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 (King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day)

Ascot is a large right-handed galloping triangular shaped track, just over 2800m in circumference, with a home straight run of 500m on the round course. There is a straight 1600m course, which all races below 1594m are held. On the straight course, low barriers are drawn on the far side. There are two starting points for races run over 1600m and 1594m, one on the straight course and the other on the round 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, Ascot suits hold-up horses, and front-runners need to be ridden conservatively to ensure they save energy.

King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day sees eight turf races for coverage.

There are six races on the straight course. For the 1000m 3yo+ Handicap, 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.

For the 1200m G3 Princess Margaret Stakes and 2yo Maiden, they will look to come down the centre, but can split into two and three groups in larger fields. The 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.

For both 1400m 3yo+ Handicap and the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes, and the 1600m 3yo+ 86-105 Handicap, 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.

The G3 Valiant Stakes and the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes are on the round course. The draw on the round course is of little consequence.

For the 1594m G3 Valiant 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 featured race, G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes 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 steady straight rise 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.

Last year’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes was run on Good to Soft ground and saw a field of ten runners go to post. On leaving the stalls, PYLEDRIVER hit the ground running but was soon headed by BOLSHOI BALLET and POINT LONSDALE, as HUKUM tracked the leaders with WESTOVER planted wide to the outside of KING OF STEEL, whilst the favourite, AUGUSTE RODIN, was waited with toward the rear. At the 1400m mark POINT LONSDALE was a neck in front of BOLSHOI BALLET and with the two Aidan O’Brien runners ensuring an honest gallop, there was no change in the complexion of the race. However, when they swung the bend approaching the 600m mark the favourite AUGUSTE RODIN started to drop away and it was obvious that his race was over. As they straightened up the two leaders gave way with LUXEMBOURG on the inside and PYLEDRIVER on the outside taking over, but WESTOVER, who had sat wide for much of the contest delivered a strong challenge on the outside of PYLEDRIVER to hit the front at the 400m mark. However, HUKUM, who was given an energy conserving ride by Jim Crowley, came with a fresh challenge and the two settled down to fight out a stirring finish, but it was HUKUM who prevailed by a narrow margin (head) from a very game WESTOVER whilst KING OF STEEL was nearly five-lengths back in third.

The weather forecast suggests mostly fine days in the lead-up, but with a chance of light rain. If the forecast is correct, it’s likely that there will be Good in the going description once again this year.

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