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.

ParisLongchamp Racecourse – Track Analysis (Prix du Moulin de Longchamp):

ParisLongchamp, where holds more than half of the G1 races contested in France, is an interlaced right-handed track with five different combinations, including three circular tracks, large (2750m), medium (2500m), small (2150m), a straight course (1000m), and there is also a chute which begins at the furthest point away from the stands on the right hand side, this is known as the ‘new track’ (1400m). The chute joins the large circular main course before taking in both the false and main straight. The track does go up and down with the highest point (back of the course on the right-hand side) – the “Boulogne” section, where horses indeed “disappear” briefly from the grandstand into the woods – being nearly 30 metres above the lowest point (bottom of the course right-hand side).

All three circular courses join the main straight, with two winning posts in use, depending on the race distance. The straight-course dissects the large and medium circular tracks before joining the back straight of the small circular track in the centre of the course. They run the straight races right to left as viewed, the same as they do at Sha Tin over 1000m.

The G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp over 1600m, the start is situated approximately halfway down the back straight, and runners have a relatively short run to a sweeping bend that heads downhill, where they then bottom out before taking in both the false and home straight, which has a slight but testing uphill run to the finish. Over 1600m there is a barrier bias to horses that are drawn low. This is predominately due to the short run to the first bend.

Last year’s Prix du Moulin de Longchamp was run on Good to Soft ground and saw a field of eight go to post. On leaving the stalls the favourite, BIG ROCK, was a tad tardy out of the gates but was soon hustled along to take up the running with SAUTERNE sat in behind the leader on the inside, who was closely followed by EREVANN, whilst FACTEUR CHEVAL took up a position in midfield. BIG ROCK ensured the race was run at a solid gallop, and the strong tempo meant there was no change in the order with all eight runners entering the home straight in the same order they maintained throughout. BIG ROCK was driven along 400m from the finish, but was responding, however, SAUTERNE peeled off the leaders back to lay down the gauntlet at the 250m mark, with FACTEUR CHEVAL trying to join in out wider. To his credit, BIG ROCK, was finding plenty for pressure but SAUTERNE was able to level up with the favourite 80m from home and went on to win by a length with a further half-length back to the third, FACTEUR CHEVAL in a time that was 1.56 seconds slower than standard.    

The weather forecast suggests there will is a possibility of light rain during the week and on race day. Over the last ten renewals of the race there has been Good in the going description on eight occasions, which is still a possibility, but if the forecasts are correct, it’s likely to be Good to Soft at best.

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