Image © Healy Racing
Curraghmore point-to-point takes place in the grounds of the 2,500-acre Curraghmore Estate in Portlaw, the former home to the 9th Marquis of Waterford.
Curraghmore point-to-point takes place in the grounds of the 2,500-acre Curraghmore Estate in Portlaw, the former home to the 9th Marquis of Waterford.
The estate itself has a close connection to racing, with popular grass and woodchip gallops on the land, whilst it also plays host to a Country Fair and All Together Music Festival during the year.
Runners begin at the entrance to the home straight, where there are three fences to be jumped. However, the first of that trio is not jumped on the opening circuit. This allows a decent run up the home straight to fence one, which is taken just after passing the betting ring. Once passing by the winning post, the runners jump fence two before turning right-handed along a shorter straight down the bottom of the course, before turning once again to enter the back straight.
There are a further three fences to be jumped in the back straight, with a slight climb to the first of them. There is a shorter run to fence four, after which the track curves slightly to the left, with a longer run before reaching fence five, the last of the trio along the back straight.
The top bend consists of two short straights to bring the runners back towards their starting point, from where on the final circuit, they jump the first two fences in the home straight before crossing the line.
Vital Statistics
Fences per circuit: 6
Direction: Right-handed
Top Rider: Rob James (11 wins)
Winning Favourites: 4 of 6 at last October fixture in 2021.
The rider’s verdict
Curraghmore is a huge right-handed track which is almost a mile and a-half around, so it is very rare to only do two circuits in a point-to-point.
It usually takes place at Easter and can often be the first of the good ground, as the Curraghmore House Estate is nice dry land. The track tends to suit a big long-striding horse that can keep up a good gallop.
It is a flat track and races tend to be run at a decent pace, so you can often see horses not getting home as a result.
Declan Queally, rider.
Last year’s rewind
Last year’s autumn fixture was due to take place in early December. However, poor weather in the build-up to the point-to-point resulted in unsuitable ground conditions and the fixture was cancelled.
This time around…
The first open lightweight of the season on the Cork and Waterford circuit could be a corker with the prospect of the second and third-place finishers from the Champion Hunter Chase at the Punchestown Festival clashing once again for their respective seasonal re-appearances.
Lifetime Ambition finished six and a half lengths in front of Lonesome Boatman at Punchestown, and Lifetime Ambition will be expected to confirm the form, having bypassed a potential re-appearance at Peppard’s Castle last Sunday.
Wonderwall was an easy winner on his first start for Sam Curling at Loughrea and adds further depth to what could be a race to savour.
Entries: 106
First race: 1pm
Postcode: X91 H337 (Horseboxes, riders and staff), E32 R683 (Public attendance)
Race replays will be uploaded to p2p.ie on Monday, for members to view.
