The first race meeting at Ascot took place in 1711

Ascot chief executive Charles Barnett has told BBC Berkshire he expects a greater attendance at Royal Ascot 2010, which starts on Tuesday.

"I think we will have a slightly bigger crowd than last year," he said.

"In January we were slightly concerned as numbers were down on previous years but it has picked up.

"We are now sold out in the grandstand and silver ring for Saturday. While enclosures are sold out we still have space for people on the heath."

This will be Barnett's fourth Royal Ascot and he said that even though corporate sales were up on last years figures, they will not be as good as 2007 or 2008.

But he was still pleased overall with ticket sales for the event despite the competing attraction of the World Cup.

"The market is not going down anymore and it is maybe picking up slightly. Box occupancy is still pretty good and we have a lot of people coming for hospitality too which is great," he said.

Last year the Saturday of Royal Ascot drew record crowds of nearly 80,000. Barnett will be hoping to exceed that number this year.

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