 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 (Gold Cup 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.
Gold Cup Day, day 3 of the Royal Ascot meeting sees seven turf races will be simulcast to Hong Kong.
There are three races on the straight course, the 1000m G2 Norfolk Stakes, the 1400m Buckingham Palace Stakes and the 1600m Britannia Stakes. In smaller fields they tend to come down the centre of the track, but can split into two, and sometimes even three groups, in larger fields. Although uphill nearly all the way, speed horses do have a decent record over this trip, but if they go too quickly on the front, the closers will dominate. A footnote for the 1600m Britannia Stakes that this is a race that has seen several recent winners (LIMITLESS, BORN IN CHINA, BEAUTY FLAME) purchased by Hong Kong connections.
For the races on round course, the 1993m G3 Hampton Court 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. They 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 courses, horses ridden with patience tend to do well.
Both King George V Stakes and the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes are over 2392m, which is similar to the 1993m. The only difference is that the runners start from the highest point of the course, which is on the top of the back straight for 2392m, then head downhill for nearly 400m to the Swindley Bottom.
The feature race, G1 Gold Cup over 3991m, they start on the straight course, near the 1200m start, and have a long up-hill run before meeting the first turn. After passing the winning post they head 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 a true tempo as the uphill rise in the straight will take its toll on those ridden aggressively.
Last year’s Gold Cup saw a field of twelve go to post. On leaving the stalls the 2021 winner, SUBJECTIVIST, took up the running as LONE EAGLE took a keen hold directly behind the leader with both EMILY DICKINSON and BROOME in close attendance, whilst COLTRANE, tracked the leading quartet and those waited with included COURAGE MON AMI and YIBIR. At the halfway point there had been no change, with the rider on SUBJECTIVIST ensuring a sensible but not an overly taxing gallop. At the 800m mark LONE EAGLE moved up on the outside of SUBJECTIVIST to lay down a challenge as the rest of the field started to make their moves. As they came into the straight, the entire field was being rowed along and LONE EAGLE did briefly head SUBJECTIVIST, but COLTRANE soon grabbed the pair with EMILY DICKINSON and COURAGE MON AMI, who had taken the inside route around the bend, also within striking distance. At the 400m mark LONE EAGLE hoisted the white flag as COLTRANE and the rallying SUBJECTIVIST went by, but no sooner had COLTRANE got the better of that argument that COURAGE MON AMI peeled off their backs to eyeball COLTRANE with the pair fighting out the finish over the concluding stages. However, COURAGE MON AMI dug deep to prevail by three-quarters-of-a-length, with SUBJECTIVIST four-and-a-half-lengths back in third, in a time that was 0.47 seconds slower than standard.
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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