Royal Ascot, From The Saddle: “You Have To Stay Patient”

ROYAL ASCOT needs little introduction. Across five days next week, more than a quarter of a million people will descend on the famous Berkshire track for an event that blends world-class racing with pomp, prestige and pageantry.

It’s the week in the British Flat season when every rider – local and international – wants to shine as they compete over 35 races, including eight Group 1s and over £10 million in prize money.

From the opening G1 Queen Anne down the stiff straight mile to the tactical contests that begin at the tight one mile and six furlongs start in front of the grandstand, each race brings its own test, and understanding the nuances of every start, bend and finish can be the difference between a fantastic or frustrating week.

But before you have the challenge of tackling the tough track, another obstacle arises. For Britain’s four-time champion jockey, Oisin Murphy, the all-important moments are before the gates crash open.

“The most important thing for me is the preliminaries,” Murphy told Idol Horse. “Ascot is quite unique with the crowd and the noise, so you try and get them to post as calmly as you can and also make sure they’re listening to you. 

“On the way to the gate I might do some walk, trot and canter transitions. Maybe I’ll canter a bit faster, then back to a slow canter, walk and stop, just to make sure there is good communication between myself and the horse.”

Even the more experienced horses that are used to quieter racecourses can be affected and lit up on the way to post by the noise and heaving grandstand.

“And that’s not just the two-year-olds, even the handicappers might be asleep on a Monday at Windsor or a Thursday at Sandown, so it’s important to get them there as calmly as possible.”

Then, once the last runner is loaded into the stalls and the gates fly open, there in front of each and every rider is either an undulating straight run for home, or a right-handed track with a two-and-a-half-furlong straight that demands patience, precision and judgement.

Idol Horse spoke to some of the world’s top jockeys to gain an insight into the challenges each distance presents and the best ways to gain an advantage at the track.

Five Furlongs (1000m) 

Races: G1 King Charles III Stakes, G2 Queen Mary Stakes, Listed Windsor Castle Stakes, G2 Norfolk Stakes, Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap 

The straight five furlongs has an uphill finish to the highest point on the course, which is just past the winning post. With big fields common over the minimum distance, they can often split into two groups or three.

Andrea Atzeni: “The straight course is very stiff and you don’t want to get going too early. A lot of the time they get racing too far out and it’s a very stiff finish, so you can see lots of horses winning from behind.”

Zac Purton: “The straight track is a bit undulating but I think it’s important not to complicate things in those 1000m races.”

Six Furlongs (1200m) 

Races: G2 Coventry Stakes, G3 Albany Stakes, G1 Commonwealth Cup, G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, Wokingham Handicap

The straight six-furlong course is similar to the minimum distance with its uphill finish. Big fields are also common here and a draw/pace bias can come into play.

Oisin Murphy: “I often wait a little bit on the straight course. When you are waiting, you want to creep into the race for as long as you can and not exert much energy before saving that little burst for as long as you can.

“Of course, you’re looking at what’s around and what can take you into the race without your horse realising that it’s progressing into the race. Then, with the stringent stick rules in Britain, you have to be cautious to save your whip till as late as possible. 

“If you have to give your horse a reminder passing the two [furlong marker], it’s unlikely you’re going to win.”

Seven Furlongs (1400m) 

Races: Buckingham Palace Handicap, Listed Chesham Stakes, G3 Jersey Stakes

The seven-furlong course undulates before an uphill drag to the winning post.

Andrea Atzeni: “Whether it’s a mile, seven furlongs, six furlongs or five furlongs on the straight course, you have to stay patient, and that’s why a jockey like Jamie Spencer does so well on it.

“With regards to any potential draw bias, the important thing is looking at where the speed is drawn. They usually split into two groups on the straight course in those big handicaps and if you give the other group four or five lengths at the start, it’s almost impossible to win.”

Straight Mile (1600m) 

Races: G1 Queen Anne Stakes, Royal Hunt Cup, Kensington Palace Handicap, Britannia Handicap

The longest distance on the straight course, which undulates before the uphill climb to the winning post. Here again, when fields split into groups there can often be a pace/draw bias.

Oisin Murphy: “The straight mile and the round mile are very different. There are certain biases on the straight course, especially with big fields. As Andrea mentioned, having the pace on your side of the draw and having something to drag you into the race can be a big advantage.

“You definitely have a few more options on the straight mile.”

Zac Purton: “I watched Frankel demolish the field in the Queen Anne the race before (Little Bridge won the King’s Stand Stakes) and that gave me the path that I wanted to take straight up the middle of the track.

“When you go from the chute and onto the course proper, the grass feels like it changes a little bit. The ground is a bit softer than what we have here in Hong Kong.”

Old (Round) Mile (1600m)

Races: G1 St James’s Palace Stakes, G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, G1 Coronation Stakes, Sandringham Handicap

The Old Mile start begins at the lowest point on the course and gradually rises to the tight bend into the home straight, which is two and a half furlongs in length. 

Oisin Murphy: “The draw can be a major disadvantage on the round course because they can go steady on the lead and it can really suit a front-runner – like it did when I won the Duke Of Cambridge on Running Lion. 

“If you want to take your time on the round course you’re going to need luck. It can be a lot more tactical and you can generally get a lot more hard luck stories on there.”

1m 2f (2000m)

Races: Listed Wolferton Stakes, G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, G3 Hampton Court Stakes, Golden Gates Handicap

Downhill from the start for two furlongs to Swinley Bottom before turning and climbing thereafter.

Oisin Murphy: “The 10-furlong start can be tricky because you’re downhill straight into the turn and you can go pretty quick in the opening two furlongs without realising because you’re trying to get into a position.

“You’re basically turning most of the way and while you can give them a kick to go forward from the 10 or 12-furlong start, you can light them up and they can over-race – even a horse that doesn’t normally pull can be very keen.

“You can definitely waste too much energy early and it could suit a horse held up and coming from last.”

1m 4f (2400m)

Races: King George V Handicap, G2 Ribblesdale Stakes, Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap, G2 King Edward VII Stakes, G2 Hardwicke Stakes

Downhill for half a mile to Swinley Bottom 

Andrea Atzeni: “The draw is important because you come out of the gates and you’re running downhill until the bend. A lot of times they can go quite fast into that bend and steady the pace up afterwards, so ideally you want to get into a good position before the corner.

“It starts rising from the seven-furlong marker and you can afford to kick on if they’re not going quick enough.”

1m 6f (2800m)

Races: Copper Horse Handicap, G2 Queen’s Vase

Start in front of the grandstand before a short downhill run to the first turn. The first bend rises before a gradual descent until Swinley Bottom.

Andrea Atzeni: “The start over 1m6f is very tricky. You don’t have long before you get to the first bend and usually there can be big fields over that distance, so an early position is key. 

“The more ground you can save, the better. If you get three wide without cover it feels a long way from home and it’s impossible really.”

Zac Purton: “It’s pretty tight passing the winning post and around that first bend. It’s like a lot of tracks in Europe in that it’s a bit of an odd shape but it’s looked after very well.” ∎

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