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, the world-renowned Ascot Racecourse at south-west of London, is a triangular venue so distinguished of its enormous track width, featuring on top of which a 1600m home chute to accommodate straight contests at up to a mile.

For the 1000m King's Stand Stakes, the 1400m Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap), and the 1600m trip for both Queen Anne Stakes and the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, all are staged on the straight course, and starting positions are numbered reversely back in, where high post numbers will break from the stands side. When it comes to over-subscribed fields disputing the early lead on a firm track, and for one contest too many in this Royal meeting through the years, this particular stands side is the better place to be; that being said, a rainy day would easily see this strip play in reverse. Meanwhile, both the 2392m Ribblesdale Stakes and the King Edward VII Stakes, runners will dip right-handed into the Swinley Bottom promptly after the break. Still, thanks to a more sedate pace as per usual in deep routes, horses breaking from out wide still have plenty of time to position well. The same can also be said of the runners declared for the 3991m Ascot Stakes (Handicap).

In all, be it 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, sapping ascent suddenly looms in large right before the finish. On top of all the undulations throughout this course, front-runners do need more than a gargantuan effort to take the field all the way home.

In the 2019 running of the King’s Stand Stakes contested on good turf, BLUE POINT, who broke from out wide, was laying just off the early speed, then ridden to lead inside the final 400m, ran on gamely and found extra in the final 50m to secure a commanding score, whereas BATTAASH, held up initially towards the nearside, made a threatening yet belated run at the winner down the stretch, and was second-best, while SOLDIER’S CALL, who showed the way with plenty of early pace, was headed 400m out, but still managed to hang on for third.

With rain teasing the London area through Tuesday, a slow track may be on deck for the King’s Stand Stakes Day this year; still, as the first day of Royal Ascot, the untouched strip should be kept pristine, and forwardly-placed runners may still be favoured.

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