 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 (Nunthorpe 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 3261m 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 Nunthorpe Stakes Day. The five races on the round course are the 1400m 2yo Maiden, the 1582m 3yo 0-105 Handicap, the 2061m 3yo+ Fillies & Mares 0-105 Handicap, the 2381m 3yo+ Handicap, and the 3261m G2 Lonsdale Cup. 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. For the rest of the four races, 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 two races on the straight course are the 1200m G2 Gimcrack Stakes and the feature race 1000m G1 Nunthorpe Stakes. 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. Over 1000m, it is considered that there is little draw bias, although they do normally look to go to the centre of the track, but can drift to the far side over the concluding stages.
The feature race, the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes over 1000m usually sees a large field with the last ten-year average being 14 runners. The last ten winners have come predominately down the middle or grandstand. Only one of the last ten winners, SOLE POWER in 2014, has come from well off the speed to win.
Last year’s Nunthorpe Stakes was run on Good to Firm ground with a field of thirteen going to post. THE PLATINUM QUEEN took up the running down the centre, with KHAADEM to the inside and HIGHFIELD PRINCESS, who tracked the leader, both prominent, whilst the favourite, ROYAL ACLAIM, sat midfield on the inside. At the 400m mark, THE PLATINUM QUEEN was being pushed along and wandered left with the rider swapping the whip over, whilst KHAADEM, ROYAL ACLAIM and HIGHFIELD PRINCESS all challenged. ROYAL ACLAIM’s bid was short lived, but HIGHFIELD PRINCESS picked up strongly, running away from her opposition to win by 2.5 lengths from THE PLATINUM QUEEN, with EMARAATY ANA doing his best work late from the rear a further length and a half back in third.
The weather forecast this year is predicting showers in the lead-up and a strong possibility of rain on all three-race days, and if the forecast is correct, there is a good chance this year will see Soft in the description.
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