Listowel Racecourse is a dual-purpose racecourse, located in the heart of County Kerry. Listowel Racecourse is most famously known for the Harvest Festival which is held every September. The seven-day festival provides a host of National Hunt and flat. The Kerry National Handicap Chase is the feature race of the week and is run on the Wednesday. Friday, Ladies Day, is generally the busiest day of the week, attracting crowds of up to 26,000 people. Listowel Racecourse also host a two-day meeting in June.

Listowel Course Characteristics

The course has two tracks. The inner circuit is a left handed oval track with a circumference of around a mile while the outer circuit has a circumference of around 1m 2f. In general, the course is quite sharp. The run in is around 2f from the last turn to the winning post so it can be difficult to make up ground. The characteristics of the course would suggest the course would suit a handy, speedier type rather than a relentless galloper. The hurdle course is situated on the outside of the chase course. There can be a lot of rail movements during the Harvest Festival for fresh ground

For course information and going reports on the day, Listowel Racecourse provide updates on their Twitter account

IS THERE A PACE BIAS AT LISTOWEL RACECOURSE?

Like a lot of Irish Racecourses, front runners are profitable to follow on the flat at Listowel. In all races on the flat since 2009, front runners have won 61 out of 335 attempts, yielding a win rate of 18.21% and win P&L of 114.78. The win rate is of course good enough to warrant a bias but for reference, the likes of Cork (23.1%), Clonmel (27.52%) etc are higher. Held up runners on the other hand have one of the worst win rates in the Country (3.47%). Front/prominent runners combined in handicap races have the highest win rate in Ireland (13.45% - which is slightly bigger than Clonmel) and have a win P&L of 117.45. Handicap races, especially during the Harvest Festival, can be quite competitive but in general, the figures suggest to stay away from held up runners and focus on those that will be ridden prominently (front/prominent inclusive). Ground differentials seem to make no difference to these figures. The turns and undulations can prove quite testing however on softer ground.

Front runners on the hurdle and chase course operate at about the average for Irish Racecourses (15.53%) and have a win P&L of 16.89. Similarly, held up runners have a strike rate of about the average for Irish Racecourses (4.36% similar to that of Punchestown). Front runners are however at more of an advantage on the chase track and are profitable to follow (Win P&L of 100.19). Handicap hurdles however are historically a lot fairer and have more or less no pace bias whatsoever.

It would be advisable to check the above what track is being used on the day. They can, for example, run hurdle races/bumpers on the outer track and chases on the inner track. The outside track has a longer circuit and races behind the house .

IS THERE A DRAW BIAS AT LISTOWEL RACECOURSE?

There is no stand out draw bias at Listowel. There are races from 6f to 1m 4f and all are ran on a left handed turn. Pace is undoubtedly a more important factor, even over the shorter 6f - 1mile trips.

WHO ARE THE TOP TRAINERS AT LISTOWEL RACECOURSE?

Top flat racing trainers at Listowel

Since 2009, Meath man Tom McCourt hasn’t had a winner here since 2016 but still has a win rate of 23.53%.

Aidan O’Brien has had more runners and is just about second best at 21.05%.

Paul Deegan has the highest win P&L of 56.25 and has a respectable 18.75% win rate.

Joseph O’Brien has the best strike rate in handicaps (23.53%) and has also been profitable to follow (win P&L of 8).

Top jumps racing trainers at Listowel

Of the trainers with more than 20 runners, Willie Mullins is of course number 1 with a  win rate of 25.23%.

Cork man, JJ Walsh has the best strike rate in handicaps with 5 winners from 25 attempts since 2009 (20%) and a win P&L of 40.

John Kiely has a noticeably impressive record with a 21.05% strike rate and win P&L of 54.17. Noel Meade and Paul Nolan have noticably poor records at Listowel, both with 1 winner from 28 and 27 runners respectively.

WHO ARE THE TOP JOCKEYS AT LIMERICK RACECOURSE?

Top flat jockeys at Listowel

Chris Hayes is the most experienced jockey at Listowel with 186 rides since 2009 but he has a strike rate of 11.83%.

Of the current jockeys, there is no standout rider with an excellent strike rate. Very few riders have a profitable win P&L at the course.

Gary Carroll has a strike rate of 11.11% and has a win P&L of 32.

Top jump jockeys at Listowel

Ruby Walsh has the best win rate since 2009 (24.06%).

Paul Townend (15.07%) however has had the most rides.

Danny Mullins has a 16.38% win rate in handicap races and a win P&L of 54.41.

Robbie Power (win P&L 6.58) and Davy Russell (win P&L 6) have also been profitable to follow in handicap races.