 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. | |
ParisLongchamp Racecourse – Track Analysis (Poule d'Essai des Poulains Day):
ParisLongchamp, where holds more than half of the G1 races contested in France, is an interlaced right-handed track with five different combinations, including three circular tracks, large (2750m), medium (2500m), small (2150m), a straight course (1000m), and there is also a chute which begins at the furthest point away from the stands on the right hand side, this is known as the ‘new track’ (1400m). The chute joins the large circular main course before taking in both the false and main straight. The track does go up and down with the highest point (back of the course on the right-hand side) – the “Boulogne” section, where horses indeed “disappear” briefly from the grandstand into the woods – being nearly 30 metres above the lowest point (bottom of the course right-hand side).
All three circular courses join the main straight, with two winning posts in use, depending on the race distance. The straight-course dissects the large and medium circular tracks before joining the back straight of the small circular track in the centre of the course. They run the straight races right to left as viewed, the same as they do at Sha Tin over 1000m.
The Poule d'Essai des Poulains Day sees five turf races for coverage.
For the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains over 1600m, start is situated approximately halfway down the back straight, and runners have a relatively short run to a sweeping bend that heads downhill, where they then bottom out before taking in both the false and home straight, which has a slight but testing uphill run to the finish. The Poule d'Essai des Poulains, sees a notable barrier bias to horses that are drawn low. This is predominately due to the short run to the first bend, and the large field the race usually attracts. With the straight having a slight incline most of the way to the finish, horses ridden aggressively usually find it difficult to hold off the finishers.
Last year’s Poule d’Essai des Poulians was run on Very Soft ground and saw a field of nine go to post. On leaving the stalls, VALIMI took up the running with KENDLY to his outside, ISAAC SHELBY tracked the leader, with MARHABA YA SANAFI on that one’s outside, whilst AMERICAN FLAG was slightly tardy out of the stalls. The race barely changed complexion and as they entered the home straight it was still VALIMI that led with several, including AMERICAN FLAG starting to be pushed along. ISAAC SHELBY got up the inside of VALIMI 200m from the finish to take over, but no sooner had he got to the front than MARHABA YA SANAFI laid down a challenge on the outside as the pair settled down to fight it out, with MARHABA YA SANAFI just getting the better of the argument right on the line to win by a short head with BREIZH SKY picking up the pieces late to finish third behind in a time that was 3.36 seconds slower than standard.
For another 1600m G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, it sees a barrier bias to horses that are drawn low, although not as significant as the colts division. This is predominately due to the short run to the first bend, and the large field the race usually attracts. With the straight having a slight incline most of the way to the finish, horses ridden aggressively usually find it difficult to hold off the finishers.
Last year’s Poule d’Essai des Poulichs was run on Very Soft ground and saw a field of ten go to post. On leaving the stalls, SWINGALONG bounced quickly from the outside stall to look for the front with BLUE ROSE CEN hard up against the rail also prominent, but as they approached the first bend, SAUTERNE darted between the pair to take the lead. BLUE ROSE CEN was able to grab the leaders back as SWINGALONG was left outside the leader cutting the breeze, with KELINA and QUICKSTEP in close attendance behind the leading trio. The race held that shape until they came into the home straight where BLUE ROSE CEN moved nicely, as did LINDY, who was starting to make up ground from the rear. BLUE ROSE CEN grabbed SAUTERNE 250m from the finish and quickly went clear to win by a length and three quarters, whilst LINDY ran over the top of SAUTERNE to grab second spot in a time that was 3.04 seconds slower than standard.
The 1400m Class 3 Handicap is on the new track. The start is from a chute at the top far right side of the course known as the new track. They run downhill before joining the large round course, where they start to turn right. They then bottom out before taking in both the false and home straight, which sees a slight but testing uphill run to the finish. There is no notable barrier bias, however, the straight has a slight incline all the way to the finish and horses ridden aggressively usually find it difficult to hold off the finishers.
The 2000m Class 2 Handicap and G2 Prix Saint-Alary are on the large circular course. The starting gate is from the far side of the course opposite the main grandstand on the large round course. On leaving the barriers they have a straight, but uphill run for nearly 600m before arriving at the highest point of the track near the 1400m chute (new track) whilst turning onto the sweeping home bend. This leads onto the false straight then onto the home straight for the uphill run home. There is no barrier bias over this trip.
The weather forecast suggests that it will be mostly clear weather in the week leading up and on race day itself. The last ten renewals have seen everything from good to heavy ground. If the forecast is correct, there is a strong possibility that there will be good in the description again on race day.
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