Down Royal – A Guide To Irish Flat Racecourses

Down Royal Racecourse

Down Royal Racecourse is an undulating, galloping right handed track with a four furlong run in from the final bend to the winning post. The stiff circuit is just under two miles in length, possibly closer to fifteen furlongs. There is an extended chute for races over five furlongs and sometimes races are flag started, ie; without stalls.

Although it is a dual purpose venue hosting both Flat and Jump Racing, their better quality events take place over obstacles. This is evident, as there are no flat pattern races on during their season whilst the opposite is true in National Hunt Racing.

There does appear to be a distinct advantage for those drawn middle to high in races over the five furlong course when there are less then ten runners competing. There is also a slight advantage with middle to high gate post in races over seven furlongs, the advantage does not appear to continue beyond this distance.

Favourites in Non-Handicap races over five furlongs on the track hold a decent win strike rate with of 45.24%, however, backing them blindly would have resulted in a small loss of 3.31 based on staking one Euro or Sterling per bet.

There is no particular advantage of taking fixed odds early to turn this negative into a positive as on quite a few occasions what was considered market leader in the morning was found to be displaced by another competitor before the race actually commenced, hence you would have ended up on not betting the actual favourite on the start of the event.

One area of specific circumstances where there is a progressive profitability trend is backing horses who have only won once over course and distance at five furlongs in handicap races as shown further below.

Please note: Profit and Loss figures (P/L) is based on level stakes betting of one Euro per bet to SP.

Course: Down Royal

Conditions: Only one course and distance win recorded at the venue.

Race Distance: Five Furlongs

Race Type:  Handicap races.

Bets: 48 Wins: 12 Strike Rate: 25% P/L+28.92

There aren’t many trainers who have a good record worth noting at the course with the possible exception of Kevin Prendegast when having a two a year old not contesting a Nursery event.

Course: Down Royal

Trainer: Kevin Prendegast

Race Type: 2yo Non-Handicap races.

Bets: 23 Wins: 6 Strike Rate: 26.09% P/L+33.95