 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. | |
ParisLongchamp Racecourse – Track Analysis (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Day):
ParisLongchamp, where holds more than half of the G1 races contested in France, is an interlaced right-handed track with five different combinations, including three circular tracks, large (2750m), medium (2500m), small (2150m), a straight course (1000m), and there is also a chute which begins at the furthest point away from the stands on the right hand side, this is known as the ‘new track’ (1400m). The chute joins the large circular main course before taking in both the false and main straight. The track does go up and down with the highest point (back of the course on the right-hand side) – the “Boulogne” section, where horses indeed “disappear” briefly from the grandstand into the woods – being nearly 30 metres above the lowest point (bottom of the course right-hand side).
All three circular courses join the main straight, with two winning posts in use, depending on the race distance. The straight-course dissects the large and medium circular tracks before joining the back straight of the small circular track in the centre of the course. They run the straight races right to left as viewed, the same as they do at Sha Tin over 1000m.
This year, six turf races from Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Day will be simulcast to Hong Kong.
The 1000m G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp is on the straight course. Barrier with the smallest number is nearest to the grandstand rail. All the action happens closest to the grandstand rail and low to middle draws are preferred. The straight track reasonably is flat and the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp is usually won by horses that can race handy to the speed. In the last ten renewals, only three winners have come from double figure barriers.
Two 1400m Class 1 Handicaps and the G1 Prix de la Foret are on the new track. The start is from a chute at the top far right side of the course. They run downhill before joining the large round course, where they start to turn right. They then bottom out before taking in both the false and home straight, which sees a slight but testing uphill run to the finish. There is no draw bias. However, the straight has a slight incline all the way to the finish and horses ridden aggressively usually find it difficult to hold off the challengers.
The 2000m Prix de l’Opera and the feature race 2400m G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe are on the large circular course. The 2000m start is from the far side of the course opposite the main grandstand. On leaving the barriers they have a straight, but uphill run for nearly 600m before arriving at the highest point of the track near the chute of the new track whilst turning onto the sweeping home bend. This leads onto the false straight then onto the home straight for the uphill run home. In theory barriers should have no significance, but despite the small field size of during the last ten renewals of the Prix de l’Opera , only one winner in that time has jumped from a higher gate than 7, which was the brilliant TARNAWA, who won from barrier 12 last year.
The start of the 2400m Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is from the left-hand side of the track. They jump from a short spur just off the small course and cross that track twice before entering a lengthy back straight, which leads onto a large sweeping bend, then follow the same route as 2000m. The nature of the track layout lends itself to horses who are ridden to conserve energy and delivered with patience. The Prix de l’Arc Triomphe is considered by many as the world’s premier race, and draws decent numbers. The race is usually run at a true tempo. In the last nineteen renewals at ParisLongchamp, only four winners have jumped from gate 10, and even more telling, thirteen winners in that time have jumped from gate 6 or lower.
Last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was run on Heavy ground with a field of 11 going to post. PERSIAN KING took up the early running, with CHACHNAK on the outside in second. SOTTSASS trailed the leader on the rail, and the favourite and the champion mare, ENABLE was just in behind the leading runners with the stayer, STRADIVARIUS to her outside. PERSIAN KING was left alone on the front and led at what was nothing more than an honest gallop on testing ground, with the field bunched as they headed onto the false straight then into the home straight. At the final 300m, PERSIAN KING kicked for home with SOTTSASS in hot pursuit. PERSIAN KING was swallowed up by SOTTSASS 200m from the finish, with the 4YO going on to win the race from IN SWOOP, who was doing his best work late on, grabbing the silver, and PERSIAN KING, who rallied to hold onto third.
The weather forecast suggests there will be some rain leading up to the weekend and a chance of rain on race-day. Ten of the last nineteen runnings of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Day have been run on rain affected ground and if the forecast is correct, chances are there will be soft in ground description come race-day.
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.
