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.

York Racecourse – Track Analysis (International Stakes Day)

York is a left-handed or anti-clockwise, was once a “course” that, likewise to Epsom or the Curragh, featuring a run-off area in the end, could card races at only up to 2800m. That took a twist in 2005 when, to temporarily host the Royal Ascot meeting during Ascot’s massive face-lift, the clubhouse turn was extended all the way to connect the backstretch, thus finally made it a full “circuit” out of this venue.

Races over 1000m and 1200m are run on a straight course whilst races over 1400m start from a chute that joins the main straight in a dog leg shape. The same chute is used for races over 4400m. Races over 2800m and 3251m also start from a chute whilst all other starting points are on the round course. Barrier 1 is always drawn on the inside of the track.

York is a high quality large course with sweeping turns and no undulations. Considered one of the fairest tracks in Great Britain, the straight is approximately 900m and although the layout of the course suits strong galloping types, horses who get to the front early in the straight often will not run down, especially on testing ground.

There are seven races for coverage on International Stakes Day. The three races on the straight course are the 1081m 3yo+ Handicap, the 1000m 3yo+ Fillies & Mares 0-105 Handicap and the 1200m 2yo Handicap. Over 1000m and 1081m it is considered that there is little draw bias, although they do often look to go to the centre of the track. Over 1200m they also do tend to mostly come down the centre of the track, but will normally look to head to the grandstand rail when the ground is soft, thus high draws are favourable on rain affected ground in larger fields.

There are four races on the round course. For the 1400m G3 Acomb Stakes, this trip is quite rare at York, although the advantage looks minimal, horses from middle to high gates have a good record overall, but this switches around when the ground is rain affected. During the last ten years the field size of the race has been on the small side, and winners have come from inside and outside draws. Acomb Stakes is a race that has seen several winners purchased by Hong Kong connections in recent times.

For the 2371m G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes and the 3251m 3yo+ Handicap. There is no draw bias, but keep in mind they do tend to head to the middle and sometimes the grandstand rail when they come into the straight, especially on rain affected ground.

For the feature race, 2051m G1 International Stakes, it starts from the far side of the course and although there is a slight bend not long after leaving the gates, barriers are of little importance. After taking the bend, they head down a lengthy straight on the left hand side of the track before meeting the home turn and entering the 900m straight. On entering the straight, although the theory is they are likely to look to come down the middle if the ground in rain effected. In recent times the fields have been small with only one renewal having more than nine runners in the last ten years. During that time the average field size has been 7.6. However, it is usually a high quality contest and recent winners include the champions SEA THE STARS and FRANKEL.

Last year’s International Stakes was run on Good ground with a field of seven going to post. On leaving the stalls ALENQUER soon led but was joined by MAC SWINEY who took it up just before the first bend, from ALENQUER on his outside, with both LOVE and MISHRIFF directly sitting in behind. The race didn’t change complexion until they entered the home straight where MAC SWINEY and ALENQUER moved a few horses of the fence. LOVE was pointed to the inside, whilst the strong travelling MISHRIFF, was delivered on the outside, with both MOHAAFETH and ALCOHOL FREE trying to go with the leading bunch. It quickly became evident that MISHRIFF was travelling by far and away better than his rivals, and the favourite was booted clear 600m from home, storming to victory by 6 lengths, with ALENQUER holding onto second spot from LOVE, in a time that was 2.48 seconds faster than standard.

The last ten renewals of the International Stakes Day has seen Good in the description, with five of those years being Good to Firm ground. The weather forecast is predicting warm clear days in the lead up and on race day itself, and if the forecasts are correct the ground will be at least Good and there is a strong possibility it will also include Firm in the description.

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