By Cornelius Lysaght BBC racing correspondent

Royal Ascot comes under starter's orders on Tuesday with all kinds of nervous anticipation amongst officials.

Up to 80,000 race-going visitors return to the meeting's historic home in Berkshire after the year away at York, and so much has changed.

The only word to describe Ascot's new grandstand is 'wow'

Having spent around �200m on a new stand, new-look enclosures and effectively a new racetrack, those running the show are understandably anxious about what their public will think.

It will not be 100% completed - 98 and a bit percent is probably a fair assessment - but I believe people will be mighty impressed, especially with the grandstand.

As a paid-up member of the 'I hate change' brigade, I wanted to loathe the development - achieved in just 20 months (memo to Wembley: it can be done) - but simply couldn't dislike it.

The only word to describe the stand is: "wow".

Racing needs a modern, fresh image, but blended with a civilised understanding of tradition, and I believe that Ascot has achieved that.

But, of course, it is not just the new look that is causing all the Queen's men and women to feel a little apprehensive ahead of the five-day festival.

Ascot is competing directly with the second full week of World Cup football, and there are concerns about its position in the schedules of radio and TV producers.

Well, it should have only limited fear.

Any victory for an Australian raider would be a tremendous boost to Ascot as it seeks to push its international boundaries

Of course, the football is getting number one billing, but that does not mean for a second that the racing will be forgotten, not on the BBC at least.

And, as Epsom found out just before the World Cup, when the Derby came up against an England friendly match, it can actually work to your favour.

The audience figures were tremendous because we are living through a sports-mad summer; whether it be football or racing or Wimbledon (soon), the viewing/listening public is so up for it.

Now, without meaning to dismount from that particular high, I am not sure that this is necessarily a vintage Royal meeting in terms of equine quality.

John Magnier's Irish-based Coolmore team is not at its strongest, while the Godolphin stable has much to prove after a slow start to the season.

However, over the years this has been 'their meeting', and Electrocutionist's clash with David Junior and the brilliant filly Ouija Board will be the purists' highlight.

Dubai Gold Cup winner Electrocutionist runs on Wednesday

Any victory for an Australian raider - particularly ex-crock sprinter Takeover Target - would be a tremendous boost to Ascot as it seeks to push its international boundaries.

Although fairytales are not the meat and drink of Flat racing, that has not been so much the case this season, and the Royal meeting may succumb too.

After her 1,000 Guineas victory and Oaks fourth, Speciosa, trained on a Cambridgeshire farm by Pam Sly, fits the bill in Friday's Coronation Stakes.

And the same applies to Sergeant Cecil, from rural Devon, in Thursday's Gold Cup, though Distinction may be a hard nut to crack.

Jumps trainer Alan King is gradually making a Flat racing name for himself, and his Levera looks interesting in the Jersey Stakes (day two).