Courses

Dromahane

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: 14-15

Direction: Left-Handed

Course Distance:

Elevation Change (Highest to Lowest Point):

TRACK GUIDE

Dromahane is one of the busiest courses on the point-to-point calendar, regularly hosting a number of fixtures each year for a number of different hunts, including Duhallow, Doneraile, Muskerry, Cloyne and Killeady from 1988 onwards.

In order to provide fresh ground for the many fixtures that it holds, the layout of the track can vary somewhat, between the inner and outer, which results in the starting point moving in the back straight. Typically the runners begin early in the back straight, just after the first of two fences located in that straight, however on occasion, the starting point may move to the second fence in the back, ensuring that no fence is jumped along there on the opening circuit. Racing away from the typical starting point, there is a good run to fence one at the end of the back straight, before entering the long gently curving left-handed bend which brings the runners into the home straight.

In total, there is a line of three fences to be jumped in the home straight, with each of the fences evenly spaced along the straight, with a good run to the winning post. Fence five comes up quite quickly after taking the bend into the back straight to mark the completion of a lap of Dromahane.

The 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River is at the top of the list of recent star graduates from Dromahane which also includes the likes of Graded winners No More Heroes, Marias Benefit, Free Expression, Seeyouatmidnight, alongside Cheltenham Festival winners Black Hercules and The Druids Nephew.

DECLAN QUEALLY

Dromahane is regarded as one of the best galloping tracks in the country and holds five to six meetings. It is situated on well-drained land, which means that racing almost always goes ahead here.

The meetings in the winter are run on the outside track with two long straights. The complexion of races can change between the last two fences as riders sometimes tend to get racing early around here and horses get tired up the hill. The two fences down the back are jumped down-hill and can be tricky.

They switch to the inside track in the spring which is tighter, and combined with better ground means horses need to jump and travel. The course is popular with handlers and buyers alike, as a lot of winners here have a decent future on the track.