Leung Ho Yin, Simon's Bio
Simon is a well respected full-time thoroughbred racing commentator specializing in overseas international racing. Bringing with him a wealth of racing knowledge, Simon is the host and race caller for the overseas simulcast programme since 2008/09 season. He is currently the presenter on several racing television programmes including, ‘Racing Horizon’ and ‘Horse Racing – Results’.

Ascot Racecourse – Track Analysis (British Champions Day):

The worldly acclaimed Ascot Racecourse is a triangular, right-handed circuit. On top of its enormous width, the venue also features a 1600m straight course coming in.

On the British Champions Day this weekend, the 1200m British Champions Sprint Stakes, and the 1600m trip for both Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Balmoral Handicap, will all be staged on the straight course. As observed all season long in many a straight contest at Ascot last year, fields usually bunched up in the middle of the track, yet in general, runners do enjoy a fresher patch of turf along the grandstand side.

For the 1993m Champion Stakes, and the 2392m British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes, fields will start their journeys uphill before barrelling right-handed with an incline. From there on in, it is one stout, steady climb up the Old Mile, through an acute and dipping right-handed swing – just before turning for home – that particularly works against runners rallying from out wide, who may lose both ground and balance at the same time while kicking into high gears.

On top of its continuous undulation, a 560m all-out cavalry charge down the homestretch – with another sudden ascent shortly before the judge – takes the challenge up another notch at Ascot, where any race, any day on the round or straight course still poses additional challenge on any front-runners that wish to win it every step of the way.

In the 2016 running of the featured Champion Stakes, ALMANZOR and FOUND both closed from out wide and way off the speed to finish one-two in the contest.

With intermittent precipitation going into Saturday as per local weather forecasts, this year's British Champions Day will most likely be contested on soft or holding turf, and track listing rates to be a big factor on race-day selections.

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