Weekend Outlook | 12th January

Wicklow (F) at Tinahely on 12th January 2020

First Race: 12:30

Number of Entries: 98

Admission: €10

Tinahely is one of the busier tracks on the point-to-point circuit and holds a number of fixtures each season. It is the only course in Wicklow at present to stage racing and the track has a long history of point-to-point racing stretching back as far as 1988.

The land that the racing takes place on, also plays host to the Tinahely Agricultural show each Summer, which is one of Ireland`s longest-running agricultural shows.

The Shillelagh & District hunt play host to the first fixture at Tinahely in 2020 and with a dry forecast for the weekend it should prove a great day out for all.

Niamh Rothwell from the hunt tells us how preparations are going ahead of the fixture on Sunday:

“The track is in good order, with a fine covering of grass. The fences are in place, the committee are working very well together. We hope the weather on the day will be pleasant enough for the people who come.

"We will have a chip van on the day to provide hot food and minerals and a coffee van. The ladies from the committee will also be preparing tea and sandwiches in the hospitality tent, which is nice for anybody that travels.”

For more information and directions click here.

Muskerry (F) at Aghabullogue on 12th January 2020

First Race: 12:30

Number of Entries: 64

Admission: €10

Aghabullogue has been in operation since 1988 and the course presents a stamina test to the runners around this undulating and galloping track and is situated just outside Aghabullogue village.

The point-to-point is run over John Murphy’s land who is also chairman of the point-to-point and has been from day one.

Over the years many top racehorses have won at Aghabullogue including Cheltenham Foxhunters winner Whyso Mayo who has won three times here at Aghabullogue, Lovely Citizen who also won the Cheltenham Foxhunters and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Call who was also trained on the land.

On Thursday, Michael Twomey from the Muskerry’s commented:

“Preparations are going great. The fences have gone up and the tents will go up in the morning. We have had plenty of rain so the ground should be going towards soft. It will be very good safe racing ground.

“It is forecasted to be a good day on Sunday, so hopefully that will attract a good crowd. We will have the usual food outlets and the parents of the local primary school will be on board to help us out with the catering, we will also have a hospitality tent for our sponsors.”

For more information and directions click here