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 (Prince of Wales's 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.

Prince of Wales's Stakes Day, day 2 of the Royal Ascot meeting see’s seven turf races for coverage.

There are four races run on the straight course. The 1000m G2 Queen Mary Stakes and the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes, also the 1600m G2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes and Royal Hunt Cup. In smaller fields they tend to come down the middle, but in larger fields they can split into two and even three groups. 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.

For the races on the round course, the 2844m G2 Queen's Vase, runners start from half way up the straight course. After passing the winning post they run 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 an honest tempo as the uphill rise in the straight will take its toll on those ridden aggressively.

For the 1600m Kensington Palace Fillies' Handicap, they start from a chute at the top of the course on the right-hand side, and re-joins the course proper midway through the Swinley Bottom. In other words, from the lowest point of the entire Round Course, they will attack straight up a steady incline before hitting the home bend and entering the 500m straight, meanwhile racing continuously uphill, all the way to the finish. There is no draw bias, but horses ridden with restraint usually do well.

For the feature race, the 2005m G1 Prince of Wales's 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, 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. Over the last ten years, The Prince of Wales's Stakes hasn’t attracted large numbers with the average size field in that time being 7.5, but it is usually won by a high quality horse.

Last year’s Prince of Wales saw a field of just five runners, with BAY BRIDGE going off favourite. LORD NORTH was tardy out of the stalls. STATE OF REST took up the running from the Japanese contender, SHAHRYAR, with BAY BRIDGE directly in behind, from GRAND GLORY, whilst LORD NORTH was seven-lengths off the pack after the poor start. STATE OF REST ran them along at a sedate pace, and the race barley changed complexion until they entered the straight. At this point STATE OF REST was asked to go with the others chasing, in what effectively turned into a sprint home. STATE OF REST, who had been rated perfectly on the front, was able to fend off BAY BRIDGE over the concluding stages, going on to win by a length with GRAND GLORY snatching third.

The weather forecast suggests there could be some showers in the three days leading up to day 2, although there is plenty of fine weather being forecast prior that. If the forecast is correct, the going is likely to have Good in the description this year, but it could be Good to Soft, or even slightly worse if the forecast showers arrive.

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