 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. | |
Leopardstown Racecourse – Track Analysis (Irish Champion Stakes Day)
Leopardstown, which is located close to Dublin, is a wide left-handed oval track 2800m in circumference. The track is fairly flat, although the home straight, which is approximately 450m, sees a slight gradual rise the entire length. With sweeping turns, it is considered a galloping track, but riders need to be careful they don’t go too early, as the rise in the straight will catch them out. There is no barrier bias to report although races over 1200m, which are rare, see the field turn quickly after leaving the gates and low draws are preferred.
This year, eight turf races from the Irish Champion Stakes Day will be simulcast to Hong Kong.
The G2 Golden Fleece Stakes, G2 Solonaway Stakes and G1 Matron Stakes, all over 1600m, they start from the back straight and the field have a decent run before approaching a bend that leads onto a short straight and then the big sweeping home turn and into the main straight. There is no barrier bias. Runners for the 1465m Listed Ingabelle Stakes and one of the 3yo+ Handicap races will roughly travel the same trip as 1600m. The only difference is that the starting gate is in the halfway up the back straight and there is only a 200m short run-in before the turn. There is a very even spread of winners from high, middle and low draws.
For the 2400m G3 Kilternan Stakes, they start from the bottom right hand side of the track, approximately 400m after the winning line. They move quickly onto a bend before heading down the back straight and onto a slight dogleg before heading onto the sweeping home turn and into the straight. Although they turn quickly after jumping, there is also no barrier bias. The 2564m 3yo+ Handicap, runners jump from the end of the home straight, approximately 165m after the winning post. They meet the first turn fairly quickly but there is no barrier bias.
The feature race Irish Champion Stakes over 2000m starts from the back of the track on the far right side. They jump and immediately turn slightly before travelling down the back straight onto a slight bend, then will travel the same trip as 1600m till the winning post. The field size has been small in recent years with an average of 7.4 runners over the last decade, but it is usually won a by a high quality horse, with recent winners including ST MARK’S BASILICA, GOLDEN HORN, SO YOU THINK and 2010 Hong Kong Cup winner, SNOW FAIRY. Aiden O’Brien has sent out the last four winners, and 3YOs have been successful six times in the last ten years.
Last year’s Champion Stakes was run on Soft ground with a field of seven going to post. STONE AGE jumped quickly from the inside and soon took up the running, the favourite, VADENI, along with both ONESTO and MISHRIFF, were all waited with. STONE AGE ran them along at a solid gallop, and with 800m to go there, but STONE AGE started to increase the tempo, and was four-lengths clear as they entered the straight, but being ridden along. It was at this point that those at the back started to lay down their challenges, with ONESTO along the inside, whilst LUXEMBOURG and VADENI came through the middle, and MISHRIFF started to wind up from the back on the outside. STONE AGE was picked off 200m from home with ONESTO and LUXEMBOURG settling down to fight it out, and in a stirring finish it was LUXEMBOURG who came out on top by half a length to ONESTO, whilst VADENI darted back to the inside to grab third.
The weather forecast for Leopardstown during the week is for mostly sunny days but there is a chance of rain on both the Thursday and the Friday prior race day. The forecast is suggesting if the rain does arrive it will only be light, and if the forecast is correct, it shouldn’t have too much impact on the going.
Disclaimer:
The above content and information are the personal views and/or opinions of each individual writer and do not represent the views of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and/or its subsidiaries (together, the "HKJC"). The content and information are provided by the writers solely for entertainment purpose only, and should not be construed as a suggestion for anyone to place any bet nor should they be taken and/or relied upon as advice of any kind. The above content and information have not been verified, confirmed and/or endorsed by HKJC and HKJC shall not be liable to any person for any loss or damage suffered by such person as a result of any use or reliance of the above content or information.
HKJC shall not be required to give and does not give any warranty, whether express or implied, arising out of or in connection with the content or information. The Club disclaims any responsibility and accepts no liability (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for any direct or indirect loss of damage arising from any inaccuracies, omission or typographical errors that may be contained therein. The Club also does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or fitness for purpose of any such information.
