Race type - Mixed
Leicester
Course details
Leicester is one of the most modern racecourses in the country. In the Autumn Leicester really comes into its own with the running of several high-class maiden races; some of the best horses to grace the flat have started out at Leicester. With the uphill finish winners always comes from off the pace, which is worth bearing in mind if you are betting in-running.
GUIDE - For Racecourse
Right-handed, mixed, oval of about 1m5f, 3f spur for races up to 7f.
Established in 1882 on the closure of nearby Victoria Park, Leicester is now one of the most modern courses in the country and is busy throughout the summer months. However, it's in the autumn when the course really comes into its own with the running of several high class maiden races, and some of the best horses to grace the flat have started out at Leicester. Racegoers can therefore often spot a future Group winner all from the luxury of the glass-fronted grandstand, which was opened in 1997. After racing, the local balti houses (recommended) are just a three mile taxi ride away in the city centre.
Track / Draw Bias
There used to be a distinct bias towards those horse drawn middle to low but this has all but disappeared in recent seasons, although low numbers still enjoy a slight edge on the straight course in races up to a mile.
Principal Races
The early season highlight is the Leicestershire Stakes, which is a Listed contest for four-year-olds and upwards over 7f. The same distance is covered by runners in the valuable Charnwood Forest Fillies' Conditions Stakes in late May. However, it's the autumn schedule that really gets the blood pumping with the maidens chock-full of talent, while the two Conditions Stakes (Sir Gordon Richards and Wreake Fillies') run here later in the season always attract some decent sorts.
Course Characteristics
Leicester is a conventional oval-shaped track with a chute at the end of the home straight for races up to 7f. All races beyond that distance start on the back straight with the longest race run being over 1m4f. The turn into the home straight is wide and sweeping and horses therefore can race unchecked and don't tend to become unbalanced, which can happen at the sharper tracks. This is what encourages the top trainers to run their better juveniles here and it's the big galloping types that do best. Runners on the straight course have to race downhill for the first 4f and then uphill all the way to the finish, which places an emphasis on stamina especially when the ground is riding on the soft side of good. Due to the uphill finish, it is not easy to front run here and the winner nearly always comes from off the pace, which is worth bearing in mind if you are betting in-running.
Top Trainers
Mark Johnson makes regular forays from his Middleham base and his record here is second to none with 26 winners in the past five seasons. His strike rate of 22% is even more impressive when you consider he runs more horses here than any other trainer. Both Richard Hannon and Mick Channon are not too far behind in terms of runners but their strike rates are less impressive at around the 15% mark. Clearly a selective approach is required but you could have backed all of Saeed Bin Suroor's runners in the past five seasons and made a profit. With a bigger stable than ever for 2012, the Godolphin trainer should continue to keep his followers happy.
Top Jockeys
With racing tending to take place midweek, all the big-name jockeys ride regularly here and that is reflected in the winners table with Ryan Moore, Kieren Fallon, Jamie Spencer and Frankie Dettori leading the way. With both Paul Hanagan and Silvestre De Sousa (now retained by ) expected to ride here more often in 2012, they too should become regulars on the scoresheet.