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CONCEPT COLOURS ADD THE FINISHING TOUCH AT PUNCHESTOWN

Press Release  14/02/2023 – Punchestown Racecourse today announced that new sponsor Concept Colours will join the action packed line up on Sunday 19th February at the home of Irish jump racing. The Concept Colours Rated Novice Chase will take place over two miles and offers a prize fund of €21,500.Concept Colours are the industry leader when it comes to painting and decorating contracts across multiple sectors including residential, commercial, education and special interest. With an impressive client base that lists Glenveagh, Cairn, Kingscroft, The Elliott Group, Bennett Construction, Sisk and Bam, the Wexford based firm have established themselves as the go to painting contractor in Ireland.

For Concept Colours founder and Managing Director Ger Byrne, the Punchestown sponsorship makes sense on a number of levels. “It’s a case of the best of both worlds as my family have an interest in a few horses and we’ve always enjoyed spending an afternoon racing at Punchestown.  On a recent visit it became clear that our current and potential clients also share this interest so commercial involvement there would be a good move. Whilst Punchestown offers a great platform for awareness it also provides a good opportunity to network in a unique and relaxed way”
Byrne continued to explain how his company has grown in the twenty years since it’s foundation    “Our focus is on the people. The people involved in each project, that is from initial client consultation to briefing our highly skilled management team and fully trained personnel. Our aim is to deliver an exceptional standard of finish and to do it on time. This takes planning and professionalism which, after twenty years in the business, we feel we can deliver on every project regardless of size”.
Leona Hughes Sponsorship Manager Punchestown racecourse welcomed Concept Colours and highlighted the similarities between the two businesses “We constantly repeat that ‘People make Punchestown’ and this includes clients, sponsors, contractors and race goers. It is a pleasure to work with clients like Ger Byrne and the Concept Colours team. They know the drill. They recognise the value of the people involved at Punchestown and whilst it’s a great place to relax and enjoy yourself it is also a wonderful opportunity to do business. We welcome Concept Colours and look forward to working with Ger and his team to develop the partnership”.
The €21,500 Concept Colours Novice Rated Steeplechase will  go to post at 1.40 and at entry stage there is a select quality field of six runners:
  1. Francin (FR) (JABerry)
  2. Gallyhill (GElliott)
  3. Hollow Games (GElliott)
  4. Indiana Jones (FR) (MFMorris)
  5. Politicise (NTSlevin)
  6. Wild Hunt (GB) (DGHogan)

 

Racing gets underway at 1.10pm on Sunday 19th September and in addition to the Concept Colours race features the QuinnBet Grand National Trial and ARKequine AquaTabs InLine P.P. Hogan Cross Country. Advance admission discount and complimentary racecards available at www.punchestown.com

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AQUATABS INLINE PARTNER WITH PUNCHESTOWN IN RACECOURSE FIRST

World’s leading water purification system becomes official water partner at the home of Irish jumps racing

 

MEDIA RELEASE TUESDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 2023 – Aquatabs InLine, the world’s leading water purification system, is delighted to become the official water partner at Punchestown Racecourse following the installation of its closed-water system throughout the main and visiting stable yards in January this year.

To launch this unique partnership Aquatabs InLine will sponsor the famous P.P. Hogan Cross Country chase at the Grand National Trial Day on Sunday 19 February.

Punchestown Racecourse is the first track in Ireland to install Aquatabs’ InLine water system in the stable yards. The simple-to-install, low-cost, water purification system cleans a minimum of 360,000 litres of water and is the ideal solution for large race yards and race tracks.

Brought to the market by Kildare-based, equine solutions company, ARKequine, Aquatabs® is synonymous with supplying clean water around the world. Owned by Irish company Medentech, Aquatabs® kills microorganisms like viruses and bacteria commonly found in water and ensures Legionella is eliminated and biofilm remains under control.

ARKequine’s Kirsty McCann, Nutritional Manager, says “Water is very much the forgotten nutrient and we at ARKequine are working hard to change that. Our aim is to raise awareness of the importance of clean and plentiful water in racing and the home of Irish jumps racing is a great place to start that conversation ”.

Rosie Keary, Managing Director of Aquatabs InLine says “Aquatabs, a leading authority on human drinking water for nearly forty years are delighted to partner with ARKequine to bring the science and expertise behind our human drinking water brand to the equine sector. Sponsoring the famous P.P. Hogan Memorial chase in celebration of a unique partnership while highlighting the importance of clean, pure water makes for an auspicious beginning!

Leona Hughes, Sales & Sponsorship Manager at Punchestown says, “We are constantly looking for innovative ways to enhance and improve the race day experience at Punchestown for everyone from racegoers and industry staff to, in this case the stars of the show,  the horses. A huge volume of water is used in the stable yard each race day so it is essential that we provide the best quality that we can and that is where the ARKequine’s Aquatabs InLine system comes into play”.

The ARKequine Aquatabs InLine PP Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase will be the opening contest on this high quality seven race card on  Sunday 19th February. Runners and riders will make their way to the start of the famous three mile cross country course for a 1.10pm start time.

 

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Editor Notes:

 

Press Release Thursday 19th January 2023: Punchestown Racecourse, along with QuinnBet, is delighted to announce a new and exciting sponsorship agreement of the QuinnBet Grand National Trial race on Sunday 19th February. This will be the first in a three-year deal that will see QuinnBet as title sponsors of the €90,000 Grade B stamina test over three and a half miles.

Since launching in August of 2017, QuinnBet have grown rapidly in the Irish and UK iGaming sector, providing hugely competitive odds across Irish and UK horse racing and other major sports.  Whilst the QuinnBet Grand National Trial is the centre piece of their activation at Punchestown, this is further supported with an extensive branding exercise at the racecourse over the next three years. Race goers can look forward to promotions and interactions to celebrate the inaugural running of the QuinnBet Grand National Trial. Stay tuned to the QuinnBet and Punchestown’s social channels for an exciting race day experience competition, not to mention some expert advice from QuinnBet’s very own Racing Analyst Gerry Shannon. On the day itself, the QuinnBet team will be on-course to welcome the first thousand racegoers through the gates with QuinnBet merchandise and gifts.

The QuinnBet Grand National Trial is considered a key stepping-stone for Irish and Grand National contenders. Recent winners include the Gordon Elliott trained Death Duty in 2022 whilst 2021 winner, The Big Dog, went on to win both the Munster National and Troytown Chase for trainer Peter Fahey.

Looking forward to the upcoming QuinnBet Grand National Trial, CEO Stephen Kelly said: “Punchestown is renowned the world over as the home of national hunt racing in Ireland and we are delighted to be sponsoring the Grand National Trial over the next three years at this iconic racecourse. Whilst only at the beginning of this journey, we already know that both companies share a similar ethos when it comes to focusing on customer service. We pride ourselves on offering great value, fair promotions, and excellent customer care. To be on the ground interacting with racing fans at such a renowned venue as Punchestown is further enhancement of this philosophy and we very much look forward to the 2023 QuinnBet Grand National Trial On 19th February”.

Leona Hughes, Punchestown Sponsorship Manager welcomed the QuinnBet team to the home of Irish jump racing: “It is a pleasure to host QuinnBet as they launch their premium racing sponsorship in Ireland. Our first port of call with a new sponsor is to establish why they want to sponsor and who they need the activity reach. It became clear very early on that QuinnBet are very much about the customer experience and based on that alone we knew the partnership would be a good one. On behalf of the Punchestown team we would like to welcome QuinnBet and look forward to working with them over the next three years to maximise the benefits of being a feature sponsor on what promises to be an action-packed day of racing and entertainment”.

The QuinnBet Grand National Trial takes place on Sunday 19th February 2023 and is the feature on a high quality eight race card. In addition to the feature, there will also be the always-thrilling cross-country race and the much-anticipated return of the Up The Yard Stable Staff Challenge. The enclosures, restaurants and bars will be buzzing with Race & Dine clients, music, children’s entertainment and more.

Advance tickets from €15pp include a complimentary race-card. Highly reviewed Race & Dine Packages   from €89pp with child friendly options are also available. First race will take place around 1pm – subject to change.

Visit www.punchestown.com/fixtures/ for full details.

About QuinnBet

Founded in 2017, QuinnBet is a rapidly growing brand in the iGaming sector, providing a hugely popular, licensed online sports betting and casino platform in the UK and Ireland. Visit their website for more info www.quinnbet.com

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Carlow, Cork, Kildare, Laois, Limerick and Meath racing yards among winners

Staff from the racing yards of Jim Bolger, Gordon Elliott, James Fahey, Michael Halford, Eoin McCarthy, Michael O’Callaghan and Robert Tyner’s have been crowned winners in the 2022 Irish Thoroughbred Welfare Council best-turned out league. The categories are based on the number of runners each yard had during their season. Each yard wins €3,000 to be divided among staff.

On the Flat, Jim Bolger’s team based on the Carlow/Kilkenny border won category A for a second time with 72 best-turned-out horses from 279 runners. Successful in 2021, staff from Michael Halford’s yard in Kildare won 85 best-turned-out competitions from 216 runners to win category B, while Michael O’Callaghan’s staff on the Curragh won category C with 37 best-turned-out horses from 119 runners.

Over jumps, Gordon Elliott’s staff are the category A winners for the second year in a row. The team produced 160 best-turned-out horses from 1,196 runners to top the category.

Staff from Eoin McCarthy’s yard in Athea, County Limerick won 74 best-turned-out competitions from 193 runners to win category B.

James Fahey’s yard in Stradbally, County Laois and Robert Tyner’s team in Kinsale in County Cork share the spoils in category C, dead-heating with a hugely impressive 30 best-turned-out winners from just 64 and 82 runners respectively. They share the €3,000 prize-money. James Fahey’s team also won their category in 2021.

The Irish Thoroughbred Welfare Council best-turned-out league saw participating racecourses record their best-turned-out winners at each of their fixtures. The best-turned-out winners were aggregated and the yards were categorised by their number of runners in the season.

John Osborne, Equine Welfare & Bloodstock Director at HRI, said: “Once again the best-turned-out (BTO) league has rewarded excellence in horse care while highlighting the high standard across the racing industry. We are delighted to see that over 280 different yards won a BTO prize during the year and the feedback is that it is getting ultra-competitive among yards. We have repeat winners from 2021 in the Elliott, Bolger, Halford and James Fahey yards with new category winners from Michael O’Callaghan’s, Eoin McCarthy and Robert Tyner’s. It was especially exciting to see the dead heat between James Fahey and Robert Tyner’s in the last few days of the competition.”

The Irish Thoroughbred Welfare Council best-turned out league was established in 2021 by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) to recognise and acknowledge the high standards of care and attention racehorses receive, particularly from stable staff.

The Irish Thoroughbred Welfare Council (ITWC) was created in 2020 to help HRI with the formation of initiatives to enhance the care and welfare of our horses.

 

Mullins hoping SkyBet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle contender proves to be in top division at Punchestown

Impaire Et Passe will be the latest horse bursting with potential to represent champion trainer Willie Mullins in the Grade 2 SkyBet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

Almost on a yearly basis Mullins nominates a novice from his top rank for Sunday’s feature race at the County Kildare venue and has won it previously with Mikael D’Haguenet, Vautour, Douvan, Min and last year with Dysart Dynamo. Impaire Et Passe’s Irish debut was extremely impressive when he recorded an 18-length success in a maiden hurdle at Naas last month and Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, Willie, gave a positive update ahead of the weekend. “I think Impaire Et Passe is the obvious candidate for the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle,” Mullins said of the Simon Munir & Isaac Souede-owned five-year-old.

“He is a big scopey horse who won well at Naas the last day. He had been working well at home going to Naas but certainly nothing like what he showed that day and that surpassed our expectations.” The Mullins/Munir/Souede axis have also included Tax For Max in Sunday’s Grade 2 contest but Impaire Et Passe is the stable preference following yesterday’s entry stage. “Some horses thrive after winning a race and you can see them grow in confidence and Impaire Et Passe has come out of the race really well and I’d like to think he will progress from it. We’d like to think that he will be at the top end of his division,” Mullins added.

Opposition to Impaire Et Passe could come from course and distance winner The Model Kingdom.
The Noel Meade-trained filly was a Grade 3 winner at the Punchestown Festival last season when landing the Weatherbys GSB EBF Mares Bumper and returned to the track in November to score over hurdles.
The Model Kingdom’s fondness of Punchestown may give Meade a strong chance of winning the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle for the first time since Orbit O’Gold sprang a shock at odds of 50/1 in 2007.

Meade’s fellow County Meath native, Gordon Elliott, has enjoyed more recent success with Felix Desjy and Andy Dufresne giving him back-to-back victories in 2019 and 2020. Elliott’s potential representatives this year are Tramore winner Cardamon Hill, Imagine, who also won a bumper at Punchestown last year and the somewhat aptly named Shecouldbeanything who has won her three outings so far.
The potential line-up for the SkyBet Novice Hurdle is completed by the Tom Mullins-duo of C’est Rien and Hey Johnny.

The Grade 3 Madigan Group Novice Chase is another race on the card with an elite roll of honour. Carefully Selected, Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger could well be joined by another potential star with the likes of Mouse Morris’ Gentlemansgame and the Elliott-trained Minella Crooner among the nine going forward. Grade 2 winner Impervious is a big runner for trainer Colm Murphy with the six-year-old daughter of Shantou now carrying the colours of JP McManus after winning at Cork for Paul McKeon last month.
Willie Mullins is likely to be represented by Ha D’or who opened his account at the first time of asking with an impressive display at Fairyhouse.

“Ha D’or had graded form last year and took to chasing pretty well at Fairyhouse,” Patrick Mullins added. “He has been working well at home but this looks a very hot race. “Glengouly looks a better chaser than he was a hurdler but he will still need to make a step forward to get to the level of Ha D’or and some of the other potential runners in the race.”
Advance ticket discounts are available on www.punchestown.com.

PKRF Record Breaking Year for Fundraising

‘The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund Charity Race is the most important race of the festival because it is the race the makes a massive difference to many lives’.

 

 

 

As a result of these funds the PKRF has managed to support the following projects this year:

 

James Nolan, Chairman of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund reflected on a momentous year:  “So many people deserve huge thanks for making the charity race such an unbelievable success.  The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund enjoys the privilege of being permitted to run during the Punchestown Festival. Great credit is due to all the team at Punchestown who make our race day so special, as well as all the staff at I.H.R.B who so generously volunteer their services on the day and also the staff at H.R.I. & R.A.C.E. who ensure everything is run correctly.

We are very grateful to all the owners and the trainers who have given continued support over 31 years by allowing horses to run. We would like to acknowledge the various forms of media, whose coverage of the PKRF Race in whatever way, is hugely important both to our charity and to all those people awaiting life-saving transplants; you all give hope to so many others by raising the profile of Organ Donor Awareness in Ireland”.

 

Punchestown rescheduled for Monday December 19

Bective Stud Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) transferred to Navan this Sunday December 18 to replace Tara Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) which transfers to Punchestown on Saturday December 31

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has announced that last Sunday’s Punchestown meeting, which was cancelled due to frost, will now be held on Monday December 19. This meeting, which includes the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Steeplechase, will close for fresh entries by 12 noon on Wednesday December 14 with declarations to run to be made by 10am on Saturday December 17.

In addition to the above, there is an alteration to the race programme for the meeting scheduled for Navan this Sunday December 18. The Bective Stud Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) over 3 miles and 1 furlong, which was originally scheduled for last Saturday’s Navan meeting, which was cancelled due to frost, will now be held at this Sunday’s meeting and will replace The Tara Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) over two miles and four furlongs on this card. The Bective Stud Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) will close for fresh entries along with the remainder of the Navan meeting by 12 noon tomorrow (Tuesday December 13).

The Tara Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) will now transfer to the Punchestown meeting on Saturday December 31 (New Year’s Eve) and will replace The Tote.ie Never Beaten By SP Handicap Hurdle on this day. Entries for this race will close by 12 noon on Thursday December 22 along with the rest of the Punchestown meeting.

Unfortunately due to the severe weather conditions and continued forecast Sunday’s John Durkan Chase Day has been cancelled.

An update on possible reschedule will be available from Monday 12th December.

Any tickets purchased online will be automatically refunded. Hospitality clients will be contacted directly and all other related queries will be handled by the team from Monday morning.

Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to welcoming you back to Punchestown soon.

Any queries can be emailed to info@punchestown.com or please leave a message on +353 (0)45 897704

 

Tote Ireland Share Festive Cheer with Free Entry to New Years Eve at Punchestown

Punchestown Racecourse today announced that Tote Ireland are to spread festive cheer to one and all with complimentary entry to the popular New Year’s Eve race meeting at Punchestown on Saturday 31st December.

 

This will be the first in a three year deal that sees Ireland’s only pool betting operator for horse racing open the doors and welcome racegoers to the home of Irish jump racing for a free afternoon of great sport and festive entertainment. The complimentary entry is a further enhancement on Tote’s involvement at the popular meeting where in the past they have distributed free race cards on arrival. For the upcoming fixture on 31st December, in addition to no-fee entry, Tote Ireland also invite punters to join them in the Tote Hall for Spin the Wheel spot prize giveaways through the afternoon. Lots of prizes to be won the day such as Punchestown membership and race day tickets.

 

General Manager of Tote Ireland Ross Kierans expanded on the initiative: “Like so many involved in the racing industry, all the team at Tote Ireland were delighted to see racegoers return to track in 2022 and to close out the year with complimentary admission for all at Punchestown for their New Year’s Eve race meeting. We are already looking forward to an action-packed racing calendar for 2023 and extend best wishes to all our staff and customers this Christmas and for the New Year.”

 

Leona Hughes, Punchestown Sponsorship Manager said  “The New Year’s Eve Countdown race meeting is a local favourite and racing tradition. There is a great atmosphere, everyone’s in good form, the Punchestown team meet and greet race goers with festive treats like mulled wine and mince pies on arrival. We all know that life has become expensive in recent times so this is a lovely way to say thank you to all those who have attended throughout the season and wish them well for the year ahead. Tote Ireland are a constant presence at Punchestown, as they are at every track around the country, and they share in the gesture of sincerely thanking everyone for their support.  Now it’s our turn to thank Ross, Lynda and the Tote Ireland team for their continued support”.

 

Punchestown is proud to host the final race meeting in Ireland each year before passing the baton to our colleagues in Fairyhouse who raise the curtain the following day. Action at Punchestown on Free Tote New Years Eve meeting gets underway early with racing starting between 11.45am and 12 noon. Given the festive theme of the day the Race & Dine packages tend to be very popular so early booking is recommended. Please visit www.punchestown.com or Punchestown social media platforms for full information.

 

 

Mullins six “all intended runners” in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown this weekend

A glittering array of talent looks set to line up in the inaugural Grade 1 hurdle of the season, with champion trainer Willie Mullins confirming that all six of his entrants “are intended runners” in Sunday’s Grade 1 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (in memory of Michael Rafferty @AnalogsDaughtr), the feature of Punchestown’s weekend Winter Festival.

That provides the mouth-watering prospect of Closutton’s highly-touted Triumph Hurdle winner, Vauban taking on his Ballymore Novice Hurdle-winning comrade Sir Gerhard in the opening Grade 1 hurdle of the season. Mullins could also unleash the Punchestown Grade 1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle winner State Man, with the trio all representing different owners.

As well as the young gun Vauban, the only four-year-old in the field, Rich Ricci may have his famous pink and lime green spotted colours carried by previous Unibet Morgiana Hurdle winners Saldier and Sharjah, the latter triumphing here in 2018 and 2021 and his stablemate having scored in 2019. The undoubtedly classy Vauban is embarking on a Champion Hurdle path that few Triumph Hurdle winners can navigate but Sunday’s Punchestown highlight is the obvious starting point. “We are always well represented in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle because it comes at a perfect time in the calendar for our horses,” Mullins said. “It allows us to go on to Christmas and continue the season from there then before we come back to Punchestown in April.”

Of his runners, Mullins added: “At this stage, all six are intended runners. Vauban is an exciting prospect after his win in the Triumph Hurdle last year but it is difficult for four-year-olds to win this race. I said if we’re going to make a Champion Hurdle horse out of him then let him take on good horses in the Morgiana.

“I’m going back over hurdles with Saldier for the first time in a while, when he disappointed at Gowran Park last February and he’s bound to be a little ring rusty. “Like Saldier, Sharjah won the race before and I think the ground is going to suit him so we’re looking forward to getting his season going after missing the spring following his fourth Matheson at Leopardstown. “Sir Gerhard has been doing things right at home. I’m very happy with him, while State Man is a horse that’s been improving all through last season. If he keeps improving, he’s the right age to make it into the Champion Hurdle field.”

The Mullins sextet is completed by Echoes In Rain, herself a course and distance winner at Peerless Punchestown, having won the 2021 Grade 1 eCOMM Merchant Solutions Champion Novice Hurdle. “Echoes In Rain runs well around Punchestown. The two miles here might be a little sharp for her,” the champion trainer concluded.

The Unibet Morgiana Hurdle takes place on Sunday 20th November. Advance booking tickets with €5pp discount and free racecard are on sale until the day before your selected race meeting. There will be live music, bus transfers after racing, free kids entertainment and delicious food options across the weekend. Visit www.punchestown.com/fixtures/