Laytown beach races: three tips and 13 things you may not know

Laytown is an annual tradition and this once-a-year event is unique as it is the only horse racing fixture staged on a beach under Rules in Ireland or Britain.

While something of a novelty and certainly a spectacle, Laytown races has a rich heritage with this year being the 154th staging of the famous fixture.

European nations including Spain, Germany and France also host beach fixtures, but the reputation of Laytown reaches wide and the day is regarded ‘bucket-list’ material for those yet to attend - and not just for racing fans, either.

Here are some things you might not know ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, while we've put forward three tips for the fixture further below. Enjoy all the action live on Racing TV.

1. Officials only have around three hours to assemble the track at Laytown, a process which can only begin when the tide has gone out. Rails, stalls and all the technology required for a meeting is brought in for the day in an impressive logistical feat.

2. The track at Laytown is straight and almost level and contests take place from six furlongs to a mile. Races previously took place up to two miles and around a bend, but reduced distances and field sizes were introduced after an incident in 1994. The maximum field size for races is ten.

3. The sand is regarded as fairly quick and you hear the rattle of hooves as horses let themselves down on the surface. The kickback here doesn’t tend to be too bad as the sand is usually good and solid not long after the tide has receded.

4. Laytown is unsurprisingly popular and crowds in excess of 5,000 have proved common in recent years.

5. In 1950, the Aga Khan – one of the sport’s great owners and grandfather of the present incumbent – attended Laytown races. His one runner that year, Astrida, made a winning trip to the beach in the £100 Julianstown Plate.

6. With limited opportunites to ride at Laytown, riders make it a go-to event. Champion jockeys Ruby Walsh, Colin Keane, Pat Smullen and Joseph O’Brien have all landed winners there. Rachael Blackmore, Paul Townend and Danny Mullins will be among those in action on Tuesday.

7. Laytown has good opportunities for amateurs and some of the best, both past and present, have tasted success at the track including Nina Carberry, Katie Walsh, Patrick Mullins, Jamie Codd and Derek O’Connor. Mullins will again be riding on Tuesday's card.

8. It's not just top jockeys have graced Laytown. Labaik took to the beach seven months before Supreme Novices’ Hurdle glory at Cheltenham. The mulish character didn’t fancy it though - he reluctantly trailed in miles behind the rest!

9. Racing was essentially suspended in Britain during the outbreak of the First World War and the loss was Laytown’s gain with a record entry of 73 runners declared for five races. With maximum field sizes now in place, up to 60 runners can currently compete on raceday.

10. Laytown is the most unique meeting in the UK and Ireland among a diverse fixture list, and has generated interest from Japan and around the world.

11. Laytown is particularly targeted by certain trainers and owners, and from Britain too. Jamie Osborne (25 per cent strike-rate) and The Melbourne 10 recorded a treble in 2018, while Ado McGuinness has plenty of runners. From smaller samples, Denis Hogan and James Lambe also have good records.

12. Not only the horses provided a spectacle during the 1920 fixture - the Irish War Of Independence from January 1919 to July 1921 made its mark at Laytown, when reportedly a large force descended on the beach in full military gear. Something of a headache for the stewards?

13. Charles Stewart Parnell was one of the first stewards of Laytown races. One of the most formidable figures in Parliamentary history, he led the fight for Irish Home Rule towards the end of the 19th century. His name was invoked a few years ago in Parliament atthe height of the tussle between government and the legislature over Brexit, in acknowledgement of his tactics of obstructionism that drew wider attention to the Irish question.

Ado McGuinness isn’t based too far from Laytown and the trainer has had an abundance of runners here – 59 so far, with 12 winners and 32 placed (54 per cent).

While the overall stats suggest that previous experience at Laytown isn’t a particular advantage for runners here, it has very much proven the case with representatives from this stable (4 winners and seven more placed from 18 runners, 1.31 A/E) and Dream Today bids to follow up success at last year’s meeting here.

He struck off top-weight in a 0-80 handicap last term and he’s now down to a mark of 74, essentially taking a drop in grade in this 0-75 handicap where once again he carries top-weight in what has likely been a long-term target for the trainer and enthusiastic ownership syndicate Shamrock Thoroughbreds.

Dream Today does need to bounce back after several underwhelming efforts of late, but they have all been on turf (previously consistent on the all-weather) and the sliding mark does make him look attractively weighted on a return to the beach that is fancied to revitalise him.

Yester was a close second at Laytown last year and can strike on stable debut for James McAuley in a race in which most have little recent form.

That’s no surprise really given this is the basement grade and, while Yester is undoubtedly one of the more compelling form candidates here, the gelding starts out for a stable that is particularly noted success in claimers (12.4%, +£14.46, 0.99 A/E) and that reads stronger still for yard debutants in such races (14.3%, +£2, 1.48 A/E).

The seven-year-old is still yet to win after 29 runs and that always carries an inherent wealth warning, but he looks quite well-treated on these terms and is expected to be thereabouts.

Ta Na La ran a bit below par last time, but the four-year-old has proven pretty consistent throughout her career – most recently making progress over jumps – and she still looks one of the leading form chances here in a 10-runner maiden in which most look difficult to recommend.

This trip to Laytown looks an interesting move now, as does the fairly significant drop in trip. Ta Na La has proven keen in the past and it looks quite possible that she may be given office to go forward and ask questions of mostly lesser rivals at a track which often rewards prominent tactics.

Trainer Ted Walsh has three runners on Tuesday and, in the last 25 years, over half of his 19 runners have been placed at Laytown (three winners). However, it’s his record in non-handicaps which makes for more interesting reading (3 from 11, 5 more placed, +£6.50, 1.74 A/E).

Unlike McGuinness, the Walsh runners hold more interest on their first start on the beach if the stats are anything to go by and, more specifically, the stable’s runners are 2 from 4 on Laytown debut in non-handicaps (+£9.50, 2.47 A/E).