Leopardstown Course Guide

A wide, left-handed oval track of around a mile and three quarters in extent. The course is fairly level except for a slight rise from the last bend and the turns are easy. It is essentially galloping in character.

Leopardstown is a very, very good track. It is a stiffer track than most people give it credit for, there is a long gradual rise all the way up the straight and the fact that they can start racing from quite a way out there tends to make the races real strong tests. A low draw is always a help, particularly in the six-furlong sprints as the bend comes up quickly after the start. It is possible to make all the running at Leopardstown, but it isn’t easy, particularly on the outside track in which the straight is even longer than on the inside track.

View from the saddle: Mick Kinane

A wide, left-handed oval track, about a mile and three quarters in length. The course is fairly level with easy turns except for a slight rise from the last bend. It provides a fair test, although three of the fences in the back straight are close together and occasionally catch out the less-accomplished chaser, and the finishing straight is relatively short. The inner hurdles course, used occasionally, is rather sharper in character than the chase track and tends to provide a significant test of tactical speed.

A brilliant galloping track. There are rarely hard-luck stories around Leopardstown unless you find yourself tight for room approaching the second-last hurdle. The inside hurdle track is quite different in character to the outside track and it can pay to be that bit handier, particularly when the field sizes are big. It’s a track that takes a lot more getting than many people give it credit for, as it’s deceptively stiff all the way up the straight. The fences are quite stiff, but they are fair and always rode well.

View from the saddle: Charlie Swan