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 (King’s Stand Stakes Day):

Racing in a clockwise direction, Ascot is a triangular venue so well acclaimed of its enormous track width, featuring on top of which a 1600m home chute to accommodate for straight contests at up to a mile.

For the 1000m King's Stand Stakes, the 1200m Coventry Stakes and the 1600m Queen Anne Stakes, all staged on the straight course, starting positions are numbered reversely back in, where high post numbers will break from the stands side. When it comes to full fields of 20 or more dueling for early lead on a firm track, this particular stands side, as per customary for one contest too many in this Royal meeting, is the better place to be; that said, a rainy day would easily see this strip play in reverse.

Meanwhile, the 1594m St James's Palace Stakes will navigate the trip over the ‘Old Mile’ on the Round Course. Breaking from the gate, runners will rumble gradually uphill through a 900m stretch of lawn before taking the only right-handed turn – also with slight undulations, where the ground would, for a brief moment, suddenly break underneath these sophomores before hitting the homestretch. Then again, with this being a triangular track with quite a tight corner, horses floating wide in this section will lose considerable ground, and possibly balance. As for the 1993m Wolferton Stakes and the 3991m Ascot Stakes (Handicap), runners will dip right-handed right shortly after the break; still, thanks to a more sedate pace as per customary in deep routes, horses breaking from out wide still have plenty of time to position properly.

In all, be it for straight dashes, or cruising around the full circuit, fields will have to fight for Ascot glory through that grueling 500m-plus homestretch, where another steep, surmounting ascent suddenly looms in large right before the finish. On top of all the ups and downs throughout this course, front-runners do need more than a herculean task to take the field all the way home.

In the 2018 running of the King's Stand Stakes contested on good to firm turf, BLUE POINT, laying just off the first flight, scooted up easily down the stretch to score, whereas BATTAASH, who led for most of the trip, was headed inside final furlong, though kept on for second, and MABS CROSS, who was in touch, was ridden with headway two furlongs out, and stayed on for third towards the finish.

With sunny skies that will extend towards Tuesday – and therefore good to firm goings – on deck for the King’s Stand Stakes Day this year, forwardly-placed runners may be much favoured.

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