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.

Newbury Racecourse – Track Analysis (Lockinge Stakes Day):

Newbury is a left-handed oval shaped track that conducts both flat and National Hunt racing, with the outer course, which is approximately 3000m in circumference, used for the flat. There is a straight 1600m course that connects to the main track approximately 1000m from the winning post. There are also two chutes, one short one on the right hand side of the track at the top of the back straight, which races over 2600m are conducted, and one on the top left hand side of the track for races conducted over 1600m on the round course. Except for the main straight 900m where there are slight undulations, Newbury is a flat course, and with wide straights and sweeping bends, is considered one of the fairest tracks in Britain. It is also one of the best draining tracks in the country, heavy ground is a rarity, however, due to its high quality watering system, firm ground is also equally rare.

This year, two turf races from the Lockinge Stakes Day will be simulcast to Hong Kong.

For the 2000m London Gold Cup, they start in the back straight with a run of approximately 400m to the first bend, which takes them to a small straight on the left hand side of the course, before they then meet a sweeping bend into the home straight, which is approximately 900m in length and has slight undulations. It is widely considered that horses can win from anywhere, and there is no draw bias on the round course.   

The feature race, G1 Lockinge Stakes over 1600m runs on the straight course, they jump from the top of a chute, on the left hand side of the track, then join the main track approximately 1000m out from the winning post. The main straight does have slight undulations, but there is no draw bias. Keep in mind that they do tend to run down the centre of the track, but occasionally drift to either the grandstand or far side rail in the latter stages of the race. Horses can win from anywhere, but RIBCHESTER in 2017, is the only winner to have made-all in the last ten editions. It’s also worth noting that favourites have a good recent record, having won seven of the last ten renewals.

Last year’s Lockinge Stakes was run on Good ground with a field of nine going to post. CHINDIT broke quickly, and soon led, with the rank outsider, ETONIAN also going forward on the near side, whilst MOTHER EARTH sat behind CHINDIT, with the short price favourite, BAAEED, along with REAL WORLD, tracking the leaders. They elected to come down the centre of the track, although closer the grandstand side than the far side, and the race barely changed complexion until 900m out when ETONIAN came under pressure, passed by REAL WORLD, whilst BAAEED and ALCOHOL FREE laid down the gauntlet to CHINDIT on the far side. At the 300m mark it became apparent BAAEED was doing much the best, and he quickly put several lengths on his rivals, going on to win by just over three-lengths, with REAL WORLD a clear cut second, just over a length in front of CHINDIT.   

Nine of the last ten renewals of the Lockinge Stakes Day have had Good in the going description, with the one exception being 2017 when it was run on Soft ground. The weather forecast predicts a chance of rain earlier in the week, but sunny days in the lead up, and on race day. If the forecasts are correct, then it is highly likely that there will be Good in the ground description.

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