WITH Royal Ascot looming, let's consider the the runners and riders - not horses and jockeys, but celebrities.

The biggest social event in recent memory in York will attract all sorts of big name racing fans, and celebrity-spotters will have a field day, trying to decide if that man with the prominent chin really is Bruce Forsyth or if the woman in the look-at-me dress actually is Liz Hurley.

The Beckhams won't be coming, which scotches assorted colourful urban myths about the couple paying wedding parties to move elsewhere and the like, but the 'Rooneys' could well be here.

Updated: 11:20 Friday, June 03, 2005