I’M IN my top hat and tails as I write my column this week!

That’s because my job with Skybet has brought me to Royal Ascot.

There are certain events in the world that if you are a genuine sports fan you want to tick off your bucket list.

If football is your thing then the World Cup would be one, cricket fans would want to attend maybe the Ashes in Australia and, with rugby, it would probably be to follow the Lions on tour.

Racing enthusiasts will probably have a day at Cheltenham or a trip to the Grand National high on their list, but a day at Royal Ascot has to be top of the lot.

It’s ridiculously expensive for we Northerners, that’s the first thing I’d like to alert you to, but if you dare look at the cost you are probably not going to travel in any case.

A bottle of champagne, for instance, will cost you four times as much at Royal Ascot than it does at York, so that gives you some idea of what I’m talking about.

But if ever you want to treat your partner to a really special day out at a sporting event, then Royal Ascot takes some beating.

Between 50,000 and 60,000 people are dressed up to the nines and people watching is undoubtedly the No1 thing to do.

But the Royal procession down the track makes you realise this is no ordinary day at the races and then the racing itself, with horses from all around the globe, is simply the best you could wish to see on the flat.

You can watch the world go by in between having your bets, and then they have the bands on after racing and it’s just a wonderful atmosphere.

By then most people have had way too much to drink and everyone joins in with Rule Britannia and the National Anthem, waving their Union Jacks and making sure each day finishes on a truly memorable note.

For me it’s a working occasion, but that doesn’t mean I don’t fully appreciate what a special event Royal Ascot is.

Everyone should try and get here at least once – you never know, you might get hooked – and while it’s definitely worth it, my additional advice would simply be not to look at your credit card bill when it comes.

In terms of bets for tomorrow, I really like the look of Ektihaam for Paul Hanagan in the Hardwicke Stakes – and in the Wokingham, the big sprint of the day, I’m going to go for Duke of Firenze for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore.