• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

BettingSites.co

Betting Sites - Best UK Online Bookmakers & Sports Betting Websites

  • Home
  • Top 10
  • New Sites
  • Free Bets
  • Bookmakers
  • Sports
    • American Football
    • Athletics
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Boxing
    • Cricket
    • Darts
    • Football
    • Formula 1
    • Golf
    • Greyhound Racing
    • Horse Racing
    • Ice Hockey
    • Rugby
    • Snooker
    • Tennis
    • UFC/MMA
  • Tips
  • Banking
  • Articles

Ffos Las Racecourse

Ffos Las Grandstand and Parade Ring
Brian Marshall, flickr

Opening for business in 2009, Ffos Las became just the third racecourse to be based in Wales, and the first new National Hunt track to open anywhere in the UK for over 80 years. Also providing flat racing throughout the summer months, this Carmarthenshire venue – which lies on the site of a former open cast mine – is now widely recognised as a high-quality dual-purpose track.

Ffos Las, which translates as “Blue Ditch”, benefits from sitting in a natural amphitheatre, with the spectacular views down the Gwendraeth Valley and quality action on the track proving hugely popular with punters. Staging around 20 meetings in total, the feature contests of the season are October’s Welsh Champion Hurdle and the West Wales National which takes place in April.

Racecourse Facts

Location
Carmarthenshire
Country
Wales
Race Type
Flat, Jumps
Track Surface
Turf

Upcoming Fixtures

Date Day Course Type Track
31/01/2023 Tuesday Ffos Las Jump Turf
09/02/2023 Thursday Ffos Las Jump Turf
05/03/2023 Sunday Ffos Las Jump Turf
See the full fixtures here

Course Summary

Ffos Las Flat and Jumps Racecourse Maps

Both the flat and National Hunt action takes place on the same course at Ffos Las, which in terms of its layout is one of the most conventional in the British Isles. Left-handed and oval in nature, with a circuit length of 1m4f, the track features long, wide straights and fairly gentle and sweeping bends. Flat throughout, with only a very slight rise in the back straight and corresponding slight descent in the home straight to contend with, this galloping course is considered to be one of the most straightforward and galloping around – often being compared to the well-regarded Newbury in its configuration.

The going at the track had proven to be a major issue in the early years, with bog-like conditions being far from an unusual occurrence during the winter months. A £200,000 investment in the drainage system at the track in 2015 has gone some way to alleviate this issue, but the going does still lean towards being on the soft side of good on average, and can become very testing during particularly wet periods. During brighter periods, the problems caused when the sun gets low can occasionally result in the omission of obstacles in the home straight.

Notable Trends

When looking at the results here in recent season, there are a few names to stand out amongst the riders. Of the flat jockeys it is Oisin Murphy who leads the way in terms of strike-rate with a figure of 30% – good for a net win of £3 to £1 level stakes. Rossa Ryan’s strike rate is lower at 21%, but he tops the pile with an excellent level stakes net win of almost £28. Gavin Sheehan (28% strike rate, almost £7.50 level stakes net win) is the standout performer amongst the National Hunt riders.

Turning to the trainers, Archie Watson (33% strike rate, £5.40 level stakes net win) and Roger Charlton (26% SR, near £32 level stakes net win) have been the men to follow on the flat, with David Rees (15% strike rate, over £36 level stakes net win) topping the net win figures over jumps.

Not the greatest of tracks for supporters of the market leader, all National Hunt race categories have handed a level stakes loss to jolly backers in the last few years. Results have been only slightly better on the flat, where sticking to backing the favourite in races restricted to runners aged four and older would have returned a 39% strike and around £3 level stakes net win.

Ffos Las Flat Course

Ffos Las Flat Racecourse Map

In addition to the main oval section of the course, the flat track also contains two chutes. The first of these runs directly into the home straight and contains the starting points for 5f and 6f sprints, with the second leading into the back straight and containing the 1m4f start. Races over 1m, 1m1f, 1m2f, 1m6f and 2m all begin on the round section of the course.

Given the long straight sections and gentle bends, together with the flat conditions and distinct lack of quirky elements, there is nothing here that should prevent a runner from showing their best form. Long-striding gallopers will be in their element given the amount of time they are granted to hit full stride, whilst the long and wide straight sections provide hold-up performers with ample time and room to come with a late finishing burst. Front runners can go well but will need to be given a well-judged ride as it can seem like a long way to the line in the 4f home straight.

The Draw

Being a relatively new track, which stages the majority of its fixtures over jumps, Ffos Las doesn’t have quite the volume of draw data to assess as other more established courses. One common observation is that the ground seems to ride slower towards the inside rail in soft conditions, but the stats don’t seem to back that up. Across all flat races at the track at the time of writing, 11% were won by low drawn runners, 6.85 by those in the middle and 10.5% high – a pattern which only varies marginally depending upon the prevailing going. This evidence would suggest that middle draws are best avoided, but any conclusions can only be tentative given the relatively small sample size.

Ffos Las Jumps Course

Ffos Las Jumps Racecourse Map

Both chase and hurdles contests take place on the main oval section of the track, with the chase course lying inside the hurdles track. Both courses are wide and galloping in nature, featuring a 4f home straight, but only a short run in of 100 yards or so following the final obstacle.

Those tackling the chase course will face a total of nine fences per circuit – five plain and two open ditches – with five obstacles lying in the back straight and four in the home straight. The Ffos Las fences are thought to provide a firm but fair test of jumping ability, not being punishingly stiff, but by no means easy.

Lying to the outer section of the oval, the hurdles course is ever so slightly more galloping than the chase track and feature six standard flights, evenly split between the back and home straights.

Given those long straight sections, and ground which is regularly on the soft side of good, the National Hunt events at the track do provide a solid stamina test. The jockeys are of course aware of these demands and tend to ensure that races are run at a sensible, rather than breakneck pace. Both front runners and those looking to come with a late run can go well here, but those on a hold-up performer won’t want to leave it too late due to that relatively short run in after the last.

Full Fixtures

Date Day Course Type Track
31/01/2023 Tuesday Ffos Las Jump Turf
09/02/2023 Thursday Ffos Las Jump Turf
05/03/2023 Sunday Ffos Las Jump Turf
22/03/2023 Wednesday Ffos Las Jump Turf
09/04/2023 Sunday Ffos Las Jump Turf
25/04/2023 Tuesday Ffos Las Jump Turf
09/05/2023 Tuesday Ffos Las Jump Turf
22/05/2023 Monday Ffos Las Jump Turf
27/05/2023 Saturday Ffos Las Jump Turf
08/06/2023 Thursday Ffos Las Jump Turf
25/06/2023 Sunday Ffos Las Flat Turf
04/07/2023 Tuesday Ffos Las Flat Turf
31/07/2023 Monday Ffos Las Flat Turf
08/08/2023 Tuesday Ffos Las Flat Turf
16/08/2023 Wednesday Ffos Las Flat Turf
25/08/2023 Friday Ffos Las Flat Turf
01/09/2023 Friday Ffos Las Flat Turf
14/09/2023 Thursday Ffos Las Flat Turf
01/10/2023 Sunday Ffos Las Flat Turf
15/10/2023 Sunday Ffos Las Jump Turf
12/11/2023 Sunday Ffos Las Jump Turf
22/11/2023 Wednesday Ffos Las Jump Turf
21/12/2023 Thursday Ffos Las Jump Turf

Primary Sidebar

Sports Betting Guides

  • American Football
    • Super Bowl
  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Darts
    • BDO World Darts Championship
    • PDC World Darts Championship
    • PDC World Matchplay
  • Football
    • Football Articles
    • Premier League
    • Premier League Big Six
    • Championship
    • Football Cups
    • FA Cup
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • European Championships
    • Football Awards
    • English Football Teams & Leagues
    • Scottish Football Teams & Leagues
    • Irish Football Teams & Leagues
    • Welsh Football Teams & Leagues
  • Formula 1
    • Circuits
    • F1 Constructors Championship
    • F1 Drivers Championship
  • Golf
    • Golf Tournaments
    • The Open Championship
    • US Open Golf
    • The Masters
    • Ryder Cup
    • US PGA Championship
  • Greyhound Racing
    • Greyhound Racing Tracks
  • Horse Racing
    • Horse Racing Articles
    • Horse Races
    • Major Meetings
    • Horse Racing Fixtures
    • Racecourses
      • England
      • Ireland
      • Scotland
      • Wales
    • Horse Racing Series
    • Prize Money
    • Race Classes
      • Grade 1
      • Grade 2
      • Grade 3
      • Group 1
      • Group 2
      • Group 3
      • Handicaps
      • The Classics
  • Ice Hockey
  • MotoGP
  • Motorsport
    • MotoGP Circuits
  • Rugby
    • Super League
    • Six Nations
    • Rugby World Cup
  • Snooker
    • Masters Snooker
    • World Snooker Championship
    • UK Championship Snooker
  • Tennis
    • Wimbledon
    • US Open
    • French Open
    • Australian Open
  • UFC/MMA

Racecourses

  • Aintree
  • Ascot
  • Ayr
  • Ballinrobe
  • Bangor-on-Dee
  • Bath
  • Bellewstown
  • Belmont Park
  • Beverley
  • Brighton
  • Carlisle
  • Cartmel
  • Catterick
  • Chelmsford City
  • Cheltenham
  • Chepstow
  • Chester
  • Churchill Downs
  • Clonmel
  • Cork
  • Curragh
  • Doncaster
  • Down Royal
  • Downpatrick
  • Dundalk
  • Epsom
  • Exeter
  • Fairyhouse
  • Fakenham
  • Ffos Las
  • Flemington
  • Fontwell Park
  • Galway
  • Goodwood
  • Gowran Park
  • Great Yarmouth
  • Gulfstream Park
  • Hamilton Park
  • Haydock
  • Hereford
  • Hexham
  • Huntingdon
  • Keeneland
  • Kelso
  • Kempton
  • Kilbeggan
  • Killarney
  • King Abdulaziz
  • Laytown
  • Leicester
  • Leopardstown
  • Limerick
  • Lingfield
  • Listowel
  • Longchamp
  • Ludlow
  • Market Rasen
  • Meydan
  • Musselburgh
  • Naas
  • Navan
  • Newbury
  • Newcastle
  • Newmarket
  • Newton Abbot
  • Nottingham
  • Perth
  • Plumpton
  • Pontefract
  • Punchestown
  • Redcar
  • Ripon
  • Roscommon
  • Salisbury
  • Sandown
  • Santa Anita
  • Sedgefield
  • Sligo
  • Southwell
  • Stratford-on-Avon
  • Taunton
  • Thirsk
  • Thurles
  • Tipperary
  • Towcester
  • Tralee
  • Uttoxeter
  • Warwick
  • Waterford and Tramore
  • Wetherby
  • Wexford
  • Wincanton
  • Windsor
  • Wolverhampton
  • Worcester
  • York

Horse Racing Articles

  • What Is the Difference Between UK & Irish Racing?
  • How Many Grand Nationals Are There in the UK & Ireland?
  • What Are the Shortest Horse Races in the UK, Ireland & the World?
  • What Are the Longest Horse Races in the UK, Ireland & the World?
  • Two Year Old Racing: Famous Races, Race Types & Controversy
  • Horse Racing in Ireland: A Guide to Irish Horse Race Classifications
  • Has Any Horse Won All Five Classics?
  • Frankie Dettori's Magnificent Seven
  • Have Any Horses Won The Grand National More Than Once?
  • What's the Different Between Chases & Hurdles in Horse Racing?
  • Worlds Biggest Horse Races
  • Tic-Tac: The Bookies Secret Hand Signals Explained
  • Horse Racing Rule 4 Deductions Explained
  • Best Odds Guaranteed Explained
  • Picking Winners: How To Study Horse Racing Form
  • What is Totepool Betting?
  • The History of Horse Racing

Events By Country

  • Countries
  • UAE (Dubai & Abu Dhabi)
  • South Africa
  • India
  • New Zealand
  • France
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • USA
  • Ireland
  • UK
  • Saudi Arabia

Banking

  • Apple Pay
  • Bitcoin
  • Entropay
  • Neteller
  • PayPal
  • Paysafecard
  • Skrill

Popular Articles

  • Picking Winners: How To Study Horse Racing Form
  • Betting & Tax In The UK – Do I Have To Pay Tax On My Gambling Winnings?
  • Both Teams to Score & Goals Galore Explained
  • Multiples Betting Explained
  • Dead Heat Rules – What Happens In The Event Of A Tie?

Latest Articles

  • Horse Racing Fixtures
  • Scottish Racecourses
  • Welsh Racecourses
  • English Racecourses
  • Premier League Golden Boot
  • European Golden Shoe
  • Motorsport
  • Youghal Greyhound Stadium
  • Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium (Waterford)
  • Kingdom Greyhound Stadium (Tralee)

Recently Updated

  • Australian Open: Past Winners, Stats & History
  • Pegasus World Cup
  • Farmers Insurance Open
  • Cotswold Chase
  • Clarence House Chase
  • Best Online Bookies & List of UK High Street Bookmakers
  • The American Express
  • Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
  • DP World Tour Championship
  • Nedbank Golf Challenge
  • Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
  • Open de France
  • Italian Open
  • BMW PGA Championship
  • Omega European Masters
  • Irish Open
  • BMW International Open
  • Porsche European Open
  • Dutch Open
  • British Masters
Copyright © 2023 BettingSites.co | 18+ BeGambleAware

Disclaimer: Please note that the legality of betting online varies between countries and it is your responsibility to verify that your actions are legal in the country you reside. All offers subject to terms and conditions. Please gamble responsibly - if you feel you may have a problem and need advice please visit Gamble Aware (UK) or Gamblers Anonymous.