Courses

Bandon

Track info

Top Riders Course stats Winning Favourites

County: Cork

Soil Type: Brown Podzolic - coarse, loamy

Fences per circuit: 5

Fences per 3 mile race: 14

Direction: Right-Handed

Course Distance: 1.04m

Elevation Change (Highest to Lowest Point):

TRACK GUIDE

The long standing host of a point-to-point since 1984, Bandon is a right-handed track of three straights where the runners begin on the uphill climb into the back straight.

Turning into the back, a line of three fences await, the first of which comes up quite quickly after the bend, but there is an even run on the flat between each of those obstacles. Once landing over fence three, the track begins to descend, with the runners racing towards the end of the back straight before turning for home.

Throughout much of the home straight, the runners are racing downhill and there is a long run without leaving the ground between fences three and four. Fence four comes up quickly after racing through a gap before turning and jumping fence five adjacent to the parade ring on their way to their starting point. On the final circuit, there is a very long run between the final two fences, with a short run-in from the last.

Multiple Grade 1-winner Benefficient, who also enjoyed Cheltenham Festival success, and Listed Chase winner Sego Success, are among the tracks top graduates, whilst Foxhunters winner Whyso Mayo recorded his last success at the venue at the age of 15.

CIARAN FENNESSY, RIDER

Bandon is a unique track, but it is quite an easy course to ride around, as the fences are all well positioned, bar the last fence where you are running downhill.

The ground always tends to be fairly soft, and there are usually small fields. It is better suited to riding with a bit of caution, rather than being too aggressive.

Coming down the hill to the last, you come out through a gap, so it is important to keep the momentum up and jump the last well, as you sometimes see horses caught on the run-in.