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Plan to Race and Stay as Punchestown announce major new sponsor deal

Punchestown racecourse today announced a major new sponsorship agreement that will see the Ireland’s premier National Hunt Flat race run under the new title, The Race and Stay at Punchestown Champion Bumper.

This new multi-year sponsorship deal will kick off on day two of the 2022 Punchestown Festival, Wednesday 27th April. It is a fitting partnership as the home of Irish jump racing prepares to welcome festival crowds for the first time since 2019. Teaming up with Race and Stay, Ireland’s premier horse racing tour company, provides Punchestown guests with an all-inclusive hotel, ticket and transport package solution arranged by experts.

The €100,000 Grade 1 Race and Stay at Punchestown Champion Bumper is Ireland’s most prestigious INH Flat Race. History making champion trainer Willie Mullins has a stranglehold on this contest winning eight of the last 10 running’s bringing his tally to a total of ten wins.

The 2021 Race and Stay at Punchestown Champion bumper winner Kilcruit provided legendary qualified rider Derek O’Connor with his first ever victory in the race. Following this memorable win O’Connor emphasised the prestige of the coveted contest: “That’s the most prestigious race. The Punchestown Champion Bumper is the race that every amateur wants to win. It has taken me a long time but was great to finally do it,”

Race and Stay, CEO Martyn Pipe welcomed the announcement: “We are delighted to be sponsoring The Champion Bumper, one of the seasons most prestigious races. The Punchestown Festival is a truly unique and exciting event and one that our guests love going to, making this partnership the perfect fit for us.

“We have brought many guests to Punchestown in the past and with demand for memorable horse racing experiences at an all-time high we are looking forward to bringing many more to the festival and other Punchestown meetings this year and hopefully long into the future.
“Our unique service offers racing fans bespoke and exclusive Irish Racing experiences that can be tailored to perfectly suit a group size or budget, and, like Punchestown, we look forward to welcoming guests back for a great racing break to what promises to be a fabulous and memorable festival this year.”

Conor O’Neill, Punchestown CEO highlighted the benefits of the partnership as preparations for what is dubbed as The Great Comeback Festival added: “People make Punchestown. We say it time and time again. Our main aim is to make the Punchestown visitor experience as enjoyable and hassle free as possible. We welcome a huge number of guests from throughout Ireland, the UK and beyond. To team up with Race and Stay means we can now provide an all-inclusive package solution for our customers so they can book, race, stay and return year after year”.

The 2022 Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th April 2022. As preparations continue ahead of the return of racegoers to one of Ireland’s favourite social and sporting events the early bird festival ticket promotion continues and having commenced at 50% is now at 10% discount. Hospitality sales continue to exceed expectations with festival Friday almost completely sold out and various venues throughout the week approaching full capacity.

To view the Race and Stay Punchestown package availability click here

Trainer Peter Fahey has big plans for The Big Dog as the nine-year-old returns to Punchestown on Sunday looking for back-to-back successes in the Hollywoodbets Grand National Trial. A field of 13 runners go to post for Sunday’s €90,000 feature on what is a fascinating day of racing at the Kildare venue. 

The Big Dog had a luckless trip to the Welsh National at Chepstow when he had to be pulled up after a blunder at the ninth fence saw Johnny Burke lose his irons and forced him to pull up but Fahey believes that The Big Dog has improved since his Punchestown success 12-months ago and is still eyeing a potential tilt at the most famous race of all, the English Grand National at Aintree. 

“That was his first run in a handicap when he won this race last year and he’s come on since then,” Fahey said on Friday morning. “We haven’t had the rub of the green with him since; we were sitting for Chepstow but everything seems to be going right with him and he seems in good form. “I suppose the biggest plus from Chepstow was that it happened so early in the race and he came home a very fresh horse. He didn’t have a hard race.”

Elite amateur rider Jamie Codd renews his association with The Big Dog this weekend and gave Fahey the right vibes in midweek. “It was unfortunate what happened over in Chepstow but he’s come out of the race fine and he’s working away well. Jamie Codd sat up on him on Tuesday morning and was delighted with him. We’re looking forward to running him,” Fahey continued. “We always knew when we stepped him up into handicap company, where he’s better in a bigger field, it would be better for him. He was running around in beginner’s chases with small fields and running big races in them (including finishing a close third to subsequent Thyestes Chase and Troytown Chase winners Longhouse Poet and Run Wild Fred also at Punchestown) but we always knew he’s a better horse in a big field. “If he runs a big race, we’d be definitely considering going to Aintree. Hopefully we’ll get the rub of the green this time and put in the type of performance we think he’s capable of.”

The Hollywoodbets Grand National Trial is headed on ratings by the Gordon Elliott-trained Coko Beach who is one of four runners for the trainer. Floueur, Death Duty and Torygraph complete his team for the race, while Gavin Cromwell has two interesting contenders in Alfa Mix and Jimmil. Stones And Roses represents champion trainer Willie Mullins and Charles Byrnes has booked Liam Quinlan to take a 5lbs allowance off Doctor Duffy. 
Elsewhere on Sunday’s card, Cheltenham Festival clues could be on offer in the Hollywoodbets Rated Novice Chase as the Willie Mullins-trained Ciel De Neige chases a hat-trick against the likes of Dancing On My Own, You Raised Me Up and Poseidon. 

The INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle looks an intriguing contest with the highly touted Largy Debut bidding to bounce back from a disappointing outing at Leopardstown over Christmas. He’ll meet the Willie Mullins-trained Deploy The Getaway and the highly impressive course and distance winner Supreme Jet. 
Racing on Sunday begins with the Hollywoodbets PP Hogan Cross Country Chase over Punchestown’s famous banks course and some old favourites like Call It Magic, Alpha Des Obeaux and Ballyboker Bridge will line up here. 

Hollywoodbets is thrilled to enjoy the golden opportunity of reinvesting in the Irish racing community on the occasion of the purple brand’s 2nd birthday.
We are celebrating the milestone by promoting the Hollywoodbets Grand National Trial at Punchestown on Sunday 13 February. Hollywoodbets is offering a promotion aligned to the Hollywoodbets Grand National trial. Place a win bet with a minimum stake of £/€10 on the Hollywoodbets Grand National Trial at Punchestown and stand a chance to win a share of £/€10,000 if your selection wins and then goes on to win either the English or Irish Grand National.   

Hollywoodbets’ Andrew Halligan said that this incentive is a massive boost for Irish Racing punters and creates a great hype over the period from 13th February to 18thApril.
“We are excited to get behind the Irish racing punters! Please look out for the Hollywoodbets activation team, who will be on course at Punchestown on Sunday” Halligan said.
Log onto www.hollywoodbets.ie for all your betting opportunities.

First Race: 1.40pm & seven races on the card.

Gates: 12pm

Admission: €15 & €10 OAP’s/Student’s 

Don’t Forget: Last Chance to SAVE 15% on Festival 2022 tickets, offer ends midnight Sunday 13 Feb. Book Here