Champers set strike it rich

Tomorrow's opening day gets off to a storming start with the Queen Anne Stakes, which sees the charismatic Irish raider Hawk Wing bid to follow up a win in Newbury's Lockinge Stakes which will go into legend as one of the all-time great performances over a mile.

Wednesday is a massive day for the powerful Godolphin team, who take the wraps off their runaway Dubai World Cup winner Moon Ballad in a Prince Of Wales's Stakes which has attracted a stellar cast including Nayef, Falbrav and Grandera. The highlight of Ladies' Day on Thursday will be the clash between Mamool and Mr Dinos in the Gold Cup.

Russian Rhythm will be the name on a million betting slips when she bids to repeat her thrilling 1,000 Guineas win in Friday's Coronation Stakes, while the breathtaking speed of Henry Candy's Airwave will draw another massive crowd for Saturday's Golden Jubilee Stakes.

This year's bewildering array of punting opportunities include bettingon who will ride most winners and, for the first time, a market revolving around how 500 racegoers surveyed at random will vote in a survey to find the best-looking jockey.

Kieren Fallon has been sweeping all before him of late but might have his confidence knocked when he hears that Skybet has dismissed him as a 33-1 outsider in that particular market. Far more fancied, however, is Frankie Dettori, who is a hot favourite at 2-5 and probably the biggest certainty of the week!

The second biggest cert is that the celebrity count will range from serious A-Listers to desperate young wannabes who would gladly turn up for the opening of an envelope.

Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood enjoyed a jolly boys' day out last year, while Sir Alex Ferguson could hardly wipe the smile off his face after Rock Of Gibraltar's stunning success in the St James's Palace Stakes.

Kate Winslet is already booked in for an appearance for tomorrow's Coventry Stakes, though autograph hunters should note that this is a Florida-based filly trained by Franck Mourier as opposed to the recentlymarried star of Titanic.

With a handful of American runners set to be joined by raiders from Australia, Hong Kong, Dubai and South Africa, the stage is set for an occasion that entrances some and infuriates others. And with so much to mull over at the moment, Beckham himself might fancy getting dressed up to give Posh a day out.

That man Brummell set the tone almost 200 years ago when decreeing that "men of elegance should wear waisted black coats and white cravats with pantaloons". Sounds like the sort of outfit which would suit you nicely, David. A word of warning, though. The gatemen who patrol the Royal Enclosure would surely draw the line if you feel it's time to give that famous sarong another airing.