Farmacaffley

TRACK GUIDE

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Farmacaffley is one of the oldest point-to-point courses in the calendar, having hosted racing since 1895 and it remains one of the most testing of them all at this stiff galloping venue in Co. Armagh with plenty of undulations.

Beginning just after the road crossing, there is a relatively short run to the first, as they continue to rise gently to the second, after which they will turn slightly and descent steeply into the dip at the foot of a very testing steep climb into the home straight. The climb does level out somewhat at the home bend, however there is a steady pull to the winning post. Before reaching that, they will have jumped fence number three, which is also the final obstacle.

There is a long run before they reach fence four, as they turn right-handed quite quickly after the winning post, to race downhill on the run away from the enclosures. They continue to race downhill as they jump the fourth, before climbing along this same straight to reach the fifth. Upon landing, they immediately turn right-handed over the road crossing to pass their point of departure, with the climb to the home straight really sorting the runners out on the final circuit.

Considering the test it poses, it is no surprise that two horses to have excelled in the Aintree Grand National have emerged from it in Beau and Bindaree, with the latter winning the great race in 2002. Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Truckers Tavern is another to have raced at the course at the beginning of his career.