Racing: Bowman braced to bring down Ferguson's favourite

It may seem like sacrilege, or even professional suicide, but this year they have changed Royal Ascot, perhaps the most sellable commodity on the turf. Whoever thought of the phrase "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", will now witness the sporting embodiment of their theory, as several substantial amendments come into play.

There will still be top-class racing this week of course and pageantry, from the monarch down to her well-decorated subjects. But in this, the Golden Jubilee year, we go in with sloganeering which could be borrowed from a tabloid newspaper or a cereal packet: Royal Ascot is going to be bigger, better and even more popular.

For 2002 only there will be six extra races spread across the meeting: The Henry Carnarvon Stakes (a Saturday six-furlong Listed event), the Wolferton Stakes (Friday, 10 furlongs, Listed handicap), the Balmoral Stakes (today, five furlongs, handicap), the Hampton Court Stakes (Thursday, 10 furlongs, Listed), the Buckingham Palace Stakes (Friday, seven furlongs, handicap) and the Sandringham Stakes (Saturday, one mile, handicap).

In addition, the former Cork & Orrery Stakes (the cork and 'orrible to us in the cheap seats) is to be renamed the Golden Jubilee Stakes and accorded Group One status. This, for a single year only, will be the centrepiece of Saturday's card, which, in itself for this unique year, will also be deemed a part of Royal Ascot.

These changes not only honour The Queen, but also the embarrassed few who used to turn up at the Saturday Heath meeting resplendent yet foolish in their morning suit. This year at least you do not have to count or remember the days. Just keep putting the topper on.

The Golden Gates swing open for the first time this afternoon to admit the Royal procession for what is traditionally one of the strongest day's racing at the meeting.

At this point there is also great interest in who is to be the winner of the London Clubs Trophy for the leading jockey over the five days. Michael Kinane, thanks to his association with the Ballydoyle stable of Aidan O'Brien, is an odds-on, now unbackable, favourite.

The most interesting figure in the lists is Kieren Fallon, the champion jockey, who finds himself increasingly frozen out this season. The Irishman has three uninspiring rides towards the tail of today's card and does not participate at all in the first three, including the feature, the St James's Palace Stakes.

The Group One contest sees Alex Ferguson's Rock Of Gibraltar on the road to his fifth successive victory at the highest level. While O'Brien has won the last two runnings of this race – with Giant's Causeway in 2000 and Black Minnaloushe 12 months ago – it may be that his main representative this time is badly priced. Rock Of Gibraltar was undoubtedly drawn on the advantageous side in the 2,000 Guineas, while his victory in the Irish equivalent was in a poor race by Classic standards.

The Rock will be abetted by Landseer and Sahara Desert, who cut out pacemaking duties for the victorious Landseer in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas).

Second then was Medecis, who collected a Group prize at Chantilly yesterday, while third was Bowman (next best 3.45), who was repeatedly baulked as he tried to make progress in the straight. Bowman, who is now the mount of Frankie Dettori, had previously beaten Landseer and looks the value here.

Landseer and Rock Of Gibraltar both ran in the Coventry Stakes at the Royal meeting last year and the former, the stable second string, came out on top. There are two formidable O'Brien challengers in the race again this year, namely Spartacus, who appears to have the better form of the pair, and Statue Of Liberty (4.20), who has the superior pedigree. As Kinane has gone for the latter, a $1.3m yearling, he gets the nod, especially as he seems to have a slightly better draw.

Past runnings of the opening Queen Anne Stakes tell us that either Saeed Bin Suroor or Michael Stoute should emerge as part of the winning team. This leaves us with Best Of The Bests, whose recent acquisition of a Group One penalty may leave him vulnerable, and No Excuse Needed (2.30), runnerup in last year's Sussex Stakes.

Five horses since 1990 have completed the double of Sandown's Temple Stakes and the King's Stand Stakes here and Kyllachy will be at miserable odds to become the sixth. It appears better sense to support Bahamian Pirate (3.05), who will get a lead down the centre of the track from Smokin Beau.

In the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap, the pattern profile for winners is fitted by Dawari and Takamaka Bay, the victor 12 months ago. The first-named looked a bit of a dog on his seasonal reappearance, while the latter has a bit of work to make up on the form book with the value option, COUNSEL'S OPINION (nap 4.55).