 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 (Queen Anne Stakes Day):
Ascot is a large right-handed galloping triangular shaped track, just over 2800m in circumference, with a straight run of 500m on the round course. There is a straight 1600m course, which all races below 1600m are held. There are two start points for races run over 1600m, one on the round course and the other on the straight 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 (including the length of the straight course), Ascot suits hold-up horses, and front-runners need to be ridden conservatively to ensure they save energy, although on-pace runners do tend to perform strongly over the 1000m.
Queen Anne Stakes Day, day 1 of the Royal Ascot meeting see’s seven turf races for coverage.
For the races on round course, the 1594m G1 St James's Palace 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.
For the 1993m Listed Wolferton Stakes, they start in back straight and travel downhill for approximately 200m before levelling out at Swindley Bottom and turning into a straight that sees a steady rise to the home turn, then enter the 500m home straight and run uphill until the finish. Statistically speaking, barriers are of little consequence, but like most races on the round course, horses ridden with patience tend to do well.
For the 2831m Copper Horse Stakes, they start from half way up the straight course. After passing the winning post they run downhill, turning right onto the far side straight, before heading onto Swindley bottom and turning onto another straight, that gently rises. They then enter the 500m home straight and run uphill until the finish. Barriers are of no consequence, but it is a stamina testing contest and although those on the front will be afforded every opportunity in steadily run races, backmarkers are suited in races run at an honest tempo as the uphill rise in the straight will take its toll on those ridden aggressively.
The 3991m Ascot Stakes is similar to Copper Horse Stakes, the only difference is the runners start toward the end of the straight course and have a long run before meeting the first turn.
Three races are on the straight course – the 1600m G1 Queen Anne Stakes, 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 1200m G2 Coventry Stakes, they will look to come down the centre, but can split into two and three groups in larger fields. The straight 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.
The G1 King Charles III Stakes (named as King’s Stand Stakes before) is over 1000m, they rarely split into more than one group, although they can drift to one side or the other over the latter stages. Unlike most race distances at Ascot, those on the front do perform well over 1000m, with eight of the last ten winners coming from up on the speed, but only BATTAASH in 2020, has made all.
Day 1 of the Royal meeting has seen Good in the going description in nine of the last ten years. The weather forecast suggests light showers in the lead-up and potentially during the meeting. However, there is no heavy rain being forecast and Ascot does drain well. If the forecasts are accurate, then it’s likely we will see Good in the going description this year, but it could be Good to Soft if the rain does arrive.
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