Sectional Debrief: Day One Newmarket July Meeting

Betfair King George Day at Ascot's loss was the Newmarket July Meeting's gain, as TurfTrax chose to cover the latter rather than the former, following logistical problems with producing accurate and timely sectionals during Royal Ascot.

There is little historical data at the Newmarket July course, so analysis has to be somewhat circumspect. We should know a fair bit more about what is required from a sectional point of view by the end of the week.

The official going was given as "Soft". Time analysis suggests that was correct for races at beyond a mile but that it might well have been a bit less testing than that at shorter distances.

Final-three-furlong sectionals are given below for display purposes but, as explained previously, final-two-furlong sectionals are usually more appropriate for races at shorter distances.

• The fastest opening furlong was recorded by Solemn (13.35 sec, 33.70 mph from a standing start) in the concluding five-furlong handicap.
• The fastest furlong was recorded by Taurus Twins (10.56 sec, 42.61 mph) in the second furlong of that same five-furlong race.
• The fastest final furlong was recorded by Certify (12.45 sec, 36.14 mph) in winning the six-furlong maiden for two-year-old fillies.
• Certify not only ran faster overall than Group 2 winner Alhebayeb at the same distance earlier on the card, she did so with a remarkable burst of speed that saw her post an 11.06 sec penultimate furlong (40.69 mph) and cover the last two furlongs 0.83 sec faster than that useful colt.
• Sectional analysis suggests that the early pace in the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes - set by Harris Tweed - was stronger than ideal, with Fiorente posting comfortably the slowest time by a winner for the final furlong (14.16 sec, 31.78 mph) and the slowest in terms of finishing speed as a percentage of speed for the overall race.
• Jedward won the concluding handicap without running any of the five furlongs the fastest in the 15-runner field. However, all bar the middle furlong saw her in the four fastest in the field, and she led from soon after the first furlong.

......
Get Newmarket tips with Timeform TV Focus - Now over £2000 profit to £20 stakes. Find out more HERE.