 Tim Carroll 's Bio | |
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| 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. | |
Epsom Racecourse – Track Analysis (Derby Stakes Day):
Epsom racecourse is unique in nature in that it is not a circuit, but a 2405m horseshoe shaped left handed turning track with a home straight of approximately 700m. All races further than 1403m start in the back straight, and races held over 1203m and 1403m start from chutes which join onto the large home bend on the left hand side of the course. Races over 1000m are run on a straight course from a chute which joins the straight, left to right for the viewer, which is considered to be the quickest 1000m in world racing. The course itself is a quirky layout that initially takes slight right-hander, then climbs right up a protracted steep incline – 45m through the first 1200m, all the way to the top of the Tattenham Hill – before descending towards the notoriously wicked Tattenham Corner, followed by a pronounced camber in the stretch run that drops away severely from the grandstand rail to the far side rail, with the course rising 11m yet again in the final 200m. On soft ground they often head to the grandstand rail upon straightening, in search of drier ground, and this gives an advantage to horses on the front who can make the first move.
Eight turf races will be simulcast from the Derby Stakes Day this year.
For the 1000m 'Dash' Handicap and 3yo 0-90 Handicap, the stalls see low numbers toward the far side, which is the case for all races. They jump and go downhill until the closing stages where they meet an incline to the finish. There are very few races held over 1000m at Epsom during the course of the year, thus we don’t have much to go on. However, it is considered there is no draw bias over this trip except in larger fields, where higher draws tend to do well, as riders can grab a spot close to the grandstand rail where the camber is slightly less severe.
For the 1203m 4yo+ 86-105 Handicap, they jump from a chute that joins the crown of the home bend. They then go around the turn, which is known as Tattenham Corner, before entering the straight for what is a downhill run before going slightly uphill over the closing stages. There is no draw bias as such, but due to the layout, riders can get boxed in from low draws, thus middle draws do tend to give more options.
Both Diomed Stakes and Princess Elizabeth Stakes are the G3 races over 1703m, there is no draw bias. They jump from toward the end of the back straight, said loosely given it’s snake like shape, and head uphill before coming onto the bend where the track levels out, they then go downhill onto Tattenham Corner, before entering the straight, continuing to head downhill before meeting rising ground toward the finish.
The 2015m Hong Kong Jockey Club Lester Piggott Handicap has similar characteristics to the 1703m. They start from half way up the back straight, head up hill, before meeting level ground as they swing onto the bend, then head downhill, onto Tattenham Corner, into the straight, where they are still going downhill before meeting rising ground over the concluding stages.
The feature race G1 Derby Stakes and 4yo+ 86-105 Handicap are both over 2405m. Runners jump from the end of the horseshoe on the top right hand side of the track, and head uphill, turning slightly left not long after leaving the gates, they then head along the back straight, which is all uphill, until they meet the starting point of the bend. The first 1000m of the race sees a steep incline of approximately 45m in total, which levels out before heading downhill around Tattenham Corner. They then enter the straight, which continues downhill, before heading uphill over the concluding stages, and all of this on a straight with a severe camber, thus why Epsom is considered the ultimate test of a racehorse. Despite all its idiosyncrasies, it’s generally a fair course in terms of the draw over 2405m. Of the last ten winners, eight have been ridden from midfield or held up, only SERPENTINE in 2020 has made all. It’s worth noting that Irish trainer, Aiden O’Brien, has won five of the last ten renewals, and only one of those went off favourite.
Last year's Derby Stakes was run on good to firm ground with a field of 14 going to post. On leaving the stalls the favourite, ARREST, took up the running, closely followed by ADELAIDE RIVER, DUBAI MILE and SAN ANTONIO, whilst AUGUSTE RODIN and KING OF STEEL were in midfield. ADELAIDE RIVER took over on the front after they had gone 400m, with SAN ANTONIO moving up on his outside, whilst the rider of ARREST, Frankie Dettori, allowed the favourite to slip back to third on the outside. As they galloped off Tattenham Corner the tempo of the race increased, with several riders starting to urge their horses along. When they came into the straight SAN ANTONIO and ADELAIDE RIVER were both having a battle on the front, but it was apparent that ARREST was struggling as several of those ridden patiently were starting to make headway. Both SAN ANTONIO and ADELAIDE RIVER hoisted the white flag 400m from home, and it was at this point KING OF STEEL burst through to take over, quickly opening a three-length margin, but AUGUSTE RODIN started to chase the leader with plenty of purpose, as the pair cleared out from the others. AUGUSTE RODIN, who was given a perfect ride by Ryan Moore, got to KING OF STEEL 100m out, and whilst KING OF STEEL dug deep having got to the front a long way out, he wasn’t able to repel the challenge of AUGUSTE RODIN who went on to win by half -a-length from KING OF STEEL, with WHITE BIRCH picking up the pieces late to finish third, in a time that was 1.32 seconds faster than standard.
The last ten renewals of the Derby have seen good in the going description on each occasion. The weather forecast predicts a chance of light rain during the week and on race day. However, Epsom does drain well and unless the rain is heavier than what is being forecast, it is likely the meeting will once again be run on going with good in the description.
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