova has twice won at the Breeders' Cup meeting
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French jockey Olivier Peslier will try to seal a big-race double on the first day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday.
Peslier is on Makfi in the St James's Palace Stakes and hopes to double up on Goldikova in the Queen Anne Stakes.
Christophe Lemaire, who won the 2,000 Guineas on Makfi, has been retained by the Aga Khan to ride Siyouni instead.
The course expects 70,000 racegoers for each of the five days of what is traditionally a big highlight in the British Flat racing calendar.
Going at the course is expected to be good, good to firm in places, with the weather likely to stay dry all week.
The Queen is guaranteed the usual mix of top-quality racing and high fashion, with the action starting in the Queen Anne Stakes at 1430 BST.
French mare Goldikova will take on Paco Boy, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Rip Van Winkle and Godolphin hope Calming Influence.
Goldikova, twice a winner at the Breeders' Cup meeting in the United States, has only once finished out of the once in 16 starts.
She has won 11 races, including eight Group One contests.
Trainer Freddie Head said: "I think she is very well and I have her in very good condition.
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"Everything has been going to plan since her last run and I expect her to run a great race on Tuesday.
"It is hard to say if she is better than ever as she has been so good, but I would think she is in the best shape I have ever had her.
O'Brien had admitted a lack of fitness could count against Rip Van Winkle, who won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in September 2009.
"Because he hasn't had a run this year, we are genuinely worried about his fitness, as most of our horses usually come on a good bit from their first run," he said.
Sir Michael Stoute's Kingsgate Native is among the favourites for the King's Stand Stakes at 1505 BST, the Ascot leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.
Ryan Moore, fresh from an Epsom Classic double on Snow Fairy and Workforce, rides the five-year-old.
Three-time champion jockey Moore is the bookmakers' favourite to be top rider at the 2010 Royal meeting.
His main opposition in the five-furlong dash could come from Australian sprinter Nicconi, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Nicconi's trainer, David Hayes, said: "Frankie sat on him the other day for the first time and I think he was pretty happy. They went fast and he gave him a good feel."
"He is undefeated over five furlongs. I have also been dying to put a visor on him for two years and he'll wear one for the first time."
Tuesday's third Group One race is the St James's Palace Stakes at 1550 BST when Makfi will lock horns again with the Richard Hannon-trained pair of Dick Turpin and Canford Cliffs, who were second and third behind him in the Guineas.
 Nic Fiddian-Green's giant sculpture is lifted into place at Ascot
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Canford Cliffs has since won the Irish 2,000 Guineas while Dick Turpin was just pipped to the post in the French equivalent.
Final preparations at the course included lifting a 22-foot tall sculpture of a horse's head, by Nic Fiddian-Green, into place.
It will tower over the Royal Enclosure and Mr Fiddian-Green said: "I hope the Queen will enjoy it. She has seen images but not the real thing."
Ascot chief executive Charles Barnett has told the BBC: "I think we will have a slightly bigger crowd than last year."
He said he was pleased with ticket sales for the event, despite the competing attraction of the World Cup. England's second game, against Algeria, is on the Friday night.
Mastercraftsman wins 2009 St James's Palace Stakes (UK users only)
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