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“Have the conversation – say YES to Organ Donation”
Punchestown Charity Race – Saturday 4th May 2024

Kidney Transplant recipient Sara Jane Tracy to ride at the Punchestown Festival to highlight the success of Organ Donation and Transplantation
The 33rd running of the annual Punchestown Charity Race will take place on Saturday 4th May at the Punchestown Festival. To date this race has raised over €1.8 million for various kidney related projects for the Kildare based, registered Irish Charity, The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund.

This year will be a very special year as amongst the 25 jockeys taking part will be Sara Jane Tracy who is a kidney transplant recipient from Kill, Co. Kildare.
Sara Jane explains “In a life-altering moment in November 2021, my godfather Alex Tracy gifted me a second chance at life by donating his kidney. This selfless act, supported by his family and the exceptional medical teams at Beaumont and St. Vincent’s hospitals, marked the end of a challenging five-year wait on the transplant list and catapulted me from severe illness to robust health. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I am now committed to giving back to those who face similar challenges.”

Along with Sara Jane all the riders will have lots of local support as the race is the curtain closer to the week’s racing and is always a highlight for the 30,000 people in attendance on the big day.

In 2024 there were 74 applicants for the 25 places and all the 25 amateur jockeys have completed a fitness assessment at the jockey’s apprentice school R.A.C.E. in Co. Kildare. Also, they have all had to pass a medical in order to participate. On top of that before taking part all 25 jockeys have to raise a minimum of €1,500 for the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund, which is a Kildare based, registered Irish Charity.

For more information please contact James Nolan at 086/2349919.

SBK Announced as Sponsor and Official Betting Partners on Punchestown Festival Saturday

SBK, the sportsbook app powered by Smarkets, has been announced at the new official betting partner on the final day of the 2024 Punchestown Festival.

The €100,000 SBK Gold Trophy H’cap Hurdle on Saturday 4th May is one of the hottest betting contests across the five-day jump racing grand finale. The 2023 running of the SBK Gold Trophy provided The Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate with a dream follow up to a recent Cheltenham Festival win when the John McConnell trained Seddon landed the spoils under jockey Ben Harvey.
SBK first stepped on to the Punchestown stage during the 2023 /2024 jump season. Since then, SBK have enhanced their involvement and are now official betting partner and race sponsor on the concluding day of the Irish jump racing season.

Adam Baylis, Director Of Marketing at SBK , said: “It’s super to be further enhancing our involvement at the home of Irish jump racing. The quality of national hunt racing in Ireland has never been stronger. The champions and heroes of the season will gather for what is a fitting grand finale and homecoming. We are very pleased to be part of that occasion and look forward to working alongside the Punchestown team”.

In addition to prominent branding the new deal will see the betting app host an interactive fan zone and giveaway on the day of their sponsorship. Looking ahead to their involvement Punchestown’s Sponsorship Manager Leona Hughes said “What is now the newly named SBK Gold Trophy on Festival Saturday is an extremely important race on our festival programme. Always full and hotly contested with a good track record for UK runners this race is a competitive number and one for the punters. It’s super to welcome the SBK team to Punchestown. They were here on the quieter days over the winter to we look forward to sharing a busy, vibrant festival experience with them in May”.

The 2024 Punchestown Festival returns from Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May. The Sporting and social highlight will attract crowds of up to 100,000 across the five days. The unique blend of top-class sport, vibrant enclosures, style, food and lie entertainment has earned the event a ‘must do status’.
For further information please visit: www. Punchestown.com

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The K Club Announced as Leading Trainer and Rider Sponsor for the Punchestown Festival.
Introducing the New Leading Owner Award.

MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 18th April: With just over a week to go to the 2024 Punchestown Festival, the home of Irish jump racing today announced that The K Club are to become the new sponsors of the Leading Trainer and Rider award at the Irish racing showcase. In addition, Punchestown, in association with The K Club, will introduce a new Leading Owner Award as part of the enhanced owner experience at the festival.

The K Club Awards will run across the duration of the five-day event with points allocated for wins and placings. On the afternoon of the final day, Saturday 4th May, The K Club will present the leading trainer and the leading rider with a €1,500 K Club voucher each. The Leading Owner will receive a voucher for an overnight stay with dinner in the renowned Barton Restaurant and a round of golf or spa treatment per person.

The K Club is located in Straffan, Co. Kildare and is a convenient twenty-minute transfer to Punchestown. Billed as a place ‘for people who love the good things in life’ the famous Kildare hotel, spa and golf resort is an ideal base for racing fans.

John Costelloe, Director of Sales and Marketing at The K Club looked ahead to this year’s activation at Punchestown: “The K Club has a rich history and association with the horse racing fraternity, and we look forward to welcoming both returning and new guests for the upcoming Punchestown Festival. Located in the heart of Thoroughbred Country it makes sense to be involved at the home of jumps as well as our existing association with the Curragh – home of the classics”.

Welcoming the hotel back to the Festival sponsor portfolio Punchestown’s Janet Creighton said: “It’s wonderful to see The K Club back at Punchestown having been sponsors here for so many years. The leading owner, trainer and rider award is a great activation as it runs for the duration of the five days. The wonderful addition of the Leading Owner award is in recognition of the invaluable support by owners in Irish racing. We are always happy to refer guests and visitors to our accommodation partners as we know it will be an extension of the customer experience that they receive here on track”.

The 2024 Punchestown Festival runs from Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May. The K Club Leading Trainer, Owner and Rider Award will be presented on Saturday 4th May. For full event details and ticket options please visit www.Punchestown.com

Click Here to Register and for Full Info – Punchestown Festival Photo Competition

Bermingham Cameras and Punchestown Racecourse are running a Photo Competition for the Punchestown Festival this year which will be held each day during the Festival this year: 30th April – 4th May.

The Punchestown Festival is one of the most prestigious events on the horse racing calendar and whilst action on the track is the star of the show, it is the unique atmosphere in the enclosures that elevates the occasion to one of Ireland’s favourite days out.

Horses are not the main focus of this competition.

It is the magic combination, the essence, the soul of the event we need to capture. The characters who bring the character. A study of the people at Punchestown. From the biggest networking event in the land to the biggest party in the land. The joy of shouting home your winner to the pain of watching victory slip away in the shadow of the post. Dancing in the bars to serious study of form by the parade ring.

The competition is called:
“The Punchestown Festival- It’s More than Horses”

The overall winner of the Competition will win a Canon EOS R10 kit

The competition has €20 entry fee- this will be donated to Irish Injured Jockeys. This includes admission to the racecourse on the day you are participating in the competition.

Dates: 30th April – 4th May 2024
Venue: Punchestown Racecourse

 

Entrants will have access to the general and reserved enclosures only. This takes in the public areas, parade ring, pre-parade, horse walk, grandstand terraces, panoramic terrace, grandstand bars and cafes, shopping village, Sky Bar, Bollinger Bar and Gardens, viewing lawns etc.

 

Entrants do not have access to any restricted areas including but not limited to hospitality venues, parade ring, saddling enclosure, private suites, weigh room and changing areas, back of house event areas.

 

 

Please click on the link below for day by day entries:

Tuesday 30 April Grade 1 Entries

Wednesday 1 May Grade 1 Entries

Thursday 2 May Grade 1 Entries

Friday 3rd May Grade 1 Entries

Saturday 4 May Grade 1 Entries

Channor Real Estate Group Announced as Major New Sponsor Ahead of 2024 Punchestown Festival

 

Media Release 16th April 2024: As the countdown to the 2024 Punchestown Festival gets underway the home of Irish jump racing today welcomed Channor Real Estate Group as the latest high-profile grade one sponsor in a major three-year deal.

The €125,000 Channor Real Estate Group Grade 1 Novice Hurdle takes place on day two of the prestigious Punchestown Festival, Wednesday.  Formerly run as the Irish Mirror Hurdle, the role of honour for this contest could not be more prolific with dual Gold Cup champion Galopin Des Champs and stand out Cheltenham performer Gaelic Warrior featuring as victors in the last three years.

The Punchestown sponsorship will be the Channor Real Estate Group’s debut commercial partnership on the Irish racing scene. The second-generation family-owned property investment and development company was established in 1990 and prides itself on ‘creating great places to live and work’. Having been involved in property development in the UK and New Zealand, Channor Real Estate Group would be best known as the developers of Blanchardstown Corporate Park where they have built over 1.5 million square feet of office and industrial property.

Darren Harrison, Channor Real Estate Group CEO, gave an insight on their decision to sponsor at the Punchestown Festival: “The synergy between horse racing and our business community is unmistakable. Having attended last year’s festival, I witnessed first-hand the strong presence of our clientele, and it became clear Punchestown is something we’d like to get involved with. It makes sense to be where they are and Punchestown is the industry leader when it comes to Irish racing events”.

Punchestown Racecourse CEO Conor O’Neill welcomed the Harrison family and Channor team by saying: “The Channor Real Estate Group is exactly the kind of company we enjoy working alongside – family owned and quality focused with a keen eye on longevity.   The Channor team have identified that involvement here at Punchestown makes good commercial sense for them. On behalf of Punchestown we welcome Darren and the team and look forward to optimising this partnership for them over the next three years”

The 2024 Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May. The Channor Real Estate Group Grade 1 Novice Hurdle is one of twelve grade one races featured across the five-day jump racing grand finale. Full ticket, hospitality and event information available at www.punchestown.com

 

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Media Release, Monday 8th April 2024:  With just three weeks to go and 100,000 people expected to attend, Punchestown Racecourse today reminded festival goers of exciting plans and enhancements for the upcoming 2024 Punchestown Festival running from Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May.

 

The five day social and sporting highlight is a homecoming celebration of Irish jump racing, sport and culture. With a prize fund of over €3.4 million, twelve top tier grade one contests, season champions like Galopin Des Champs and household names including Willie Mullins, Rachael Blackmore and Paul Townend in action. Beyond the parade ring and into the enclosures the Punchestown Festival is Ireland’s largest sporting corporate hospitality event and will host over 17,000 guests across an impressive array of restaurants, pavilions and suites. The competition on track will be hard fought whilst the style stakes in the prestigious Bollinger Best Dressed, live music, street theatre and Shopping Village appeals to the social element of the attendees.

 

The Four Key Changes for Punchestown Festival 2024:

 

1.Earlier Start Times

The first two days of the 2024 Punchestown Festival will revert to a 2.30pm start from the current time of 3.40pm. Market research shows that around 70% of paying clients would ‘definitely or most probably’ like to see some of the festival days start and finish earlier.

 

 2.Ticket Products and Pricing

Whether it’s a business or a household value for money is particularly important now more than ever. Following a full review of ticket pricing and products there will be a price reduction to €30 for the first three days and €40 for Friday and Saturday of the 2024 Punchestown Festival for advance purchased tickets. There will be an additional €5 per ticket charge for on the day purchases excluding senior, student and family day concession tickets that can only be purchased on the day. As a premium sport and leisure event these prices compare very favourably to similar occasions.

As always group discounts apply and for larger groups it is recommended that they contact the racecourse office directly in advance. The original Flexi ticket will be replaced by the new Choice Ticket that can be used Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday. Senior, student and Family ticket concessions continue on a walk-up basis. All children under 14 years of age race for free all season.

 

3.Refreshed Festival Layout

The festival layout will undergo a refresh including the removal of the traditional reserved enclosure divide and the introduction of exciting new features around the parade ring enclosure. The famous Sky Bar, Bollinger Garden, Shopping and entertainment areas will remain as popular as ever with the Southern Enclosure accessible to all. The objective is to optimise the scope of the enclosures, utilise all available facilities which in turn will improve footfall, flow and reduce potential pressure points.

 

4. Enhance & Improve Raceday Experience

This point is neither new nor dynamic as the pursuit of excellent customer experience is an ongoing process. The enhancement of the race day visit will go hand-in-hand with the new layout. The Punchestown demographic is a diverse one with varied tastes and requirements for a memorable customer experience. Alongside our catering and service partners, we aim to deliver a selection of great quality food and beverage options with efficient, friendly service in comfortable surroundings. Whilst costs have increased across the board for product and services every effort has been made to minimise the impact on the customer.

 

Conor O’Neill Punchestown CEO explained the theory behind the strategy: “We say it time and time again that people make Punchestown, so it is those very people who have shaped and informed this plan and it is this plan that will help us deliver the best possible Punchestown experience we can to our customers who are the backbone of our business. Now we need support with feet on the ground and people through the gates. If it doesn’t work for the customer it ultimately won’t work for Punchestown, so I hope we’ve got the balance right as we look ahead to welcoming friends old and new to the 2024 upcoming Punchestown Festival.”

 

The 2024 Punchestown Festival will take place from Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May. For full information please visit www.punchestown.com

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Editors Notes

Punchestown Festival 2024 Advance Ticket Prices

Jessica O’Mahony Welcomed as the Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council Assembles for Punchestown 2024

Media Release, Thursday 28th March 2024: As the countdown to the 2024 Punchestown Festival gets underway the Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council is delighted to welcome Jessica O’Mahony as guest judge for the prestigious racing fashion competition.

As a busy mum of three, Jessica has amassed a following of over 95,000 Instagram (@jeskaomahony) followers thanks to her enviable sense of style from formal occasion wear to casual match day outfits and everything in between. Whilst more familiar pitch side than track side, as Jessica’s husband is Peter O’Mahony, captain of the victorious Six Nations Irish rugby team, the Cork woman is looking forward to embracing this new experience “This will be my first visit to the Punchestown Festival and certainly my first time being involved in a style competition like this. I’m excited to experience a different side of a major sporting event and take in all the fashion, colour and atmosphere that it brings. Whilst I’m as comfortable in casual wear I do love an excuse to pull out all the stops and a big day out at the races with friends is just that, not to mention the amazing prize from Bollinger.”

The 2024 Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May with the iconic champagne house Bollinger celebrating eight years involvement at the social and sporting highlight. The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition takes place over the first four days of the event. Judges and style scouts will be tasked with seeking out a number of finalists each day. The daily winner will then progress to the grand final on Ladies Day, Festival Friday, 3rd May.

The overall winner and guest will enjoy an appropriately stylish and exclusive ‘money cannot buy’ trip to the famous Champagne Bollinger Estate with luxury overnight stays in Paris and Reims to include Michelin dining and private transfers. Truly a trip of a lifetime and something worth dressing up for.

Jessica O’Mahony joins the established and diverse Style Council led by head judge, stylist and influencer Jess Colivet and ably assisted by returning names including beauty entrepreneur Suzie O’Neill of AYU, David O’Connor from Louis Copeland, stylist Lawson Mpame, sustainable fashion stylist Roxanne Parker, former winner Katie Nally-McCormack and MC Marietta Doran. Travelling especially from France to enjoy her first Punchestown Festival experience is Champagne Bollinger Brand Ambassador Eva Gottesman. The best place to keep up to date with Bollinger Best Dressed information is via the Punchestown Instagram page

This year’s Punchestown Festival will roll out new reduced ticket pricing, a refreshed layout with enhanced customer experience venues and earlier start times on the first two days. Whilst hospitality is now sold out from Tuesday to Friday there is limited availability on Saturday 4th May with waiting lists in operation throughout the week. For full event information and ticket options please visit: www.punchestown.com

 

 

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PUNCHESTOWN WALKER NOTICE
Unfortunately due to yet another incident of a dog off a lead chasing horses it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify allowing access to walkers at Punchestown. Again we remind all that Punchestown is a privately owned working farm with livestock and machinery.
Money and resources that should be put into the business have been spent on signage and monitoring public access. The rules are so simple but the lack of adherence and respect for the place is so disappointing. A majority of those who enjoy Punchestown are very cooperative and we thank you for that. Further updates will follow in due course.
In the meantime, we now need to focus on preparations for the 2024 Punchestown Festival. Please note that the entire site will be closed for public access from Monday 15th April until Monday 6th May. We kindly request that these dates are shared and that you make alternative arrangements during this time and allow our team to focus on the most important week of the year here.
Thank you.

Wednesday 28th February 2024 – Punchestown racecourse are delighted to announce a new three-year sponsorship of the Grade 1 Boodles Champion Hurdle at the renowned Punchestown Festival, marking a significant partnership within the realm of Irish racing.

The feature race of Boodles Day, Friday 3rd May, is the prestigious Grade 1 €300,000 Boodles Champion Hurdle. The 2024 Boodles Champion Hurdle has the potential to be the race of the season should reigning champion hurdler, Constitution Hill make the journey across the sea to take on Irish favourite and current Punchestown festival Champion,  State Man on home turf. The pair will hopefully meet once again at Cheltenham in less than two weeks should Constitution Hill return to full fitness ahead of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The Punchestown Festival stands as a pinnacle event on the Irish sporting and social calendar, hailed for its five days of top-tier racing featuring the finest Irish and British talent. The sponsorship is perfectly timed with it being Boodles 20th year of having a presence on Grafton Street in Dublin. Boodles sponsorship of Irish racing is a natural extension into the heart of the sport, from its many ongoing sponsorships of British racing events such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Chester Races and York Races.

The partnership between Boodles and Punchestown is a three-year sponsorship and is fittingly timed as Boodles recently launched their first ever equine inspired jewellery collection ‘Lucky’, which will be on display throughout Punchestown Festival in the Boodles Bar. As the final event in the Irish jump racing calendar, Punchestown is widely acclaimed as the ultimate homecoming for champions, making it one of Boodles most exciting partnerships to date.

Our involvement with horse racing in the UK started all the way back in the 1930’s when we made the trophies for the Grand National at Aintree. We feel privileged to have been invited into the Irish racing world and to be sponsoring such a prominent race at Punchestown almost 100 years later. We are excited to think that ‘The Boodles Bar’, in the centre of the hospitality area, will have a great buzz about it throughout the festival. We are also delighted to continue our association with Rachael Blackmore who will be attending Boodles Punchestown Launch event in our Grafton Street Showroom.”  James Amos, Managing Director of Boodles

Conor O’Neill, CEO of Punchestown, expressed his delight at the collaboration, emphasising the shared appreciation for heritage and brand integrity – “It goes without saying that we are so pleased to welcome Boodles to the Punchestown Festival. The Boodles Champion Hurdle is a fittingly prestigious race for a brand such as Boodles who are Britain’s leading fine jeweller since 1798. We often remark that it is the people that make Punchestown, so to partner with a family run, award winning luxury brand whose team truly appreciate the importance of heritage and brand values is a wonderful privilege”.

The Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May. Boodles Day coincides with Ladies Day on Friday 3rd May. Punchestown will roll out a range of changes for the 2024 renewal including reduced ticket prices, refreshed layout features, earlier start times on the first two days and enhanced public amenities. For full range of tickets, hospitality and event details please visit www.punchestown.com

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About Boodles

Since 1798, Boodles has represented the epitome of fine British jewellery. Still a privately-owned family business, Boodles stands for the very best in creative design; the highest quality diamonds and gemstones; and the fusion of traditional craft skills with innovation. Every piece of Boodles jewellery is designed and hand finished in Britain. There is an emphasis at Boodles on provenance: taking pride in being able to trace diamonds all the way back to source, and on using gold of a Single Mine Origin. At once classic and contemporary – and always distinctive – Boodles is perhaps best known for Raindance; the iconic ring which was recognised by the V&A Museum and entered into its permanent collection. In 2023 – the year of its 225th anniversary – Boodles was named by the UK’s luxury sector body, Walpole, as Best British Luxury Brand of the Year.