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 (King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day)

Ascot is a large right-handed galloping triangular shaped track, just over 2800m in circumference, with a home straight run of 500m on the round course. There is a straight 1600m course, which all races below 1594m are held. On the straight course, low barriers are drawn on the far side. There are two starting points for races run over 1600m and 1594m, one on the straight course and the other on the round 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, Ascot suits hold-up horses, and front-runners need to be ridden conservatively to ensure they save energy.

King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day sees eight turf races for coverage.

There are six races on the straight course. For the 1000m 3yo+ Handicap, in smaller fields they tend to come down the centre of the track, but can split into two, and sometimes even three groups in larger fields. 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 1200m G3 Princess Margaret Stakes and 2yo Maiden, they will look to come down the centre, but can split into two and three groups in larger fields. The draw results will vary, 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.

For both 1400m 3yo+ Handicap and the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes, and the 1600m 3yo+ 86-105 Handicap, in smaller fields they tend to come down the middle, but in larger fields they can split into two and even three groups. 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 1594m G3 Valiant Stakes, they start from a chute at the top of the course on the right-hand side. They then run in a straight line with a steady rise before meeting the home bend and entering the 500m straight, which is uphill to the finish. There is no draw bias, but horses ridden with restraint usually do well.

The draw on the round course is of little consequence. For the feature race, G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2392m, they start at the top of the back straight and have a nice long downhill run before levelling out at Swindley Bottom and turning into a steady straight rise down the side of the course onto a sweeping home turn entering the 500m uphill straight. Horses on the front will be afforded every opportunity in steadily run races, but races run at a decent gallop will suit back-markers as the uphill rise will take its toll on those ridden aggressively.

Last year’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes was run on Good to Firm ground and saw a field of six runners go to post. On leaving the stalls, MISHRIFF lost many lengths after being slowly away, whilst PYLEDRIVER took up the running, with the favourite, WESTOVER on his outside, and BROOME in behind the leading pair. PYLEDRIVER handed over the lead to WESTOVER after 400m, with BROOME moving into second, whilst PYLEDRIVER tracked the pair, with the Arc winner TORQUATOR TASSO back in fourth. The race was run at a solid gallop with BROOME serving it up to WESTOVER, and it was no surprise to see the two leaders under pressure on entering the straight, as PYLEDRIVER quickly went by the pair and opened up a clear margin to the chasers headed by TORQUATOR TASSO. However, PYLEDRIVER never looked like being caught, going on to win by 2.75 lengths to TORQUATOR TASSO with MISHRIFF a distant third.

The weather forecast suggests mostly rainy days in the lead-up, and on race day. If the forecast is correct, it’s likely that there will be Soft in this year’s ground.

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