 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. | |
Ascot Racecourse – Track Analysis (Gold Cup Day):
Ascot is a large right-handed galloping triangular shaped track, just over 2800m in circumference, with a straight run of 500m on the round course. There is a straight 1600m course, which all races below 1600m are held. There are two start points for races run over 1600m, one on the round course and the other on the straight course.
The track was redeveloped in 2005 and the ground in the straight drains quicker than the rest of the course, meaning ground descriptions can vary. Being a large track with an uphill finish dragging almost the entire straight (including the length of the straight course), Ascot suits hold-up horses, and front-runners need to be ridden conservatively to ensure they save energy.
Gold Cup Day, day 3 of the Royal Ascot meeting sees seven turf races will be simulcast to Hong Kong.
There are three races on the straight course, the 1000m Norfolk Stakes, the 1400m Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) and the 1600m Britannia Stakes (Handicap).In smaller fields they tend to come down the centre of the track, but can split into two, and sometimes even three groups, in larger fields. Although uphill nearly all the way, speed horses do have a decent record over this trip, but if they go too quickly on the front, the closers will dominate. A footnote for the 1600m Britannia Stakes (Handicap) that this is a race that has seen several recent winners (LIMITLESS, BORN IN CHINA, BEAUTY FLAME) purchased by Hong Kong connections.
For the races on round course, the 1993m Hampton Court Stakes, they start in back straight and travel downhill for approximately 200m before levelling out at Swindley Bottom and turning into a straight that sees a steady rise to the home turn. They then enter the 500m home straight and run uphill until the finish. Statistically speaking, barriers are of little consequence, but like most races on the round courses, horses ridden with patience tend to do well.
Both King George V Stakes (Handicap) and Ribblesdale Stakes are over 2392m, which is similar to the 1993m. The only difference is that the runners start from the highest point of the course, which is on the top of the back straight for 2392m, then head downhill for nearly 400m to the Swindley Bottom.
The feature race, G1 Gold Cup over 3991m, they start on the straight course, near the 1200m start, and have a long up-hill run before meeting the first turn. After passing the winning post they head downhill, turning right onto the far side straight, before heading onto Swindley bottom and turning onto another straight, that gently rises. They then enter the 500m home straight, and run uphill until the finish. Barriers are of no consequence, but it is a stamina testing contest and although those on the front will be afforded every opportunity in steadily run races, backmarkers are suited in races run at a true tempo as the uphill rise in the straight will take its toll on those ridden aggressively. It’s worth noting that favourites have a very good recent record, with six of the last ten winners going off the popular elect, and in that time there has only been one double priced winner, TRIP TO PARIS in 2015.
Last year’s Gold Cup saw a field of twelve go to post with STRADIVARIUS, who was looking to land his fourth Gold Cup, going off favourite. AMHRAN NA BHFIANN led the race with SUBJECTIVIST close in behind, and Melbourne Cup winner, TWILIGHT PAYMENT, in third, whilst Frankie Dettori elected to hold-up STRADIVARIUS toward the back of the field. The first move came down the back straight before the home bend from SERPENTINE, but was short lived. However, at this point the pace picked up and SUBJECTIVIST was sent to the front, whilst STRADIVARIUS was in traffic and held up. SUBJECTIVIST was able to nick a handy lead coming into the straight and continued to gallop strongly up the hill, going on to win by 5 lengths, with PRINCESS ZOE finishing off in second, SPANISH MISSION third, whilst STRADIVARIUS could only manage a luckless fourth, in a time that was 1.22 faster than standard.
The weather forecast suggests it will be mostly fine in the days leading up to day 3 of the Royal meeting, and sunny weather is being forecasted for the third day. Over the last ten years there has been good in the ground description on seven occasions, the exceptions being 2016, 2019 and 2020 when the going was described as soft. If the forecast is correct, the going is likely to have good in the description this year.
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