 Tim Carroll 's Bio | |
|---|---|
| Tim started off as a jockey in Australia before pursuing a media career. He is a highly experienced and respected racing presenter who has been based in England since 2005. Tim has travelled the world covering many of the major meetings, including Royal Ascot, The Epsom Derby, The International meeting from Sha Tin, The Dubai World Cup, The Everest, The Saudi Cup and The Breeders. He is currently a presenter for Sky Sports Racing, specialising in both the local and international scene. Tim is a regular contributor to the At The Races Website where his twice weekly tipping column on Hong Kong racing has gathered a strong following. | |
Deauville Racecourse – Track Analysis (Prix Jacques le Marois Day)
Situated on the North Coast of France, Deauville – long hailed as French Racing’s mid-summer haven – while being one of four French tracks to host G1 races on the flat, is not short of action, comes every August, both on and off the track. Its auxiliary Yearling Sales, in particular, is traditionally a prime marketplace for major owners and breeders to replenish their racing stock – and certainly scout for the next superstar on turf. Deauville Racecourse is comprised of two turf tracks – round and a straight course – both of which are relatively flat with only minor undulations.
The round course is oval in shape with right-handed sweeping bends and a circumference of 2200m, along with a straight run in of approximately 420m. The straight mile course conducts races from 1000m to 1600m, and joins the round course at the top of the home straight. In addition, there is a polytrack on the inside of the turf course, 2000m in circumference.
There are nine races for coverage on Prix Jacques le Marois Day, two on the polytrack, and seven on turf – including three on the round course and four up the straight.
The two polytrack races are both 1500m Class 3 Handicap. Over the 1500m they jump from the top of the back straight with a long run of nearly 500m before the first bend, thus there is little importance placed on the draw but speed horses are better drawn low to middle.
The three turf races on the round course are the 2000m G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Listed Prix Nureyev, also the 2500m G3 Prix Minerve. Over the 2000m, the runners start from a chute with a run of approximately 350m, which isn’t a perfect straight line, before turning, and there is a slight preference to low draws. Over 2500m they start from approximately half way up the straight, but barriers are of little importance. However, keep in mind that middle distance and staying races in France can be run slowly, thus in bigger fields those at the back can find it difficult to pick up the leaders.
The four turf races on the straight course are a 1200m Class 2 Handicap and Class 1 Handicap, the 1400m G3 Prix Francois Boutin, and the feature race 1600m G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. The straight course is relatively flat, but as the draw is usually from the grandstand side, with barrier 1 being closest to the grandstand rail, the field tends to come down the grandstand side and the centre of the track. However, fields of fourteen or more can see the field split into two and even three groups.
The Prix Jacques le Marois hasn’t attracted large fields in recent years with an average of just over nine runners in the last ten renewals. Most of the recent winners have stayed true to form for the straight course and come down the centre or the grandstand side, and no winner has drawn higher than barrier 6 in the last seven runnings.
Last year’s Prix Jacques le Marois was run on Heavy ground and although only seven runners went to post, it was one of the highest quality races run in Europe in 2020. PRETREVILLE led them up down the centre of the track, with both CIRCUS MAXIMUS and ALPINE STAR close up in behind. The favourite, PALACE PIER was held up by Frankie Dettori, but was never more than 6 lengths off the lead. PRETREVILLE was headed by ALPINE STAR, and several others 300m out, but no sooner had ALPINE STAR got to the front, than PALACE PIER, went straight on by to win by nearly a length eased down, with ALPINE STAR in second and they were well clear of CIRCUS MAXIMUS in third.
The weather forecast for Deauville during the week is suggesting very little rain with temperatures in the lows 20s. Given the ground was Soft last week, chances are it won’t be quick ground but if the forecast is correct then there is the possibility of Good in the description.
Disclaimer:
The above content and information are the personal views and/or opinions of each individual writer and do not represent the views of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and/or its subsidiaries (together, the "HKJC"). The content and information are provided by the writers solely for entertainment purpose only, and should not be construed as a suggestion for anyone to place any bet nor should they be taken and/or relied upon as advice of any kind. The above content and information have not been verified, confirmed and/or endorsed by HKJC and HKJC shall not be liable to any person for any loss or damage suffered by such person as a result of any use or reliance of the above content or information.
HKJC shall not be required to give and does not give any warranty, whether express or implied, arising out of or in connection with the content or information. The Club disclaims any responsibility and accepts no liability (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for any direct or indirect loss of damage arising from any inaccuracies, omission or typographical errors that may be contained therein. The Club also does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or fitness for purpose of any such information.
