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A Brief Guide To UK & Irish Racecourses

There are currently 59 racecourses operating in Great Britain (excluding Point-to-Point courses).

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is the governing body for horse racing in Ireland. Like most other sports, horse racing is run on an All Ireland basis, so Horse Racing Ireland is responsible for racing in both the Republic of Ireland, which has 24 racecourses, and in Northern Ireland, which has 2 racecourses.

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Our Guide

AINTREE
Racecourse offers two left-handed courses,the 2m2f flat Grand National circuit and the 1m3f Mildmay Course.Based in Liverpool and home to the world famous Grand National Steeplechase.

ASCOT
Flat (G1) and National Hunt (G1). Right-handed circuit of 1m 6f and 34 yds with a straight 1m course.Draw: low numbers favoured on the straight course.

AYR
Flat (G1). and National Hunt (G1). Left-handed circuit of 1m 4f with a straight 6f course. Draw: High numbers favoured in 5f & 6f races, low numbers favoured in races over 7f.

BALLINROBE
The course itself is a slightly elevated, right-handed oval of about one mile and one furlong which features competitive flat and National Hunt racing.

BANGOR
National Hunt (G4). Left-handed circuit of 1m 5f.

BATH
Flat (G3). Left-handed circuit of about 1m 4f and 25yds with a 6f spur. Draw: Low numbers favoured in sprint races.

BELLEWSTOWN
It is left-handed and about a mile and a half in circumference with a furlong straight.

BEVERLEY
Flat (G3). Right-handed circuit of 1m 3f and 44yds with a 5f spur. Draw: High numbers favoured on the 5f to 1m course.

BRIGHTON
Flat (G2). Left-handed "U" shaped course of 1m 4f. Draw: Low numbers favoured in sprint races.

CARLISLE
Flat (G4) and National Hunt (G2). Right-handed circuit of 1m 5f with two spurs of 6f and 1m. Draw: High numbers favoured in races up to 1m.

CARTMEL
National Hunt (G4). Left-handed circuit of 1m with a diagonal finishing straight.

CATTERICK
Flat (G4) and National Hunt (G3). Left-handed circuit of 1m 180yds with a 5f straight course. Draw: Low numbers favoured in 5f & 7f races

CHELMSFORD
It has an all-weather track, but also a turf course. The flat course is laid out as an eight-and-a-half furlong left-handed oval, with a two-furlong home straight.

CHELTENHAM
National Hunt (G1). Two separate steeplechase courses, both Left-handed and about 1m 4f round.

CHEPSTOW
Flat (G3) and National Hunt (G2). Left-handed circuit of 2m with a straight 1m course. Draw: High numbers favoured on straight course.

CHESTER
Flat (G2). Left-handed circuit of 1m 73yds. Draw: Low numbers favoured.

CLONMEL
The course is right-handed, undulating, with a stiff uphill finish and is one mile and two furlongs in length.

CORK
The new improved course is a right-handed, flat, oval track of about one mile and four furlongs in length with a six furlong sprint track.

CURRAGH
The track is horseshoe-shaped with a circuit of two miles, a run in of three furlongs and an uphill finish.

DONCASTER
Flat (G1) and National Hunt (G1). Left-handed circuit of 1m 7.5f with a straight 1m course. Draw: High numbers favoured on the straight course, low numbers favoured on the round course.

DOWN ROYAL
Down Royal is a right-handed, undulating course of one mile and seven furlongs in length with an uphill finish.

DOWNPATRICK
A tight, undulating track of one and a quarter miles.

DUNDALK
The 10f polytrack it is is located a mile and a half from the town centre.

EPSOM
Flat (G1). Left-handed horseshoe course of 1m 4f with 5f, 6f & 7f spurs. Draw: Low numbers favoured races up to 1m.

EXETER
The course is an undulating right-handed track of about two miles.

FAIRYHOUSE
The course is right-handed, relatively flat and is 1m 6f in length.

FAKENHAM
National Hunt (G4). Left-handed circuit of about 1m.

FFOS LAS
Amid fine views of the Gwendraeth Valley and Carmarthen Bay, it stages both Flat and Jump fixtures.

FONTWELL
Features a figure-of-eight chase course and an oval hurdles course.

GALWAY
A right-handed course of 10 furlongs with a sharp decent to the turn in and and an uphill finish of two furlongs.

GOODWOOD
Flat (G1). Right-handed "U" shaped course of 1m 3f with a straight 6f straight course. Draw: High numbers favoured.

GOWRAN PARK
The course is a right-handed undulating track of one mile and four furlongs in length.

GREAT YARMOUTH
Being a flat, galloping track, long-striding horses are particularly well-suited to the test this 13-furlong course offers.

HAMILTON
Flat (G3). Right-handed. Shaped like a tennis racket. the full circuit of 1m 5f with a straight 6f course. Draw: Middle numbers best on straight course.

HAYDOCK
Flat (G1) and National Hunt (G1). Left-handed circuit of 1m 5f with a 6f spur. Draw: Low numbers favoured in 6f, 7f & 1m races.

HEXHAM
National Hunt (G4). Right-handed circuit of 1m 4f.

HUNTINGDON
National Hunt (G3). Right-handed circuit of 1m 4f.

KELSO
National Hunt (G4). Left-handed circuit of 1m 3f.

KEMPTON
Flat (G1) and National Hunt (G1). Right-handed circuit of 1m 6f with a straight 5f course. Draw: No advantage in sprints races, high numbers favoured on the round course.

KILBEGGAN
Ireland's only all-National Hunt racecourse.

KILLARNEY
About 10 furlongs round, this dual-purpose course is left-handed.

LAYTOWN
The course itself is a section of the three-mile long golden strand, and is closed on the morning of the races and take place when the tide goes out.

LEICESTER
Flat (G3) and National Hunt (G3). Right-handed circuit of 2m with a straight 1m course. Draw: High numbers favoured.

LEOPARDSTOWN
The course is a left-handed oval of one mile and six furlongs with an uphill finish.

LIMERICK
Home to racing under both codes all year round, the oval track is right-handed and 11f long.

LINGFIELD
Flat (G2) and National Hunt (G2). Left-handed loop course for races of 1m 4f and more round, also straight & round 7f 140yds courses. The 3.5f run-in is slightly downhill. Draw: High numbers favoured on the straight course.

LISTOWEL
The course is a flat, left-handed oval of just over one mile in length.

LUDLOW
National Hunt (G4). Right-handed circuit of 1m 4f.

MARKET RASEN
National Hunt (G3). Right-handed circuit of 1m 2f.

MUSSLEBURGH
Flat (G4). Right-handed course of 1m 2f with a straight 5f course. Draw: High numbers favoured in races from 7f to 1m.

NAAS
The course is left-handed, undulating and one mile and four furlongs in length with a stiff uphill climb to the winning post plus a chute for sprint races that joins the straight.

NAVAN
The course is a left-handed oval of one and a half miles with run in of three and a half furlongs and an uphill finish.

NEWBURY
Flat (G1) and National Hunt (G1). Left-handed circuit of 1m 7f with a straight 1m course. Draw: No advantage.

NEWCASTLE
Flat (G1). and National Hunt (G1). Left-handed circuit of 1m 6f with a straight 1m course. Draw: No advantage.

NEWMARKET
Flat (G1). Rowley Mile course is 2m long with a right-hand bend. Round course is 1m 7f. Draw: Low numbers favoured. July course 2m long with a right-hand bend. Draw: No advantage.

NEWTON ABBOT
National Hunt (G2). Left-handed circuit of 1m.

NOTTINGHAM
Flat (G3). Left-handed circuit of 1m 4f with a 1m straight course. Draw: High numbers favoured in 5f & 6f races.

PERTH
National Hunt (G2). Right-handed circuit of 1m 2f.

PLUMPTON
National Hunt (G3). Left-handed circuit of 1m 2f.

PONTEFRACT
Flat (G3). Oval shaped course of 2m 133yds, 5f & 6f courses are part of the main course. Draw: Low numbers favoured in 5f & 6f races.

PUNCHESTOWN
The course is right-handed and undulating with flat, hurdle, steeplechase and bank courses. The hurdle course is 1m 6f and the chase course is 2m.

REDCAR
Flat (G2). Left-handed circuit of 1m 6f and 132yds with a straight 1m 1f course. Draw: No advantage.

RIPON
Flat (G2). Right-handed circuit of 1m 6f with a straight 6f course. Draw: Low numbers favoured in 5f & 6f races.

ROSCOMMON
Roscommon is a right-handed oval of 10 furlongs with a run-in of three and a half furlongs.

SALISBURY
Flat (G2). Straight 1m course with a small right-handed loop. Draw: High numbers favoured in 5f & 6f races.

SANDOWN
Flat (G1). and National Hunt (G1). Right-handed circuit of 1m 5f 35yds with a straight 5f course. Draw: Low numbers are favoured on the 5f course. High numbers favoured in races over 7f.

SEDGEFIELD
National Hunt (G4). Left-handed circuit of about 1m 2f.

SLIGO
It is right-handed and one mile in length with a steady incline to the finish.

SOUTHWELL
National Hunt (G4). Left-handed circular circuit of 1m 2f.

STRATFORD
National Hunt (G3). Left-handed triangular circuit of 1m 2f.

TAUNTON
National Hunt (G4). Right-handed circuit of 1m 2f.

THIRSK
Flat (G2). Left-handed circuit of 1m 2f 50yds with a straight 6f course. Draw: High numbers favoured in 5f & 6f races.

THURLES
The Kinloch Brae Chase in mid-winter is the highlight of the year.

TIPPERARY
It has a flat, left-handed course of one mile and two furlongs with a chute for five-furlong races. The main race is the Grade Two Tipperary Hurdle.

TOWCESTER
National Hunt (G4). Right-handed circuit of about 1m 6f.

TRAMORE
The course is a right-handed, turning undulating track of one mile in length with an uphill climb to the winning post.

UTTOXETER
National Hunt (G3). Left-handed circuit of 1m 3f.

WARWICK
Flat (G4). and National Hunt (G3). Left-handed circuit of 1m 6f 32yds with 5f, 1m and 1m 2f spurs. Draw: Low numbers favoured over 5f.

WETHERBY
National Hunt (G2). Left-handed circuit of 1m 4f.

WEXFORD
It has an undulating, right-handed course of a mile and a quarter for chases, hurdles and flat races.

WINCANTON
National Hunt (G3). Right-handed circuit of 1m 3f.

WINDSOR
Flat (G3). and National Hunt (G3). Right-handed figure of eight circuit of 1m 6f. Draw: High numbers favoured in 5f & 6f races.

WOLVERHAMPTON
Flat (G4). Left-handed circuit of 1m 4f with a straight 5f course. Draw: High numbers favoured on the straight course.

WORCESTER
National Hunt (G3). Left-handed circuit of 1m 5f.

YORK
Flat (G1). Left-handed "U" shaped course of 2m with a straight 6f course. Draw: No advantage.