 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. | |
Leopardstown Racecourse – Track Analysis (Irish Champion Stakes Day)
Leopardstown, which is located close to Dublin, is a wide left-handed oval track 2800m in circumference. The track is fairly flat, although the home straight, which is approximately 450m, sees a slight gradual rise the entire length. With sweeping turns, it is considered a galloping track, but riders need to be careful they don’t go too early, as the rise in the straight will catch them out. There is no barrier bias to report although races over 1200m, which are rare, see the field turn quickly after leaving the gates and low draws are preferred.
This year, eight turf races from the Irish Champion Stakes Day will be simulcast to Hong Kong.
The Golden Fleece Stakes, Matron Stakes and Solonaway Stakes, all over 1600m, start from the back straight and the field have a decent run before approaching a bend that leads onto a short straight and then the big sweeping home turn and into the main straight. The G1 Matron Stakes is open to fillies and mares, 3YO fillies who receive 5lbs from the older brigade, have a very good record in the race having won thirteen of the last twenty renewals, including the last six runnings. Although it is considered that there is no barrier bias, it’s worth noting that despite an average field size of just 9.3 over the last decade, no winner has jumped from barriers 1 to 3 in that time, although DUNTLE was demoted when first past the post from stall 1 in 2012. Runners for the 1434m Ingabelle Stakes and the 3yo+ Handicap will roughly travel the same trip as 1600m. The only difference is that the starting gate is in the halfway up the back straight and there is only a 200m short run-in before the turn. There is a very even spread of winners from high, middle and low draws.
For the 2400m Kilternan Stakes, the field will start from the bottom right hand side of the track, approximately 400m after the winning line. They move quickly onto a bend before heading down the back straight and onto a slight dogleg before heading onto the sweeping home turn and into the straight. Although those drawing high numbers are practically losing ground right from the start, there is no barrier bias. The 2564m trip for the 3yo+ Handicap also follows the same route as 2400m.
The feature race Irish Champion Stakes over 2000m starts from the back of the track on the far right side. They jump and immediately turn slightly before travelling down the back straight onto a slight bend, then will travel the same trip as 1600m till the winning post. The field size has been small in recent years with an average of 7.5 runners over the last decade, but it is usually won a by a high quality horse, with recent winners including GOLDEN HORN, SO YOU THINK and 2010 Hong Kong Cup winner, SNOW FAIRY. There is no barrier bias, and 3YOs have won four of the last ten renewals, with fillies and mares having also won four of the last ten renewals
In last year’s Irish Champion Stakes, the ground was Good and saw six runners go to post. The world’s highest rated horse at that time, GHAIYYATH, took up the running at a solid tempo with both MAGICAL and JAPAN in behind. The favourite was a tad keen on the front for the early part of the race. Coming into the home straight GHAIYYATH led MAGICAL by only half a length with the mare travelling strongly to his outside. The two fought out a sterling duel over the final 300m with MAGICAL coming out on top by three quarters of a length from GHAIYYATH, with ARMORY a never nearer third, in a time that was 0.52 quicker than standard.
The weather forecast for Leopardstown during the week is for mostly sunny days with only a small amount of rain expected. Eight of the last ten renewals of the Irish Champion Stakes Day have been run on ground with Good in the description, and given the forecast, chances are that will be the same this year.
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