 Tim Carroll 's Bio | |
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| 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 (Yorkshire Oaks 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 Yorkshire Oaks Day. The two races on the straight course are the 1200m G2 Lowther Stakes and 2yo Allowance. Over 1200m they 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.
The five races on the round course are the 1400m 2yo Handicap and 3yo+ Fillies & Mares Handicap, the 1575m 3yo+ Handicap, the 2371m Listed Galtres Stakes and the feature race G1 Yorkshire Oaks. Runners will start from a chute that joins the main straight in a dog leg shape over 1400m. This trip is quite rare at York. Results show a fairly even spread with high, middle and low draws winning, however speed horses are suited by a low draw due to the part bend. Over 1575m and 2371m 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.
The feature race, G1 2371m Yorkshire Oaks start is on the far right hand side of the course and runners have a decent straight stretch before going around a slight bend then heading down the side straight and around the swooping turn into the lengthy home straight. Whilst barriers are of little importance, keep in mind they are likely to come down the middle or even head to the grandstand rail on straightening with only two of the last ten winners electing to stay close to the inside rail. The average field size is 7.4. High quality fillies including ENABLE, LOVE and THE FUGUE (2013 Hong Kong Vase runner-up) have won the race. The Yorkshire Oaks is open to both fillies and mares, and 3yo fillies, who have a 9lbs age allowance, have won seven of the last ten renewals.
Last year’s Yorkshire Oaks was run on Good ground with a field of seven runners going to post. The outsider of the field, LA JOCONDE, was sent to the front early with DIVINELY, WONDERFUL TONIGHT and LOVING DREAM close in behind, whilst the favourite, SNOWFALL, was held up toward the rear with only the slow starting, ALBAFLORA, in behind. LA JOCONDE ran them along at a solid tempo, and was still leading when entering the home straight, with her rider moving a few horses off the fence. At this point every runner in behind was under a ride, except for SNOWFALL, who was making up plenty of headway on the outside from the rear of the field, so much so she hit the lead 400m from home and soon went clear to win by 4 lengths eased down. ALBAFLORA did her best work late against some tiring fillies to run second, whilst LA JOCONDE held on for third, in a time that was 2.49s faster than standard.
The last ten renewals of the Yorkshire Oaks 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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