 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 (Commonwealth 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.
Commonwealth Cup Day, day 4 of the Royal Ascot meeting see’s seven turf races for coverage.
For the races on the round course, the 1594m G1 Coronation Stakes, they start from a chute at the top of the course on the right-hand side, and re-joins the course proper midway through the Swinley Bottom. In other words, from the lowest point of the entire Round Course, they will attack straight up a steady incline before hitting the home bend and entering the 500m straight, meanwhile racing continuously uphill, all the way to the finish. There is no draw bias, but horses ridden with restraint usually do well.
Both G2 King Edward VII Stakes and the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes are over 2392m. The draw on the round course is of little consequence, although high drawn horses do have a good record in both of these races in recent years. Over 2392m they start at the top of the back straight and have a nice long downhill run before levelling out at Swindley Bottom and turning into a straight that gently rises down the side of the course onto a sweeping home turn entering the 500m uphill straight. Horses on the front will be afforded every opportunity in steadily run races, but races run at a decent gallop will suit back-markers as the uphill rise will take its toll on those ridden aggressively.
For the four races on the straight course, the 1000m Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes, the 1200m G3 Albany Stakes and the G1 Commonwealth Cup, as well as the 1600m Sandringham 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. With the straight course being 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 for 1000m. However, the further they go the more it suits horses ridden patiently, and those ridden with restraint normally do well.
The feature race G1 Commonwealth Cup is a recent edition to the Royal meeting, with the first running held in 2015. Given the uphill nature of the straight course, its no surprise that seven of the nine winners have either sat mid division or been held-up, although CAMPANELLE in 2021 made all, which is the only time the race has been run on Heavy going.
Last year’s Commonwealth Cup saw a field of 13 go to post. On leaving the stalls SWINGALONG was sent straight to the front with the favourite, LITTLE BIG BEAR also prominent along with QUEEN ME, whilst SHAQUILLE found himself last and slightly detached after losing several lengths having reared as the stalls opened. The entire field elected to come down the centre of track, and at the halfway mark, there was no change in the order with SWINGALONG still leading by a narrow margin from LITTLE BIG BEAR, whilst SHAQUILLE had tacked on at the back but was now taking a tug under his rider, Oisin Murphy. At the furlong pole it was still SWINGALONG and LITTLE BIG BEAR battling it out on the front with the others seemingly struggling except for SHAQUILLE, who despite coming from what looked a hopeless position, was finishing strongly on the inside. SHAQUILLE grabbed the leading pair close to home to record a remarkable victory with LITTLE BIG BEAR one-and-a-quarter-lengths behind in second whilst SWINGALONG held on for third, that was 0.85 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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