Courses

Dungarvan (2)

Track info

Top Riders Course stats Winning Favourites

County: Waterford

Soil Type: Brown Earth - coarse loamy

Fences per circuit: 5

Fences per 3 mile race: 14

Direction: Left-Handed

Course Distance:

Elevation Change (Highest to Lowest Point):

TRACK GUIDE

Dungarvan has hosted point-to-point racing since 1942, however in that time, the course layout has changed a number of times and even included a figure of eight configuration at one point. Most recently, the course has been run left-handed with a separate finishing chute running alongside the viewing hill which is synonymous with the track.

Runners begin alongside the first of two fences on the run away from the enclosures, ensuring that there is a decent run to the second of them which is jumped as fence one. Runners continue along this straight towards the furthest point away from the enclosures by turning left-handed into a short straight which features fence two.

Runners are quickly into their next left-handed bend, which is a gentler bend that brings them towards fence three. The straight curves to the right, beginning what is the longest run on the flat without having to jump a fence. The runners then begin to turn left-handed and straighten up to fence four in the home straight. On laps one and two, the field immediately turn left to return to their start position and fence five, as they head out into the country once again. However, on the final circuit, the runners continue straight into the finishing chute with a long run-in.

Aintree Grand National winner Montys Pass is the courses star graduate, alongside Grade 1 winner winners Jessies Dream and Pandorama.

DECLAN QUEALLY

Dungarvan has been a very happy hunting ground for myself. It is run on the grounds of my neighbour and brilliant trainer John Kiely, and was a figure of eight over the past few years, but for 2018, John decided to lay it out as a left-handed track, which was equally successful.

It is a very flat track which actually crosses his gallop. The pace of the races tends to be fast and the fences come up quickly. You need a handy position around here and I think it is a track that will throw up plenty of track winners as you need to jump and travel.

The run to the finish veers off the main track and with a good furlong and a half of a run-in from the back of the last, so you need a horse with courage and heart to see it out.