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sport · Saturday 19 September 2026 · Various 
Return of the Jumps - Navan Racecourse
At Navan Racecourse · Proudstown Road, Navan, Co. Meath
At Navan Racecourse · Proudstown Road, Navan, Co. Meath
Jumps racing has a different feel to the flat - more mud, more crowd noise at the fences, more of a winter energy even on a September afternoon. The Return of the Jumps at Navan Racecourse on Saturday 19 September 2026 marks the official start of the National Hunt season at one of Ireland’s most respected jump tracks. It is the kind of fixture that draws in racing regulars who have been waiting out the summer on flat meetings, and it is just as good a day out for someone who has never been to the races before.
Navan is widely considered one of the fairest tests of a National Hunt horse in Ireland. The chase course is a left-handed rectangular circuit of about 1.5 miles with a stiff uphill finish of roughly 3.5 furlongs. There are nine fences per circuit with three jumped in the home straight - so there is plenty of action visible from the main stands. Jockey Charlie Swan described it plainly: “For me it is the fairest track in Ireland. There is plenty of room and there are never hard-luck stories there.” That fairness tends to mean the best horse on the day actually wins, which makes for honest racing.
September jump fixtures are typically competitive without being Grade 1-heavy - handicap chases and hurdles, novice contests, and bumpers that give early glimpses of horses to follow over the winter. The Navan Racing Festival in November is the course’s flagship jumps weekend, so the Return of the Jumps meeting acts as a warm-up, bringing the track back to life after the summer.
On-course facilities include bars, restaurants, and betting facilities. Free car parking is available on site.
Navan Racecourse is on Proudstown Road, north of Navan town centre - about 50 km from Dublin. From Dublin, the N3/M3 is the direct road route and takes roughly 45 to 55 minutes depending on traffic. Bus Eireann serves Navan from Dublin’s Busáras, and some race days run dedicated coach services from Dublin city centre - worth checking the racecourse website in advance. Free parking is on site, so driving is the most straightforward option from most of Meath.
Navan sits on the River Boyne and is a good base for the wider Boyne Valley - Trim Castle is less than 15 minutes away and the Hill of Tara is a short drive south. There is more to see in Navan and across Co. Meath.
Heading to Navan Racecourse in Navan? Meath has plenty more to see. Read the Navan area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.