Courses

Ballynoe

Track info

Top Riders Course stats Winning Favourites

County: Cork

Soil Type: Brown Earth - fine, loamy

Fences per circuit: 5

Fences per 3 mile race: 14

Direction: Right-Handed

Course Distance: 1.09m

Elevation Change (Highest to Lowest Point):

TRACK GUIDE

Ballynoe point-to-point, which has been staged annually in the townlands of Garryanne and Killavorilla since 1983, is synonymous with the Gain Mares Final, a lucrative race for mares which carries a bonus prize fund and is an annual highlight on the calendar.

A big galloping track which resembles something close to a triangle layout, runners begin on the bend into the back straight, from where there is a gradual rise to the first of two fences taken along the back. The two fences are well spaced out, as the climb continues to fence two, with a nice run to the top bend.

This begins the run for home, with a good run on the flat on what is a short straight at the top of the track, before the runners bare slightly right-handed into the home straight proper, where fences three and four await. There is an even pull all the way to the winning post. After taking the long bend out of the home straight, there is a downhill run along the bottom straight, which levels out and begins to climb close to fence five, which is just prior to their point of departure.

On the final circuit, there is a long run from the third-last to the penultimate fence, with the final two obstacles coming up in quick succession.

Pierse Hurdle winner Spring The Que, Grade 3 victor Invitation Only, and 2016 Thyestes Chase winner My Murphy, all recorded their maiden victories at the course.

JOHN BARRY, RIDER

Ballynoe is a place that I have great memories of. I rode Carter McKay to win his maiden around there in 2016 and it is also the track that I rode my 100th point-to-point winner at.

It can be quite tough getting home up the hill, so I find that you need to be in a good position at the bottom of the hill, but you need to have saved a bit up your sleeve until the third last.

There is a fair climb up the hill with the last two fences, and if you have left yourself in a position where you have too much ground to make up, it can take a lot out of your horse. You need a good stayer here.