Courses

Monksgrange

Track info

Top Riders Course stats Winning Favourites

County: Wexford

Soil Type: Brown Earth - fine, loamy

Fences per circuit: 5

Fences per 3 mile race: 15

Direction: Left-Handed

Course Distance:

Elevation Change (Highest to Lowest Point):

TRACK GUIDE

Many of the brightest young horses to emerge from point-to-points will have run around Monksgrange, as not only has it played host to the annual Bree Hunt point-to-point since 2008, but it is also the venue of one of the most popular schooling grounds during the season, which is used by local handlers such as Colin Bowe and the Doyle brothers.

A big galloping track, dominated by two long straights, the runners begin alongside the final fence and have an extended run on the level before leaving the ground at fence one, which they reach after taking the left-handed bend into the back straight.

In total, there are three fences located in the back straight, with a slightly larger gap between the second and third obstacles. After jumping the second fence, the track gradually begins to rise, with the climb becoming steeper after fence three. The climb levels out around the home bend, as the runners then race downhill into the home straight.

The two fences here are well spread out, with a decent run also from the home bend to the second-last, ensuring the course presents a very fair challenge.

Grade 1 winners Samcro and Road To Respect both made winning debuts at the course, with Samcro leading home another subsequent Graded winner in Elegant Escape, when scoring there in 2016.

BARRY O'NEILL

I really rate Monksgrange very highly. It is a big galloping course and you will rarely have any excuses around here, as there are no hiding places. I would say it is one of the top three tracks in the country.

It is very fair to ride. You can ride it any way that you like, it all just comes down to the pace of the individual races. If they go a gallop you can drop-in, or if not, you can lie up the front. As many winners come from making the running as from sitting in behind, there is no real rule to Monksgrange.

It is my local track and it has been very good to me. I have had plenty of happy days here.