Ballinrobe
National Hunt
Rathcarreen, Ballinrobe, County Mayo · the county’s only racecourse, above Lough Carra
Turf
Right-Handed
Two Loops
Ballinrobe also stages Flat turf racing. Read the Flat racecourse guide →
What is Ballinrobe like as a jumps track?
Ballinrobe is Mayo’s only racecourse and one of four in Connacht — a community-run track at Rathcarreen, a mile out of town on the Castlebar road, set in a natural amphitheatre above Lough Carra on the Wild Atlantic Way. Racing around Ballinrobe is recorded back to 1773 or 1774, depending on which account you trust (both figures are in genuine circulation); the present course has staged it since 1921. It is twice a national Racecourse of the Year — from the Irish Racegoers Consultative Forum in 2012 and at the Horse Racing Ireland Awards in 2023 — two different honours from two different bodies, eleven years apart.
The season is compact and sociable: ten fixtures from April to September, nearly all of them evening cards, with two-day meetings in late May and July. Be careful with older course guides here — a cluster of them still say “nine meetings, May to September,” but HRI confirmed ten for 2025 (a new Friday Flat fixture was the addition) and the course’s own dated 2026 list runs to exactly ten, 17 April to 11 September.
The track itself now comes in two versions, and that matters more than anything else on this page. The old circuit is a sharp, right-handed oval of eight to nine furlongs — uphill back straight, downhill swing for home, and a home turn that punishes anyone caught wide. A newer extension loop runs outside the old track down the back straight and rides noticeably more galloping when used. The IHRB’s ground reports name the configuration meeting by meeting — the July 2026 fixtures, for instance, are flagged “all races on inner loop” — so the shape of the test genuinely changes with the racecard.
Charlie Swan, former champion Irish jump jockey — At The Races
Swan’s “five or six lengths if you met it wrong” is the old track in one sentence: on the tight circuit the final bend is where races are won and lost, and the inside berth is worth real distance. His other observation is just as bettable — the fences are “amongst the easiest in the country,” a view echoed across the trade press. Six per circuit, three down the back straight and the last coming up quickly after the home turn, they rarely decide anything: Ballinrobe chases are settled by pace and position, not jumping technique. On the hurdles track the published figures genuinely disagree on the flight count — four per circuit in one, five in another — a small conflict this page reports rather than resolves.
The pace evidence points one way, and it is quantified on the Flat — front-runners won 15.74% of races between 2009 and 2021, an Impact Value of 1.85, profitable to back blind — and describes a “similar pace advantage” over hurdles and fences, with mid-division and held-up runners performing poorly across all codes. No jumps-specific percentage exists in public data, so the box below shows the direction with the honesty it deserves rather than inventing a number.
The marquee day is McHale Raceday in late May, when the agricultural-machinery firm headquartered in the town sponsors the entire card and over €150,000 is on offer. Its centrepiece, the McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase, is a Listed race worth €100,000 over 2m7f — Henry de Bromhead’s Native Speaker took the 2025 renewal at 12/1 under Darragh O’Keeffe. The same card carries the McHale Tiger Roll Beginners Chase, named for the most famous graduate of the place: Tiger Roll won his very first steeplechase here in May 2016, by eight lengths under Jack Kennedy, two years before the first of his back-to-back Grand Nationals.
The Two Tracks
- Old circuit Sharp right-handed oval, ~8–9f — prominent racing always paid (Swan)
- Extension Newer loop outside the back straight — rides that bit more galloping when used
- Which is in play The IHRB ground report names the loop per meeting — July 2026 ran “all races on inner loop”
- The trap The old track’s last bend can cost five or six lengths met wrong — inside is a help
The Obstacles
- Fences 6 per circuit — 3 in the back straight, the last soon after the home turn
- Character Repeatedly rated among the easiest fences in Ireland — pace, not jumping, decides here
- Hurdles 4 per circuit in one listing, 5 in another — a genuine conflict, unresolved
- NH run-in ~2½ furlongs — reported once only, treat as indicative
McHale Raceday
- The National McHale Mayo National H’cap Chase — Listed, €100,000, 2m7f72y, late May
- 2025 Native Speaker (12/1), Henry de Bromhead / Darragh O’Keeffe, by seven lengths
- The card Whole seven-race card McHale-sponsored — €150,000+ across the day
- Beware One aggregator calls the National a €30,000 race — that figure belongs to the hurdle on the same card
Track & History
- Recorded racing 1773 or 1774 (accounts split); the current course since 1921
- Tiger Roll Won his first-ever chase here, May 2016, by 8 lengths under Jack Kennedy — a beginners’ chase still carries his name
- Doran’s Pride The future Stayers’ Hurdle winner broke his maiden at Ballinrobe in 1993
- Awards Racecourse of the Year 2012 (Irish Racegoers Consultative Forum) and 2023 (HRI Awards)
When does Ballinrobe race?
Position Beats Everything Here
The direction is unanimous; the jumps-specific number does not exist. The Flat side is quantified — front-runners 15.74% winners, Impact Value 1.85, profitable to back blind, 2009–2021 — and describes a “similar pace advantage” over hurdles and fences with mid-division and hold-up runners poor across all codes. Every description agrees on the mechanism: uphill back straight, downhill run for home, a tight final bend and a short run-in leave no room to give ground away. The bars below are labelled for what they are — a direction supported by data and rider evidence, not a jumps-specific percentage.
Run Style — qualitative (Flat-quantified direction + rider reads; no public NH %)
▲ The paying style
▬ Needs the gaps
▼ Poor across codes
One nuance from the riders: the extension loop softens all of this. Swan calls it “easier for all horses to handle,” so when a card runs on the outer configuration, treat the old track’s harshest position rules as diluted — still lean front, but the slingshot bend matters less.
Which trainers and jockeys win most at Ballinrobe?
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Win% | Places | Place% | A/E | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mullins, W P | 232 | 66 | 28.45% | 131 | 56.47% | 0.84 | -78.91 |
| 2 Elliott, Gordon | 425 | 55 | 12.94% | 157 | 36.94% | 0.74 | -128.73 |
| 3 Ryan, John Patrick | 330 | 35 | 10.61% | 98 | 29.70% | 1.01 | -52.74 |
| 4 Rothwell, P J | 226 | 23 | 10.18% | 74 | 32.74% | 1.05 | -24.09 |
| 5 Meade, Noel | 112 | 23 | 20.54% | 49 | 43.75% | 1.20 | +27.06 |
| 6 Hogan, Denis Gerard | 145 | 19 | 13.10% | 40 | 27.59% | 1.25 | +9.83 |
| 7 Lee, Norman | 177 | 17 | 9.60% | 43 | 24.29% | 1.15 | +33.46 |
| 8 Bromhead, Henry De | 132 | 15 | 11.36% | 45 | 34.09% | 0.61 | -59.14 |
| 9 Harrington, Mrs John | 97 | 15 | 15.46% | 34 | 35.05% | 0.92 | -24.90 |
| 10 O’Brien, Joseph Patrick | 92 | 13 | 14.13% | 41 | 44.57% | 0.72 | -46.14 |
| 11 Fahey, Peter | 89 | 11 | 12.36% | 32 | 35.96% | 1.06 | -29.36 |
| 12 Cromwell, Gavin Patrick | 172 | 10 | 5.81% | 48 | 27.91% | 0.45 | -95.54 |
| 13 Gibney, Thomas | 59 | 10 | 16.95% | 22 | 37.29% | 1.47 | +30.33 |
| 14 Martin, A J | 73 | 9 | 12.33% | 17 | 23.29% | 0.87 | -35.05 |
| 15 Byrnes, C | 72 | 9 | 12.50% | 22 | 30.56% | 0.76 | -29.39 |
| 16 Mullins, Thomas | 61 | 9 | 14.75% | 19 | 31.15% | 1.04 | +29.63 |
| 17 McNamara, E | 78 | 8 | 10.26% | 24 | 30.77% | 1.07 | -21.17 |
| 18 O’Brien, V T | 165 | 7 | 4.24% | 25 | 15.15% | 0.67 | -84.50 |
| 19 Howard, Aidan Anthony | 38 | 7 | 18.42% | 15 | 39.47% | 1.32 | +0.38 |
| 20 Flannery, M | 110 | 6 | 5.45% | 19 | 17.27% | 0.73 | -68.00 |
ballinrobe NH · Current trainers, since 2010
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Win% | Places | Place% | A/E | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Townend, P | 173 | 35 | 20.23% | 78 | 45.09% | 0.91 | -37.09 |
| 2 Mullins, Mr P W | 67 | 28 | 41.79% | 50 | 74.63% | 1.05 | -2.32 |
| 3 Mullins, D E | 196 | 25 | 12.76% | 59 | 30.10% | 0.91 | +113.23 |
| 4 Walsh, M P | 154 | 24 | 15.58% | 65 | 42.21% | 0.84 | -19.63 |
| 5 O’Keeffe, Darragh | 174 | 20 | 11.49% | 55 | 31.61% | 0.96 | -52.00 |
| 6 Kennedy, J W | 117 | 20 | 17.09% | 46 | 39.32% | 0.93 | -17.60 |
| 7 Flanagan, S W | 202 | 15 | 7.43% | 61 | 30.20% | 0.70 | -106.50 |
| 8 Donoghue, K M | 141 | 14 | 9.93% | 44 | 31.21% | 0.77 | -40.35 |
| 9 McGarvey, J S | 122 | 12 | 9.84% | 28 | 22.95% | 1.03 | -42.50 |
| 10 Torrens, Simon | 108 | 12 | 11.11% | 28 | 25.93% | 1.16 | +3.83 |
| 11 Meyler, D | 119 | 11 | 9.24% | 36 | 30.25% | 0.79 | -63.64 |
| 12 Hogan, D G | 81 | 11 | 13.58% | 22 | 27.16% | 1.19 | +1.30 |
| 13 Gilligan, D J | 56 | 11 | 19.64% | 26 | 46.43% | 1.15 | -1.06 |
| 14 Slevin, J J | 134 | 10 | 7.46% | 46 | 34.33% | 0.63 | -96.00 |
| 15 King, D | 69 | 10 | 14.49% | 20 | 28.99% | 1.33 | +24.57 |
| 16 Enright, P T | 244 | 9 | 3.69% | 36 | 14.75% | 0.42 | -157.00 |
| 17 O’Regan, Denis | 106 | 8 | 7.55% | 23 | 21.70% | 0.80 | -42.87 |
| 18 McCurtin, Ambrose | 81 | 8 | 9.88% | 17 | 20.99% | 1.55 | +26.00 |
| 19 O’Connor, Derek | 48 | 8 | 16.67% | 20 | 41.67% | 1.04 | -4.56 |
| 20 O’Keeffe, Sean F | 116 | 7 | 6.03% | 26 | 22.41% | 0.77 | -25.00 |
ballinrobe NH · Current riders, since 2010
Which sires do best at Ballinrobe?
| Sire | Runs | Wins | Win% | Places | Place% | A/E | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Beneficial | 228 | 23 | 10.09% | 64 | 28.07% | 0.79 | -49.48 |
| 2 King’s Theatre (IRE) | 130 | 23 | 17.69% | 55 | 42.31% | 1.24 | +24.29 |
| 3 Milan | 162 | 19 | 11.73% | 43 | 26.54% | 1.04 | -42.66 |
| 4 Oscar (IRE) | 188 | 16 | 8.51% | 44 | 23.40% | 0.82 | -46.62 |
| 5 Presenting | 172 | 16 | 9.30% | 52 | 30.23% | 0.79 | -82.93 |
| 6 Yeats (IRE) | 153 | 16 | 10.46% | 50 | 32.68% | 0.78 | -61.51 |
| 7 Court Cave (IRE) | 137 | 16 | 11.68% | 33 | 24.09% | 1.34 | +42.58 |
| 8 Kayf Tara | 74 | 15 | 20.27% | 29 | 39.19% | 1.53 | +50.76 |
| 9 Flemensfirth (USA) | 188 | 13 | 6.91% | 49 | 26.06% | 0.61 | -126.04 |
| 10 Westerner | 121 | 12 | 9.92% | 29 | 23.97% | 0.80 | -52.50 |
| 11 Stowaway | 103 | 12 | 11.65% | 27 | 26.21% | 0.92 | -19.88 |
| 12 Mahler | 142 | 11 | 7.75% | 42 | 29.58% | 0.74 | -95.04 |
| 13 Gold Well | 72 | 11 | 15.28% | 20 | 27.78% | 1.32 | +24.38 |
| 14 Walk In The Park (IRE) | 71 | 10 | 14.08% | 30 | 42.25% | 0.88 | +40.29 |
| 15 Kalanisi (IRE) | 100 | 9 | 9.00% | 30 | 30.00% | 0.71 | -60.47 |
| 16 Shirocco (GER) | 79 | 9 | 11.39% | 20 | 25.32% | 1.01 | -14.50 |
| 17 High Chaparral (IRE) | 56 | 9 | 16.07% | 16 | 28.57% | 1.39 | -1.92 |
| 18 Beat Hollow | 47 | 9 | 19.15% | 14 | 29.79% | 1.20 | -16.82 |
| 19 Getaway (GER) | 120 | 8 | 6.67% | 30 | 25.00% | 0.66 | -36.00 |
| 20 Jeremy (USA) | 86 | 8 | 9.30% | 27 | 31.40% | 0.83 | -26.67 |
ballinrobe NH · Since 2010
Betting Angles
Back the front, forgive nothing held up
Front-runners and prominent racers dominate here across codes — quantified on the Flat (IV 1.85, profitable blind, 2009–21) and rider-confirmed over jumps. Hold-up types are poor across all codes in the same sample. Position is the first filter on any Ballinrobe card.
Check which loop is racing
Two genuinely different tracks share this page: the tight old circuit and the more galloping extension outside the back straight. The IHRB ground report names the configuration per meeting — course form earned on one loop reads differently on the other.
Jumping ability is barely tested
Six fences a circuit, rated among the easiest in Ireland by riders and trade press alike. A sketchy jumper who travels strongly loses less here than almost anywhere — and a neat jumper with no pace gains nothing. Weight the speed figures, not the jumping grades.
Respect old-track course form
Swan reckoned the old circuit “would breed course specialists” — it isn’t straightforward, and horses who have handled the slingshot home turn before hold a genuine edge over classy newcomers meeting it first time, especially in the evening handicaps.
The Meade angle, window unstated
Noel Meade heads the jumps-trainer profitability table (25% strike rate, level-stakes positive), with Patrick Mullins and Jack Kennedy the profitable jumps riders in the same set.
Evening ground moves late
Summer evening cards on well-draining land with active watering: the IHRB reports show “good, watering ongoing” as the house condition. When a dry week meets an evening card, expect the ground to ride quicker than the morning description — another nudge toward pace.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting for one late run on the old circuit. Its final bend and short run-in reward prominence — the handy, well-placed horses win here, and a hold-up ride needs the leaders up front to over-race first.
- Handing a summer evening card to mud-lovers on name alone. The track drains well and is actively watered, so the going reads “good” far more often here than a western-Ireland reputation would suggest.
- Treating the two loops as one track. The old circuit is sharp with a punishing final bend; the extension rides more galloping. The IHRB ground report names which is in use — check it before trusting course form.
Ballinrobe Racecourse FAQs
What is the biggest race at Ballinrobe?
Is there a pace bias at Ballinrobe?
What kind of track is Ballinrobe?
When does Ballinrobe race?
Where is Ballinrobe racecourse?
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