Thurles Racecourse is a National Hunt racecourse located in Thurles, County Tipperary. Thurles is the only privately owned racecourse in the Country, owned by the Molony family since the early 1900’s. Thurles is renowned for good drainage and can generally handle lots of rainfall and racing for that matter. Thurles host 11 fixtures throughout the National Hunt season between October and March. In addition to this, Thurles has become a venue for schooling hurdles and bumpers

Some of the feature races throughout the season include the Grade 2 Kinloch Brae Chase (currently run as the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase) in January, The Boomerang.ie Chase held in November and Irish Stallion Farms EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle held in December.

Thurles Course Characteristics

The course is a right handed, undulating track with a circumference of 1m 2f. There are a series of undulations throughout the course but the top of the track is at the end of the back straight which leads downhill into the straight. Some of the turns are quite sharp. There are 7 fences to a circuit, including two on the home straight. The chase course is situated outside of the hurdle course but both tracks are similar in nature.

For course information and going reports on the day, Thurles Racecourse provide updates on their Twitter account https://twitter.com/thurlesraces.

IS THERE A PACE BIAS AT THURLES RACECOURSE?

Due to the sharp nature of the course, Thurles is generally renowned for favouring horses that race to the fore. Horses that have to make up ground coming up the ascent on the back straight will more often or not use up a lot of gas for the latter stages. Front runners on the hurdle and chase course combined have a win rate of 17.8% since 2009 and have earned a win P&L of 73.57. Since 2009, in handicap chases, front runners have returned a win P&L of +108.03 and have a win rate of 18.32%. In non-handicap chases, front runners have a 29.03 win rate (27 winners from 93 attempts).  Front and prominent runners grouped together in all races on the chase course have won over 78% of races against mid-div/held up horses.

There is no profitable angle over hurdles. Prominent runners are actually more favoured in handicap hurdles. Similar to the chase course, front/prominent runners when grouped together have won 79.64% of non handicap races. So more often than not, in non handicap races at Thurles, you will likely see the winner attempt to make all or race just off the pace. There can often be an advantage to race wide on softer ground as the inside line can get dug up.

WHO ARE THE TOP TRAINERS AT THURLES RACECOURSE?

Willie Mullins has a 30.83% record here since 2009. Gordon Elliott for reference has a 19.23% win rate. Mick Winters has the best strike rate in handicaps (19.05%) for any trainers that has had 20+ runners. Tipperary man, Leslie Young, has had a few big priced winners in handicaps over the years and is always one to keep an eye on. Philip Rothwell has sent the most runners to the track after Mullins and Elliott but has only had 6 winners from 215 runners.

WHO ARE THE TOP JOCKEYS AT THURLES RACECOURSE?

With 201 rides since 2009, Ruby Walsh has an excellent record of 31.34% for the younger generation to aim at. Davy Russell has had the most rides at Thurles with 347 and counting. he has a win rate of 21.9%. Of the jockeys with 10 or more rides in handicap races, Keith Donoghue has the best strike rate of 26.09% (23 rides, 6 winners) and has the highest win P&L (46). Danny Mullins has a noticeably poor record at Thurles with 2 winners from 58 rides.

*Figures correct as of 16/09/2020