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.

Leopardstown Racecourse – Track Analysis (Irish Champion Stakes Day)

Leopardstown, which is located close to Dublin, is a wide left-handed oval track 2800m in circumference. The track is fairly flat, although the home straight, which is approximately 450m, sees a slight gradual rise the entire length. With sweeping turns, it is considered a galloping track, but riders need to be careful they don’t go too early, as the rise in the straight will catch them out. There is no barrier bias to report although races over 1200m, which are rare, see the field turn quickly after leaving the gates and low draws are preferred.

This year, eight turf races from the Irish Champion Stakes Day will be simulcast to Hong Kong.

The G2 Golden Fleece Stakes, G2 Solonaway Stakes, G1 Matron Stakes and the HKJC World Pool Autumn Fillies Handicap, all over 1600m, they start from the back straight and the field have a decent run before approaching a bend that leads onto a short straight and then the big sweeping home turn and into the main straight. There is no barrier bias. Runners for the 1465m Listed Ingabelle Stakes and one of the 3yo+ Handicap races will roughly travel the same trip as 1600m. The only difference is that the starting gate is in the halfway up the back straight and there is only a 200m short run-in before the turn. There is a very even spread of winners from high, middle and low draws.

For the 2400m G3 Kilternan Stakes, they start from the bottom right hand side of the track, approximately 400m after the winning line. They move quickly onto a bend before heading down the back straight and onto a slight dogleg before heading onto the sweeping home turn and into the straight. Although they turn quickly after jumping, there is also no barrier bias. The 2600m 3yo+ Handicap, runners jump from the end of the home straight, approximately 165m after the winning post. They meet the first turn fairly quickly but there is no barrier bias.

The feature race G1 Irish Champion Stakes over 2000m starts from the back of the track on the far right side. They jump and immediately turn slightly before travelling down the back straight onto a slight bend, then will travel the same trip as 1600m till the winning post. The field size has been small in recent years with an average of 7.6 runners, but it is usually won a by a high quality horse, with recent winners including AUGUSTE RODIN, ST MARK’S BASILICA, GOLDEN HORN, SO YOU THINK and 2010 Hong Kong Cup winner, SNOW FAIRY. Favourites have won five of the last ten renewals. Aidan O’Brien has trained the winner of the race on twelve occasions, including the last five, however he’s the only Irish trainer to have won the race since 2009. Ryan Moore has ridden the winner five times in the last ten years, four of which were for Aidan O’Brien. 3YO’s have been successful seven times in the last ten years.

Last year’s Champion Stakes was run on Good to Firm ground with a field of eight going to post. On leaving the stalls the three Aidan O’Brien runners were sent forward as LUXEMBOURG took up the running from POINT LONSDALE with the favourite, AUGUSTE RODIN on the inside in third, whilst KING OF STEEL sat midfield, with the only filly in the contest, NASHWA waited with toward the back. The race was run at a solid gallop which ensured there was little change in the order and at the halfway stage LUXEMBOURG was half-a-length in front of POINT LONSDALE with a further two-lengths back to AUGUSTE RODIN with the eight runners well strung out. At the 600m mark POINT LONSDALE was starting to be urged along but both LUXEMBOURG and AUGUSTE RODIN were moving strongly as KING OF STEEL and NASHWA commenced to pick up from further back. It wasn’t until 200m from home that AUGUSTE RODIN was able to get his head in front of LUXEMBOURG, who was fighting back tenaciously on the rail, with NASHWA being delivered on the outside. However, AUGUSTE RODIN found enough to win by half-a-length from LUXEMBOURG, with NASHWA a short head third. 

The weather forecast for Leopardstown during the week is for mostly sunny days but there is a chance of rain on both the Thursday and the Friday prior race day. The forecast is suggesting if the rain does arrive it will only be light, and if the forecast is correct, it shouldn’t have too much impact on the going.

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