Royal Ascot heatwave: how are officials preparing for soaring temperatures?

Temperatures are expected to reach 28C on Friday at Royal Ascot. The opening day of the meeting should reach 22C. A hot weather forecast raises questions over the dress code policy. However, the director of racing and public affairs does not have any concerns over it. The course clerk Chris Stickels is confident in the preparation done by his team. He has plenty of cool water and misting fans for the horses. There is no change to the strict dresscode policy for this year's meeting. It hasn't happened in recent years. In the past, it has been activated in other parts of Asot.

Ascot is going to have its first meeting on Monday. Conditions are good to firm, good in places. There was only 1mm of rain in the past week. The round course will be watered this evening.

Temperatures are expected to reach 30C in France this week. France Galop has changed its fixture list to accommodate the weather. Thursday's card at La Teste De Buch starts an hour earlier. The highest temperatures are forecast for Friday at 37C at the La Tène De Bébé. Dieppe, situated on the Channel coast, will take over the later start time.