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 (Platinum Jubilee Stakes 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.

Platinum Jubilee Stakes Day, day 5 of the Royal Ascot meeting see’s seven turf races for coverage.

For the three races on round course, the 1993m Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap), runners 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, 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 course, horses ridden with patience tend to do well.

For the 2392m Hardwicke Stakes, it 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.

For the 4330m Queen Alexandra Stakes, they start toward the top of the straight course and have a long uphill 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. 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.

For those races on the straight course, the 1400m Chesham Stakes and Jersey Stakes, as well as the 1200m Platinum Jubilee Stakes and Wokingham Stakes (Handicap), in smaller fields they tend to come down the middle, but in larger fields they can split into two and even three groups. The straight draw results will vary for 1200m, but it is advisable to look for the speed angle, especially in larger fields, as the winner usually comes from where the pace is, and results are more pace-dependent than draw-dependent. With the straight course being uphill nearly all the way, the further they go the more it suits horses ridden patiently, and those ridden with restraint normally do well.

For the feature race, G1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes over 1200m, it can be difficult to predict with four of the last ten running’s seeing the field split into two groups, whilst the other six running’s saw them come down the straight in one group. In that time there have been four winners on the far side, four down the centre and two on the grandstand side. The average size field over the last ten years is 14, whilst the average winning barrier is 7, which does suggest horses can win from anywhere. Of the last ten winners, five have tracked the speed, three have been mid division or held up, and two have led. Looking for the pace angle is always helpful, as if they go too quickly, the uphill drag will see those ridden with restraint come to the fore, but if they don’t go a decent pace, those on the front will continue to gallop up the hill.

Last year’s Diamond Jubilee (as it was then known) was run on soft ground and saw a field of 12 go to post. They split into two groups with half the field electing to go to the far side, although well off the rail, whilst the other half came to the near side, again, well off the rail. GLEN SHIEL led the far side group, whilst ART POWER led the near side group. The favourite, DREAM OF DREAMS was waited with toward the rear on the far side. GLEN SHIEL and ART POWER both came under a ride 400m from home, but they continued to find plenty for pressure. However, DREAM OF DREAMS, who had been runner-up the previous two years, was delivered from the back on the far side with perfect timing by Ryan Moore to grab the front two and win by a length, with GLEN SHIEL holding second from ART POWER, in a time that was 1.97 slower than standard.

The weather forecast suggests it will be mostly fine in the days leading up to Day 5 of the Royal meeting, and sunny weather is being forecasted for the fifth day. Over the last ten years there has been good in the going description every year except last year 2021, when the ground was soft. If the forecast is correct, the going is likely to have good in the description this year.

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