Osprey Hotel is the place to be before and after the races once again for 2023 and is bigger and better than ever, this year the 4-star hotel in Naas has lined up another fantastic week of entertainment to coincide with the Punchestown Festival 2023.
As a sponsor of Punchestown with the growing Osprey Avenue shopping village at the festival, this year the hotel is pulling out all the stops to make 2023 the best one yet.
A complimentary shuttle bus will be running regularly each day from the hotel to the festival before and after the races.
A new addition this year is the star studded Punchestown Preview from 12 – 2pm on Tuesday 25th April in partnership with the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund in the refurbished Osprey Ballroom, a great way to start the week hearing from RTE broadcasters, racing pundits and jockeys. Enjoy some delicious carvery options, while enjoying a pint and soaking up the atmosphere for the start of the festival, before you head for the track for an amazing day of racing.
After hopefully a successful day at the races, there is plenty of reason to return to the Osprey Hotel afterwards and soak up the atmosphere and witness the great entertainment on offer.
Live entertainment will be on each evening in the Osprey Bar, grab a drink and absorb everything the hotel has to offer. New for 2023 is the addition of our SilverStream food truck in our courtyard with a post race BBQ on Thursday 27th April.
On Friday night the Osprey Hotel hosts the Ultimate Festival Finale to a packed house, our DJ’s will entertain in the lobby, restaurant and bar while the ticketed ‘ULTIMATE FESTIVAL FINALE’ event takes place in the ballroom featuring for 2023, none other than ‘SPRINGBREAK’ and includes full access to our courtyard stretch tent, food truck and outdoor bars.
Michael Boyle, General Manager is eagerly awaiting the arrival of this years festival:
“We are delighted to continue our sponsorship with Punchestown Festival for 2023. Even more so this year as it’s such an exciting time at the hotel at the moment with so many positive things happening within the team and hotel property. We were delighted to complete the refurbishment of our public areas with the full refurb of our bedrooms due to commence in the coming months. We recently celebrated being awarded ‘Great Place to Work’ accreditation along with receiving Silver status through our sustainability endeavors with Green Tourism. The team enjoy the week so much, welcoming back our regular racing guests and the general buzz and atmosphere makes it the most anticipated week of the year at Osprey and we can’t wait”.
For full details visit www.ospreyhotel.ie or follow on their social media platforms.
Bollinger Best Dressed – Full Stop.
New approach to race day fashion as the Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council and concept for the Punchestown Festival is unveiled.
The countdown is on and all bets are off ahead of the 2023 Bollinger Best Dressed competition at this year’s Punchestown Festival from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April. Following such positive reaction to a fresh outlook on race day style at last year’s event, organisers have further enhanced this aspect as the 2023 Style Council is revealed.
The concept is Bollinger Best Dressed – Full Stop. The challenge is set and the competition is open to ladies and gents who catch the eye of the Style Council members by dressing with confidence, elegance and creativity whilst considering sustainability and appropriateness of their outfit.
Tasked with the challenge of scouring the Punchestown crowds and identifying the best dressed race goer is a collective of ladies and gents who are highly regarded in their respective fields, have a passion for style and have excelled to establish successful careers in the fashion, style and beauty industries.
The Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council Lead Jess Colivet explains what makes this Punchestown’s competition different to other best dressed race day’s: “whilst style is timeless we are looking for something fresh and new. Last year we embraced the fact that Punchestown was probably the first real opportunity to find your style feet again and dress up following Covid. This year all bets are off and we are looking for a fresh approach to race day and occasion outfits. We invite entrants of all ages and genders to show us their true style with special emphasis on individuality, creative styling and a fresh outlook.
Colivet continued to explain the sustainable angle: “Being stylish is not about spending a fortune, the most sustainable thing you can do when it comes to fashion is to wear what you already have in your wardrobe. Real style is how to wear it and what you wear it with so get creative and borrow, swap, reimagine and alter your way to the Bollinger Best Dressed title”.
Allow us to introduce you to the nine Bollinger Style Council members who will attend on a combination of days to ensure a diverse and varied selection of finalists:
Jess Colivet @jesscolivet
Jess is The Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council Creative Lead and this will be her second year judging The Bollinger Best Dressed at Punchestown. A London College of Style trained image and style consultant, Jess’s passion lies in assisting both women and men in discovering their own personal unique style. Jess is a neighbour of Punchestown racecourse and has enjoyed attending the annual Punchestown Festival for many years.
Jess’s work as a personal stylist involves a consultation service for clients who want to feel more comfortable, confident and happy in their general appearance. Jess believes that “feeling confident and happy impacts all aspects of life from personal through to business. This can come from something as simple as how you dress and present yourself to the world”. Jess believes that fashion is less about clothes and more about personal style.
Lawson Mpame @lawsofstyle
Lawson Mpame is a Creative Director and menswear stylist who has been working in the fashion industry for seven years. His passion for fashion and storytelling through visual mediums has led to collaborations and projects with some of the biggest fashion brands in the world. Styling their latest collections and creating high end content allows Lawson to showcase both his style and creativity. The three pillars of his brand are class, creativity and confidence. 2023 will be Lawson’s first year on The Style Council and his very first visit to the Punchestown Festival.
Suzie O Neill @suzie.ayu
Kildare resident and award-winning entrepreneur Suzie O’Neill is the owner and CEO of Ayu Cosmetics and Koolfit Apparel. Suzie’s ethos has always been about engagement with the customer and using feedback to inspire and develop new products. This will be Suzie’s second year on The Style Council at Punchestown.
Suzie’s business journey started with a range of affordable, premium quality brushes back in 2015 and since then AYU has expanded to include a full suite of cosmetics with many new and innovative products in the pipeline. A champion of women in business Suzie has a team of over twenty talented women across her brands.
When not running her successful business this busy Mum is running half marathons with Clane Athletics Club.
David O Connor @styledoc
Louis Copeland Group GM/Creative Director/ Made-To-Measure specialist.
Aptly named known as ‘The Style Doctor’ David has been working with the Louis Copeland group for over twenty years where he has styled some of the sharpest dressed, well known gentlemen including actors Patrick Dempsey and John C Reilly, celebrity chef Donal Skeahan, Tv Presenter and Olympian Greg O’Shea and globally renowned Mentalist Keith Barry.
This will be David’s Punchestown debut and as a passionate flag bearer of gentlemen’s style he will be looking for impeccable grooming, excellent tailoring fit and perhaps a different take on the traditional occasion suit. Keen to champion gentlemen’s style and optimize the opportunity for the title to go the way of the men for the first time, David will be looking for perfect fit through great tailoring as well as attention to detail on presentation.
Katie Du Jour @katiedujour
2019 Bollinger Best Dressed Winner and 2022 Style Council member Kate Nally McCormack is a mother of four from the Midlands who works with the HSE. Although a Punchestown Festival regular for many years, Kate made her best dressed debut in 2019 a winning one and having literally walked the walk knows what it takes to land the coveted title. The winning prize of a money cannot buy trip to France including an exclusive tour of Champagne Bollinger Estate, Michelin star dining and chauffeur transfers ranks as an experience of a lifetime for Kate. She believes that everyone should give it their best shot to be in with a chance to enjoy the same wonderful experience.
Kate possesses the knack of achieving a polished stylish look by combining high street with designer or vintage items.
Sinead Keary @sinead_keary_personal_shopping
Sinead Keary is a fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded her self-titled fashion label in 2019. The first collection came to life after 12 years of working in luxury retail and with hundreds of personal shopping clients who repeatedly expressed the age old adage that they had a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear.
Sinead set about designing a collection of luxury essentials to help in forming the foundations of a capsule collection. Minimalism, femininity, fine fabrics and perfect fit are all essential components to the label collection that has been worn by Vogue Williams, Fearne Cotton and Rachel Stevens.
Sarah Battle @housebythewhitethorns
Sarah Battle is a modern day wonder woman. She lives in the West of Ireland with her husband and five kids. In 2019 Sarah began her blog to showcase her passion for home décor, style, baking and now uses her platform as an insight to daily family life along with style and décor advice. Sarah has collaborated with many high profile fashion and lifestyle brands and has amassed over 123,000 followers on Instagram.
Roxanne Parker @roxanne_parker
Roxanne Parker began her journalism career 20 years ago and has been working as a fashion stylist for more than 15 years. Roxanne’s styling skills are highly sought after for magazine and print media editorials and designer brand look books as well as curating television broadcast wardrobes. Roxanne holds a regular TV segment on Ireland AM and has dressed celebrities in sustainable looks for the red carpet. Roxanne has launched a Sustainable Fashion Podcast My Soul Style.
Roxanne champions sustainable and slow fashion and supports designers and brands creating pieces with a planet conscious mission while encouraging people to dress as their authentic selves and not be a slave to trends. A Roxanne style top tip would be to source a great tailor and alterations service which can transform existing items or elevate great second hand finds.
Michelle O’Sullivan, Champagne Bollinger International Representative
Perhaps the most qualified of all the style council members Michelle O’Sullivan, representing Bollinger International has observed the evolution of style and occasion dressing at Punchestown since Bollinger’s sponsorship began in 2016. Bollinger say life can be perfect and with years of experience in the industry Michelle knows exactly what encapsulates the iconic Bollinger brand, ethos and customer.
Punchestown’s Shona Dreaper explained the thinking behind the Style Council concept “ The style element of the festival is so important and the best dressed competition gets plenty of discussion and airtime throughout the week I can assure you! At Punchestown we embrace progress and fresh thinking. Our concept is to move away from the traditional format, encourage entrants of all genders, age and style to get involved. The Punchestown Festival is a celebration and like all great parties a well-dressed guest list is essential”.
The Bollinger Garden in The Style Quarter will be the epicentre of all things fashion at The Punchestown Festival. From Tuesday 25th to Friday 28th April, style scouts will be tasked with finding the most stylish attendees at the racecourse. Finalists will be selected each day and daily winners will be presented with Bollinger goodie bags complete with gorgeous AYU products. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s winners will be fast-tracked to the grand final on Ladies Day, Friday 28th. Stay tuned for more information on prize and format as the countdown to Punchestown 2023 continues.
The Punchestown Festival runs from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April. Race & Dine Hospitality packages from €159pp. Tickets from just €35 with group concessions available. Bundled transfers, accommodation and event packages are available.
ENDS.
Punchestown 2023:
The Punchestown Festival runs from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April. Race & Dine Hospitality packages from €159pp. Tickets from just €35 with group concessions available. Bundled transfers, accommodation and event packages are available. Punchestown offers a unique blend of fashion, entertainment, shopping, food, music and all the fun of a festival. The famous atmosphere comes alive when racing champions go head-to-head and Ireland’s most stylish take each other on in the fashion stakes. The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition will take place over the first four days with the final of the competition on Friday, 28th April. For all your festival information visit www.punchestown.com, call 045 897704 or follow us on social media.
About Bollinger:
BOLLINGER, the iconic Champagne House respected and beloved the world over, is proud to be associated with an event that shares the same values and aspirations as Bollinger: great food, glamorous fashion, good company and thrilling sport. Bollinger Special Cuvée is a joy to be savoured on any special occasion, with the distinctly rich and elegant “Bollinger Style” lauded and admired the world over. http://www.champagne-bollinger.com/
It’s been a while. Too long, but good times are back with a bang today at Punchestown! The Punchestown Festival, one of Ireland’s favourite social and sporting events returned today and it certainly did not disappoint.
Here are some of today’s highlights;
Racing
Gordon Elliott had a four timer Party Central, Mighty Potter, Felix Desjy and Absolute Notions.
Willie Mullins won the feature race the William Hill Champion Chase of €275,000 with Energumene ridden by Paul Townend in the colours of Tony Bloom.
The Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase of €125,000 was won by Capodanno owned by JP McManus, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Mark Walsh.
Fashion:
Dee Ahearn from Kilcullen, Co. Kildare won the Bollinger Best Dressed Lady Competition on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival. Wearing a stunning turquoise dress she designed herself and had made by local dress designer Liz Byrne a couple of years ago when Hilary Clinton was visiting Barretstown where Dee is the Chief Executive Officer. She teamed the dressed with a stunning Prada bag, Nine West heels and a headpiece she hired from Marinot Millinery at the Osprey Avenue, the shopping village area of the Style Quarter onsite at the Punchestown Festival. She is fast tracked to the final on Friday where she can wear the same outfit or choose to change it up!
Attendances were slightly behind on 2019 figures however, presales and all indication signs are pointing for it to build as the week continues.
The Punchestown Festival is a showcase of jump racing is in store with 12 grade one contests and over €3.3 million in the purse. It offers a tremendous mix speed merchants with stamina stars. Seasoned campaigners compete shoulder to shoulder with rookies and new names. This is where champions are crowned and fresh talent emerges. It is truly a fitting homecoming for our horses, trainers, jockeys and owners who have flown the flag with such success to deserted grandstands and silent stadiums in recent years.
Few sporting experiences compare with the raw energy of horse racing. In Ireland horse racing is where sport and culture combine. It is inherent in Irish culture and heritage. It is fast, it is tough, it is fiercely competitive but it is exhilarating, thrilling and passionate in equal measure. The energy from the track feeds the enclosures where the atmosphere is unbeatable. The soundtrack of cheering, chat, live music and bustling bars injects that festive spirit. Punchestown is proud to retain its title as Ireland’s largest corporate sporting event. This is where two worlds collide with business running in tandem with a relaxed fun day.
Over 17,000 corporate hospitality guests will enjoy delicious seasonal produce at Punchestown this year. Impress clients, guests and friends in our selection of restaurants, pavilions, bars and private suites and rest assured that you will relax and enjoy the very best of Irish sport with delicious seasonal food and beverages in a wonderful famous setting.
Finally, an occasion to dress up for! The prestigious Bollinger Best Dressed Competition will run each day from Festival Tuesday 26th April to the grand final on Ladies Day, Friday 29th April. The all-expenses paid 5 star VIP trip to the Home of Bollinger is the coveted money cannot buy prize on offer this year. The new addition of The Style Council demonstrates a fresh take on all thins fashion at Punchestown. All finalists from Tuesday to Friday will receive a Bollinger goodie bag complete with gorgeous, hand-picked luxury products from Bellamianta, AYU, Declaré, Kotanical, Bollinger and race tickets from Punchestown.
So dress up or dress down, network in corporate hospitality or meet friends in the bar but most importantly gather, gather to celebrate the return of good times. The Punchestown Festival runs from Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th April. Race & Dine Hospitality packages from €149pp. Tickets from just €30 with group concessions available. Visit punchestown.com
Click here to view 2022 Festival Enclosure Map
Here is the lowdown on Festival Tickets.
Always try to buy online in advance – it will make your access on the day so much easier.
Not sure what day? Go Flexi. The Flexi ticket can be used on any one festival day.
Senior, Student and Teen Scene tickets are not available online and should be purchased on the day. Proof of age required for Senior and student.
General Admission from €30pp – Available online here.
This ticket allows access to the general enclosure, parade ring, grandstand, public food outlets, The Osprey Avenue shopping area and plenty of bars. Upgrades can be purchased on the day for €10pp should you wish to access the reserved enclosure (subject to availability).
Reserved Enclosure from €40pp – Available online here
Enjoy all the general admission ticket facilities and more! The Reserved enclosure is the social hub of the festival and the home of the new Hunt Stand, famous Sky Bar, the Bollinger Lounge & Garden as well as numerous food outlets. Festival goers can get so close to the racing action on our viewing lawns and then dance the evening away with DJ’s and Live music. Early booking is advised for Festival Friday.
Flexi Ticket from €40pp – Available online here
As the name suggests the Flexi ticket is flexible and allows the holder to attend on any one of the five days. This is ideal if you are purchasing as a gift or unsure what day you can attend.
Senior and Students from €20pp – not available online
All ages are welcome at Punchestown and we offer a €10 concession on standard ticket prices to seniors and students. These tickets can only be purchased on the day with official form of I.D.
Teen Scene from €17pp – not available online
All children under 14 years of age race for free at Punchestown. For young people aged 15, 16 and 17 we have a specially designated Teen Scene turnstile. Please note that the Ireland Age card is the official form of proof of age at Punchestown.
Limited Mobility further to feedback from customers we offer free admission to carers who accompany limited mobility clients.
Dining Packages from €149pp
All hospitality options include admission as part of the package. Click HERE to view our 2022 Hospitality Brochure.
Party Packs (Group Deal) from €30pp Sorry Sold Out!
The Party Pack is the ideal solution for social groups, hens, stags, family occasions and work outings. This all-inclusive pack gives you all you need to get your festival off to a great start and offers savings of up to €14pp. From just €30pp each person receives admission, official racecard, €5 match bet and a €5 beverage voucher. For groups of 10 people or more.
DOOLEY INSURANCE GROUP TO TOP AND TAIL PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL
One of Ireland’s largest independent, family owned and run insurance brokers, the Dooley Insurance Group will once again ‘top and tail’ the Punchestown Festival and will sponsor two races during the famous festival. The Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase will run at Punchestown on the opening day, Tuesday, 26th of April. The group will also sponsor the Dooley Insurance Group WFA Cross Country Steeplechase on the closing day of the festival, Saturday, 30th of April. The €125,000 Grade 1 contest is set to be one of the most thrilling races of the season and has attracted a top-quality field of 20 entries including two of the most exciting chasers on the circuit, Bob Olinger and Galopin Des Champs. The race is expected to produce some very exciting racing action when this pair are expected to lock horns at the curtain raiser of the festival.
Established over sixty-five years ago the Dooley Insurance Group is now one of Ireland’s largest independent insurance brokers with over 12,000 clients throughout the country. The Dooley Insurance Group are also an official insurance partner of Punchestown Racecourse. Despite the challenges of the pandemic the group has grown and has acquired the long-established business of Padraic O’ Connor Insurances in Offaly in December 2021 with further acquisitions on the cards. The company now has 15 members of staff and will soon double its office space at the Naas office at Millennium Park in order to accommodate new team members.
Tim Dooley, Managing Director of the Dooley Insurance Group said, “We began sponsoring at Punchestown in 2017 and since that time our support has grown in importance and stature and is Grade 1 status since 2019. The Grade 1 race has attracted some of the most incredible horses and we are particularly thrilled this year with the quality of the entries. The prize money too has also gone up from €100,000 to €125,000 which is testament to the importance of the fixture. The growth in our business over the last 18 months has been phenomenal and the pandemic has reminded customers how important it is to have adequate cover and to protect the things and people that matter most you. Health insurance, business insurance and cyber security insurance are particularly important now, and we offer all of these services to our ever-growing client base. Ultimately, though our growth is due to our strong relationships with our customers. They want to be able to pick up the phone and speak to a ‘real person’ and get bespoke and unbiased advice, and that is what we offer. We can offer people solutions and products from over 50 different providers so we will always offer the ‘best fit’ solution for our clients. We are delighted to be part of Punchestown again and to have the opportunity to showcase our brand and services – it’s an iconic festival.”
Mary Healy Dooley, Marketing & PR Director of The Dooley Insurance Group said, “Punchestown has always been at the heart of the community here in Kildare and this sponsorship offers us the perfect platform to promote our business and our brand to our target audience through the mediums of television, radio, print and social media. It also allows us to increase our digital footprint as more and more racing fans will watch the action unfold through their smart phone or other digital devices.”
Punchestown CEO Conor O’Neill said, “The Dooley Insurance Group have been brilliant supporters of Punchestown as both sponsors and service providers. We aim to engage with dynamic, market leading businesses and always seek out local providers where we can so the Dooley Group are an ideal fit here at Punchestown. The Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase has been one of the most hotly contested races in recent times and this year’s renewal is billed as one of the highlights of the season. We are really looking forward to it.”.
The Punchestown Festival will run from Tuesday, 26th April to Saturday 30th of April. For more information on the Dooley Insurance Group please see www.dooleyinsurances.ie or call (045) 431642. For further information on the Punchestown Festival see www.punchestown.com
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For further press information, photography or to interview Tim Dooley of the Dooley Insurance Group please contact Aileen O’Brien, O’Brien PR. (045) 407017 or mobile (086) 8403624 aileen@obrienpr.com
NOTE TO EDITORS:
The Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase and is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ furlong (3 miles and 120 yards, or 4,938 metres), and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers and has seen some past winners going on to find racing glory in both the UK and Ireland.
Bective Stud Launch Grade 1 Action With Punchestown Festival Sponsorship
Tuesday 12th April 2022 – With only weeks until Punchestown returns with the Great Comeback Festival from Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th April, the racecourse today announced an exciting new sponsorship as Noel and Valerie Moran’s Bective Stud take over title honours of the first grade one contest at the prestigious season grand finale.
The €125,000 Grade 1 Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle will take place on the opening day of the highly anticipated 2022 Punchestown Festival. The winners list for this two-mile contest, which ran under the eComm Merchant Solutions banner in 2021, features stars such as Hurricane Fly, Jezki, Faugheen and Douvan. Like so many of the Punchestown feature races, champion trainer Willie Mullins has dominated winning six of the last seven runnings. A sequence punctuated in 2016 by the J.P. McManus owned Don’t Push It ridden by Barry Geraghty and trained by Jessica Harrington.
Recently published entries for the Bective Stud contest feature Cheltenham sensation Constitution Hill, Sir Gerhard, Three Stripe Life, Aintree winner Jonbon, while County Hurdle winner State Man would be an intriguing contender.
The Moran’s purchased the 180 acre Bective Stud in 2016 and have undertaken a considered and highly detailed restoration project of the beautiful house, yard and gardens that date back to 1852. Situated on the banks of the Boyne between Trim and Navan, Bective Stud is a truly unique immersive stud experience for racing patrons and enthusiasts. Operating as a dual purpose bloodstock enterprise with both racing and breeding stock, the stud welcomes paying guests to enjoy the recently refurbished luxurious self-catering apartments, the newly opened tearooms and gardens. In addition, patrons of the tea rooms and apartments will soon enjoy the first phase of the walking trails which is due to open later this month. The vision does not end there as there are plans for a five star hotel in the pipeline. For full information please visit www.bectivestud.com
Bective Stud owners and great supporters of national hunt racing Noel and Valerie Moran commented: “We are delighted to be working with Punchestown Racecourse again this year, this time under Bective Stud, after sponsoring this race last year with eCOMM Merchant Solutions. We are passionate about National Hunt racing and we wish the team at Punchestown all the very best with this year’s Comeback Festival. This year we sponsor the Grade 1 Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle which is one of the main races at the Festival and we are thrilled to support one of the best festivals in the Irish racing calendar. Bective Stud is open for business with 5 Luxurious self-catering apartments in the middle of the working stud farm. We also recently opened our new tea rooms and Restaurant on the estate. Come visit our horses and Alpacas. We would be thrilled to welcome racing patrons to the estate.”
After their inaugural festival sponsorship was behind closed doors, Punchestown CEO Conor O’Neill looks forward to welcoming the Morans in person: “Noel and Valerie have been so supportive of Punchestown and indeed Irish jump racing as an industry. They stepped up last year despite the fact that due to racing behind closed doors they were unable to enjoy the ‘in-person’ benefits of being a sponsor at Punchestown. We hope this year we can more than make up for it as we host Valerie, Noel and their guests. O’Neill continued: “The level of vision, passion, attention to detail that has gone into Bective Stud is a testament to the Moran’s commitment to the project. You can see why Noel and Valerie are so successful in business when you see the project that they have delivered at Bective Stud. A visit to a fully operational successful stud such as Bective would be such an amazing experience for racing fans and we really look forward to seeing what future plans bring.”
The 2022 Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th April. For full event details and tickets please visit www.punchestown.com
The 2022 Grade 1 Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle
1. Adamantly Chosen – WP Mullins
2. Brandy Love – WP Mullins
3. Bring On The Night – WP Mullins
4. Classic Getaway – WP Mullins
5. Colonel Mustard – Mrs. L. Fowler
6. Constitution Hill – Nicky Henderson
7. Dysart Dynamo – WP Mullins
8. El Fabiolo – WP Mullins
9. Farout – WP Mullins
10. Flame Bearer – PMJ Doyle
11. Gatsby Grey – O McKiernan
12. Gibraltar – WP Mullins
13. Grangee – WP Mullins
14. Ha D’or – WP Mullins
15. Highland Charge – N Meade
16. Hunters Yarn – WP Mullins
17. Jondon – Nicky Henderson
18. Kilcruit – WP Mullins
19. Largy Debut – H de Bromhead
20. Micro manage – WP Mullins
21. Mighty Potter – G Elliott
22. Sir Gerhard – WP Mullins
23. State Man – WP Mullins
24. Three Stripe Life – G Elliott
25. Vina Ardanza – G Elliott
**ENDS**
Equine Greats lead the way at the Punchestown Festival in The Great Comeback
HoneyHill clash, Clan Des Obeaux title defence & Galopin Des Champs/Bob Olinger rematch just some of the treats in store
A stupendous catalogue of some of jump racing’s most lustrous talents feature as the entries for the Punchestown Festival’s 12 Grade 1 races are released today.
Anticipation is building for what is being billed as ‘The Great Comeback’ as the five-day Punchestown Festival gets under way on Tuesday, April 26 and continues right through to Saturday, April 30.
Quality is the watchword throughout all the categories, as a host of previous Grade 1 winners, Cheltenham and Aintree victors, elite champions and stars of the future eye the Punchestown Festival to bring the curtain down on another thrilling season of jumps racing.
The dream heavyweight clash between record-breaking champion, dual Champion Hurdle winner and 2021 PADDY POWER CHAMPION HURDLE victor Honeysuckle and the pretender to her throne, Constitution Hill is still in the pipeline.
The eye is drawn to a host of delectable treats right through the five-day carnival but the prospect of HoneyHill unfolding at such an arena and with so much at stake has the entire racing world on tenterhooks.
The Friday, April 29 feature has attracted ten entries in total, with Henderson also opting to give an entry to Epatante, Honeysuckle’s predecessor as Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner, who chased her home in March before recording an impressive triumph in the Aintree Hurdle on Saturday.
Gordon Elliott has entered Teahupoo and Zanahiyr. The former disappointed in the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle when hotly fancied, Zanahiyr was a brave third before falling at the last flight in the Aintree Hurdle when still in contention.
Elliott has enjoyed a very strong campaign, with five domestic Grade 1s, two Cheltenham successes and then Saturday’s stunning Grade 1 double at Aintree, on the same day that Delta Work finished third in the Grand National.
He has many fond memories of the Punchestown Festival and emphasises it as a high priority in his year.
“We’ve made entries for all the Grade 1 races at Punchestown and we will be well represented throughout the week,” said Elliott.
“It’s our season-ending Festival in Ireland and a fantastic five days. We’ve had a bit of luck there in the past and hopefully we can finish the season off with a high. It’s where my owners want to have runners and it’s where I want to have runners.
“We had two winners at Cheltenham and two Grade 1 winners at Aintree and the horses have been running well. We haven’t always had the best of luck in the last few weeks but a lot of the horses that weren’t winning were hitting the crossbar and finishing second so it was brilliant to have the couple of big winners at Aintree and see Delta Work and Escaria Ten run so well in the National itself.
“We’ve had some great days at Punchestown. It’s a brilliant place and they’ve a great team there on the track and behind the scenes and they provide beautiful ground which is so important at this time of year.
“My memories of Punchestown go way back. I won the Grade 1 Champion Bumper there on King’s Road in 1998 for Nigel Twiston-Davies. For me to win a Grade 1 as a jockey was a brilliant thrill and that was another great day… that wasn’t today or yesterday though!
“We won the race with Fayonagh then in 2017 when she did the Cheltenham/Punchestown double which was another great day. She was a special mare.
“I’ll never forget the day Don Cossack won the Punchestown Gold Cup there in 2015. I had made no secret of how much I thought of Don Cossack and he showed how tough and talented he was that day after being third at Cheltenham and winning at Aintree he still came back and put up one of his best performances to date to win at Punchestown.”
Three Stripe Life was among Elliott’s Liverpool leviathans and the six-year-old is included a stellar line-up in Friday’s other Grade 1, the ALANNA HOMES CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE, where he could be joined by Minella Crooner, who is also among the IRISH MIRROR NOVICE HURDLE entries.
“I’d hope to have a runner in each of the novice hurdles. Three Stripe Life was brilliant at Aintree and will go over fences next season so he might take in Punchestown but again, he’ll tell us over the next few days. He’s a horse to really look forward to next season.
“Minella Crooner has options of the Alanna Homes and the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdles. It was disappointing that he picked up a setback just before Cheltenham but it was very minor. We were just forced to miss a few days with him at the wrong time but he’ll go to Punchestown fresh now and I’ve been happy with him in the last couple of weeks and I’m looking forward to getting him back out.”
Sir Gerhard denied Three Stripe Life at Grade 1 level at the Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham and he is also included in the entries for the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle. Other top-tier victors from the Willie Mullins yard, The Nice Guy and Minella Cocooner could also line up, while Aintree Grade 1 winner Jonbon is another possibility to represent Nicky Henderson and champion owner, JP McManus.
The Punchestown Festival kicks into gear on Tuesday, April 26 with three Grade 1s, the BECTIVE STUD CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE starting it all off. Constitution Hill, Sir Gerhard, Three Stripe Life and Jonbon hold entries in this contest too, while County Hurdle winner State Man would be an intriguing contender.
Three Stripe Life’s fellow Cullentra inmate, Mighty Potter got the better of him in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas but will be on the redemption trail after being pulled up in the Supreme at Cheltenham.
“Mighty Potter didn’t run his race at Cheltenham but has come home well and he’ll definitely go to Punchestown and I’d love to have a big winner there for his owners, Andrew and Gemma Brown.
“We also have Fil Dor for them as well and he’ll go for the BALLYMORE CHAMPION FOUR-YEAR-OLD HURDLE on the Saturday. He has to try turn the tables with Vauban, who beat him at Cheltenham and the Dublin Racing Festival but we’ll give it a go. Punchestown is a different type of test and if he can run his race we’d be delighted.”
Tuesday’s other Grade 1s include the DOOLEY INSURANCE CHAMPION NOVICE CHASE and WILLIAM HILL CHAMPION CHASE.
The latter may only have attracted seven entries but it offers the likelihood of the Cheltenham champion Energumene resuming rivalries with his Closutton stablemate Chacun Pour Soi, who came a cropper five out at Prestbury Park and has a fantastic Punchestown Festival record. Another stablemate, Ryanair Chase winner Allaho is also included, along with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Aintree Grade 1 winner Fakir D’oudairies.
Meanwhile, the DOOLEY INSURANCE NOVICE CHAMPION CHASE offers the possibility of a fantastic rematch between Galopin Des Champs and Bob Olinger, with the former having fallen at the last with the Turners Novice Chase at his mercy. Bob Olinger picked up the pieces but was reported afterwards by trainer Henry de Bromhead to have suffered a muscle injury.
There are three more Grade 1 prizes up for grabs on Wednesday, April 27, the most sumptuous dish on the menu perhaps being the LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP, which features the Paul Nicholls-trained defending champion, Clan Des Obeaux attempting a remarkable ‘Double Double’, having repeated his Betway Bowl success of 12 months ago at Aintree last week. His bold, front-running effort in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup last year was one of the highlights of the entire week.
Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Al Boum Photo was a length-and-a-half second on that occasion is likely to be back in the fray, as is his Cheltenham successor Minella Indo, who finished second in this year’s renewal to stablemate, A Plus Tard.
Another Grade 1-winning chaser set to take part is the Gordon Elliott-prepped Galvin, who finished just two and a half lengths behind Minella Indo in fourth last month. Elliott has also given an entry to Delta Work, who followed his Cross-Country Chase defeat of Tiger Roll with a very brave run in Saturday’s Grand National.
“Galvin is in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup and hopefully he’ll go there,” Elliott revealed.
“He kept answering every call for us this season and earned his crack at the Gold Cup. He ran well, he finished fourth and if we can freshen him up and get him back to Punchestown in good order he has some very solid form and it would be nice to give him another go at a race like that before he goes on his summer holidays. Delta Work has probably done enough for the season but we’ll have a chat with Michael and Eddie. They are very sporting in how they make their entries and they’ll let the horse tell us how he is closer to the time.”
The RACE & STAY AT PUNCHESTOWN INH FLAT RACE offers the possibility of another interesting reunion in the form of exciting Cheltenham Champion Bumper Facile Vega and American Mike, who was a valiant runner-up.
Sire Du Berlais put up a career best performance in claiming the scalp of dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter at Aintree on Saturday and Elliott will see how JP McManus’s two-time Cheltenham Festival winner recovers from those exertions before deciding whether he takes on the likes of his Coral Cup-winning stablemate Commander Of Fleet, as well as Klassical Dream, Thyme Hill and the Emma Lavelle-trained former champion stayer, Paisley Park in the LADBROKES CHAMPION STAYERS HURDLE on Thursday, April 28.
“Sire Du Berlais probably did surprise me a small bit but he had the form to put up that type of performance and it was great to get him back to that,” Elliott enthused.
“He beat a very good horse in Flooring Porter and we were delighted. He is in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers at Punchestown and we’ll just see how he comes home from Liverpool over the next few days and I’ll speak with JP McManus and Frank Berry and we’ll see what we do.
“We’ve got Commander Of Fleet in there as well and he deserves to take his chance after Cheltenham. He is a horse we’ve always liked and he was good and tough in Cheltenham and is on the ticket for Punchestown.”
Gentleman De Mee lowered the colours of Arkle Chase winner Edwardstone in Aintree last week and he heads a seven-strong Willie Mullins team in the BARBERSTOWN CASTLE NOVICE CHASE that also includes Dublin Racing Festival Grade 1 winner, Blue Lord as well as Gavin Cromwell’s Arkle runner-up Gabynako, who finished just ahead of Blue Lord at Cheltenham.
A fantastic feast concludes on Saturday, April 30, with two Grade 1s. The second of those is the aforementioned Ballymore Champion Four-Year-old Hurdle, while Nicky Henderson includes Epatante as well as Cheltenham Mares’ Hurdle winner Marie’s Rock in the COOLMORE IRISH EBF MARES’ CHAMPION HURDLE.