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 (Diamond Jubilee 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 both the 1200m featured Diamond Jubilee Stakes and Wokingham Stakes (Handicap) and both the 1400m Chesham Stakes and Jersey Stakes, the 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 1993m Golden Gate Stakes (Handicap) and the 2392m Hardwicke Stakes, runners will dip right-handed into the turn promptly 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 well. Then, in the 4330m Queen Alexandra Stakes, a full field, as per customary, will break from the 1600m start on the straight mile course, file by the grandstand for the first time before even reaching the first turn, and still navigate a full lap of the round course to complete this stout marathon. Such being the deepest route throughout the entire Royal Meet, horses drawn badly, unless racing wide on purpose, still have plenty of time to position well or search of cover, and stall assignments are trivial at best when it comes to winning chances.

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 take the field all the way home.

In last year’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes, when the turf was listed as good, and the eventual tierce were all pouncing on the stand’s side, winner HELLO YOUMZAIN, who took the fight outright to the early leaders, out-sped and out-gamed his competition one by one on the first flight, then held off the late-surging DREAM OF DREAMS by a whisker in the photo finish, whereas SCEPTICAL, Frankie Dettori up, did poked a nose in front ever so briefly down the stretch, but had no petrol left towards the winning post, and could only settle for third.

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

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