YORK Racecourse got its first taste of what is to come when Ascot moves to the North, with a full dress rehearsal of the royal procession yesterday.

The men and women responsible for the procession, which opens the proceedings on each of the five days of the meeting, were at the Knavesmire to make sure no one takes a wrong turn at a vital moment.

They took two of the traditional Ascot landaus with them and rode the route that will be taken by the Royal party, checking how many horses and carriages they would need and how long it would take.

Royal Ascot is coming to York during the Berkshire course's £185m redevelopment.

The procession has been a key part of Royal Ascot since George IV began the tradition in 1825.

Nick Smith, communications director at Ascot, said: "We don't anticipate a problem, but it is sensible to practice."

James Brennan, head of marketing at the York course, said the rehearsal had passed off smoothly. "They had never been here before and wanted to come and try out the route when there are not 56,000 people watching," he said.

Preparations for the meeting, which runs from June 14 to 18, are now in their final stages, he said.

"There is a real sense of excitement now that it is so close. A number of temporary structures have gone up and more are going up day-by-day."