Irish NH Tracks

[Cymro]

Over the past few years I’ve developed a growing interest in Irish NH racing, mainly by watching each day’s highlights on the Racing TV app every night after work. I’m particularly interested in the spread of courses, how frequently (or infrequently) they hold meetings and the different characteristics of each one. Conscious this is very much subjective but if a blanket was placed on each NH track in terms of them being classed as Premier, Middle or Gaff tracks (the loosest of definitions, I admit) would they look something like this:

PREMIER: Leopardstown, Punchestown, Fairyhouse, Down Royal, Navan, Naas
MIDDLE: Gowran Park, Galway, Cork, Thurles, Limerick, Tramore
GAFF: Bellewstown, Killarney, Ballinrobe, Roscommon, Kilbeggan, Listowel, Wexford, Sligo, Tipperary, Downpatrick

More than happy to be pulled up (pardon the pun) on any of the above. Just keen to learn.

[Cork All Star]

I think that is broadly right.

Down Royal is only Premier because of the November meeting. Otherwise it is middle or even gaff some of the time.

Tramore is only middle because of New Year’s Day. Otherwise it is mostly gaff bar the occasional good novice hurdler turning up (Gaelic Warrior, El Fabiolo).

It is a little harsh on Listowel. I would put that as a middle track. Tipperary also has some decent jumps action at a mixed meeting in early October.

[Cymro]

Thanks for the reply and happy to be corrected. As my natural inclination is to be attracted by the lesser lights of life, which are the gaffest of the gaff tracks?

I’ve enjoyed reading up on Bellewstown. It is classed as a village on Wikipedia and until recently, only raced over one weekend a year. It now hosts nine race days every year, but hurdle-only and no chases. A touch of the Irish Cartmel about it and I’m guessing this would be one?

Also Roscommon, Ballinrobe, Killarney, Sligo, Wexford and Kilbeggan too?

[Kendicate]

Great thread Cymro!

I reckon you are about right. the gaff rating seems to follow when they race – gaff ones mostly race in the summer. I would put kilbeggan down as on of the gaffest, the finishing post on the bend always makes me chuckle. Definitely one I would like to visit one day.

I would keep listowel in the gaff category based on the form of that track is rarely much value going into the winter season. Cork is my least favourite, just very dull, flat and uniform. I always find the form at Navan, Naas and Thurles worth following at festivals.

You have missed out Clonmel which I would put in the middle – feels like chepstow the other way round with a much shorter straight. So probably not like Chepstow at all.

[Cork All Star]

I have just realised Clonmel is missing from your list. I would put it in the middle group.

Of the gaff tracks on your list, I have visited: Bellewstown, Ballinrobe, Listowel, Wexford, Sligo and Downpatrick. However, it was on the Flat at Bellewstown and Sligo and was a mixed meeting at Listowel.

From a jumps perspective, I think Bellewstown and Sligo would be the gaffest from watching on television. I think both tracks would be better off going Flat only. Due to their locations, neither can race in the winter, so the jumps will only ever be modest fare.

I agree Bellewstown is rather like Cartmel but it also reminds me of Brighton. It is at the top of a hill with a view of the sea.

[Cymro]

Thanks both. Also to Kendicate, any racecourse-related reply that includes the phrase “one of the gaffest” is guaranteed to get my attention!

I’m annoyed at myself for omitting Clonmel. I’d written my list down first to ensure I didn’t miss any – with Clonmel in the middle tier, as suggested – but still forgot to add it above.

Great stuff on Kilbeggan, Sligo and Bellewstown. I was watching a video on YouTube the other night of Jerry Hannon’s best commentaries – guaranteed to divide a few on here! – and noticed one of the track’s finishing lines was at the end of a bend. It was a right-handed track so must have been Kilbeggan.

Tramore seems one of the most underwhelming tracks. Despite being very undulating it just feels low key and dull. The infrastructure also looks dated and that wall as they go up and away from the stands does nothing for the aesthetics.

I’ve only ever visited two of the tracks, Fairyhouse and Cork, with the latter some 20 miles north in Mallow! Agreed on it being quite flat and featureless…to continue the theme, maybe the Irish Ffos Las (and I say that as a proud Welshman!).

[Cymro]

On Leopardstown, is it the Irish equivalent of Cheltenham in that it only hosts big/important meetings? That’s the case from what I’ve seen, although I may be wrong on that.

[Cork All Star]

I have visited Tramore, in fact it is the last Irish track I visited back in that pro-lockdown world of 2019.

I quite liked it. I agree the infrastructure does look a bit dated but it has a certain charm. And I like the Waterford and Tramore sign on the wall. Presumably that was the track’s official name once upon a time.

When I visited, it was a student day with lots of youngsters from Waterford University in attendance. Without them it would have been a very sparse crowd.

[Cork All Star]

Leopardstown doesn’t have that many jumps meetings. 4 days at Christmas, 2 days for the DRF and I think it may only have 1 other day. Quality rather than quantity.

In terms of infrastructure/facilities etc. I would rate it the best track in Ireland.

[Cymro]

Thanks Cork All Star. I’d forgotten about the Waterford and Tramore sign. Agreed, that’s a nice touch and an important nod to history.

Leopardstown is as I thought although I hadn’t realised it had less racedays over the jumps than Bellewstown! Obviously as a dual-purpose track it will have plenty of flat action during the summer too.

[befair]

And Laytown, of course, the gaffest of all

[Kendicate]

Laytown is flat only but yes probably needs a category all of its own.

I reckon the camera angles at Tramore probably don’t do it justice, I always think you need a jockey there who knows how to ride the course well. It can seem impossible to win from off the pace there when you watch it but seen it done plenty enough.

Leopardstwon definitely my favourite, didn’t comprehend the long uphill finish till I saw it in the flesh and according to google stiffer than cheltenham.

Punchestown was a great track to visit, loads of space to move about and no stress getting anything you wanted.

I would encourage anyone who hasn’t been racing in Ireland to try it – the only downside is you will feel short changed forever more by UK tracks and racing.

[bluechariot]

Bellewstown was a 2 day meeting back in the 60s, Wednesday and Thursday late June before the Irish Derby . The nearby large town of Drogheda had early closing (half day on a Wednesday) so the local folk went up to the “Hill” for the afternoon. No evening racing then. First race was usually about 3.00

Facilities were very basic for those paying admission into the enclosure. Most people stayed in the free area.

I am not sure who owns the land but it may have been common land with the racecourse committee having permission to run racedays. You can walk the track any time of the year on non racedays as it is open land.

Tallans was the pub beside the racecourse(now called the Bellewstown Inn) where the 3 card trick men would operate.

There was a steeplechase course back then with 2 chases a day. From memory they ran hurdle races on the inner track on the Wednesday and then flat races on the Thursday. There is now a pitch and putt course in the middle of the track. Prior to that it was gorse bushes, Barney hid in the gorse bushes before Yellow Sam.

Allangrange was the best horse to have run here, it won the Irish St Leger later on that season in 1970.That was when it was a 3yo classic unlike now. Trained by Seamus McGrath.

There was also a race called “Her Majesty’s Plate” which was sponsored by The Queen, I think it had a history of over 100 years.

The local trainers were Dick Hoey from nearby Julianstown. Phil McEntee was his stable jockey, father of Newmarket Trainer Phil . Eamon Delaney trained at Laytown.His son still trains there. The meeting was well supported by Northern Ireland trainers and punters as it was only about 35 miles from the border.

[bluechariot]

GRADE 1: Leopardstown, Punchestown, Fairyhouse, Navan, Naas. The Curragh

GRADE 2: Gowran Park, Galway, Cork, Limerick,

GRADE 3: Killarney, Roscommon, Listowel, Tipperary, Down Royal, Clonmel, Thurles

GAFF: Tramore. Bellewstown, Ballinrobe , Kilbeggan, Wexford, Sligo, Downpatrick. Laytown

My opinion

[Cork All Star]

Re the gaff tracks:

I think the standard of racing at Ballinrobe has improved in recent years. It is a nice track, spectators are welcomed and well looked after and a visit there is recommended.

I enjoyed Wexford more than I thought I would. It is not the prettiest track in Ireland but it had a nice atmosphere. The main problem is the track was changed a few years ago from a right handed to a left handed circuit. That means the finishing post is nowhere near the stands.

Downpatrick is a pleasant track. It has the feel of a point to point meeting.

Laytown is fun but the racing is obviously modest fare. It is well worth going and at 10 euros it was excellent value.

Sligo is the one track in Ireland that perhaps punches below its weight. It is in a beautiful setting, with Mount Benbulben providing a dramatic backdrop. But the racing is very average quality. To an extent I think it is a victim of geography. It is a long way from the main training centres and its stiff uphill finish perhaps puts off some trainers. I think it needs to promote itself better, like Ballinrobe has done.

[Cymro]

Thanks everyone for the replies, have really enjoyed reading them. Ironically I first found this forum in the immediate aftermath of the Gordon Elliott sitting-on-the-horse scandal in 2021, and have been a daily visitor to it ever since. So it’s thanks to Google, I guess, which is not a sentence I’ve ever written before.

[BlackGold]

The Curragh isn’t a National Hunt course, only Flat.

[Author]

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