AFTER a year of no crowds followed by reduced numbers last year and fewer international travellers for the past two years, Royal Ascot throws out the carpet this week and welcomes a larger number than ever before to the royal meeting with Group 1 runners coming from America, Australia and Japan.

The Group 1 King’s Stand at 3.40pm on Tuesday is simply heaven for fans of international competition with the fastest horses from the US and Australia taking on the best sprinters in Britain and Ireland.