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’.

Newmarket Racecourse – Track Analysis (2000 Guineas Day)

The Rowley Mile Course – the battle ground for this weekend’s 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket Racecourse – is a sprawling strip measuring 2000m in length. With a gradual ascent from 800m out, then up by a much steeper gradient with about 300m to go, a herculean effort is required of any prominently placed or exposed runner with no covers to make the call at every furlong marker – and dominate its competition all the way from gate to finish. In general, fields do generally bunch up towards the stand’s side in the early goings, whereas stalking in the middle or back of the pack for a strong finish is usually a better strategy.

For the day’s program, the featured 2000 Guineas Stakes is contested over a straight mile, and except for the 2400m Jockey Club Stakes, where runners will negotiate a left-hander in the early goings, all the rest of the undercard will likewise be staged on this straight course. In the 2017 running of this prestigious prize – traditionally the first Classic of the English flat racing season – eventual Guineas winner CHURCHILL, Ryan Moore up, sat just off the early pace before making his move midway through contention, and never relinquished the lead after taking command, whereas BARNEY ROY and AL WUKAIR were late to the scene on the grandstand side to finish second and third.

Despite variable weather as of late in the London area, sunny skies will return to Newmarket just in time this Saturday, and “good and firm” will hopefully be the order of the day. That being said, last-minute track condition still rates a major bearing on race selections.

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