Leung Ho Yin, Simon's Bio
Simon is a well respected full-time thoroughbred racing commentator specializing in pedigree and overseas international racing. He is currently the presenter on several racing television programmes including, ‘Horse Racing – Results’, ‘Simulcast Preview'’ and Simulcast oversea races.

Ascot Racecourse – Track Analysis (Commonwealth Cup 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 featured 1200m Commonwealth Cup and Albany Stakes, the 1000m Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap), and 1600m Sandringham Stakes (Handicap) fields will take 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.

To the rest of the day’s undercard, the 1594m Coronation Stakes – over the Old Mile Course – will see the sophomore fillies disputing through a strip of 900m before taking the only turn – and a wicked one for sure, just before setting sail for home – and horses getting “hung out to dry” will have a hard time finding their way back into contention. Remaining on the oval, runners for the King Edward VII Stakes and the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) – both over 2392m – will dip right-handed into the turn promptly after the break. Still, thanks to a more sedate pace as per usual in deep routes, then again a long straight going uphill by the side of the course afterwards, horses drawn wide still have plenty of time to position well.

In all, be it straight dashes, or cruising around the full circuit, fields will have to fight for Ascot glory through that gruelling 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 out-speed the field every stride of the way.

When a good-to-soft strip was on deck for last year’s Commonwealth Cup, eventual winner GOLDEN HORDE, who was close up on the near side group early, took command easily in approaching the 400m marker, and was never challenged in the final stages, while second-placed KIMARI, though in full pursuit under Frankie Dettori, could never out-game the winner, and VENTURA REBEL, who flopped the break, closed strongly via the middle part of the stretch, but was late to the scene, and could only settle for third.

Though London is basking in the sun as of late, rain is expected on Friday, thus a slow track may be on deck; unless a wet day indeed materializes, front-runners may still find it challenging to secure their lead from gate to finish.

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