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Punchestown Announce www.Blood-Stock.com to Sponsor Full Circle Series Final
Prize fund boosted to €80,000

Media Release: Monday 22nd April: As the 2024 Punchestown Festival approaches the home of Irish jump racing today made the exciting announcement that www.Blood-Stock.com are to sponsor the newly introduced Full Circle Series Final on the opening day, Tuesday 30th April.

Furthermore, the deal brings with it a boost in prize money which sees the www.Blood-Stock.com Full Circle Series Final confirmed at an impressive €80,000. The objective behind the series was to introduce a race on the biggest stage for mid-level horses so that everyone can be part of the season grand finale at Punchestown. Since December 2023, five qualifiers were held across Ireland and a further five the length and breath of the UK in a bid to attract connections and reinvigorate the interest from across the water. The top six from each race are eligible to enter the two-and-a-half-mile hurdle final where qualifying position will be prioritised over rating for balloting.

The team at www.Blood-Stock.com have created a ground-breaking platform that ‘empowers enthusiasts to become fully engaged stakeholders in the sport by offering access to extensive equine data, interactive trading features and a lively community’.

Looking forward to the upcoming www.Blood-Stock.com Full Circle Series Final, Diarmuid O’Donovan, founder of Blood-Stock.com said: “BloodStock is delighted to partner with Punchestown on the inaugural Full Circle Series Final. This is our first foray into race partnership and we feel the spiritual home of Irish jumps racing is a great launching point for our business.
O’Donovan continued: “The series is a brilliant initiative. It is a perfect fit for our mutually aligned values of industry sustainability, patron engagement and international growth. We’d like to thank Janet Creighton and Leona Hughes from Punchestown for their assistance in ensuring the showcase of our brand at this iconic venue”.

Punchestown’s Janet Creighton welcomed BloodStock saying: “Diarmuid and the team at BloodStock have developed this product which will allow casual fans and seasoned racegoers an opportunity to be directly involved in the game. This is where technology and the bloodstock industry meet. It is an exciting insight into the future”.
The 2024 Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May. The www.Blood-Stock.com Full Circle Series Final takes place on Tuesday 30th April. Full ticket, hospitality and event information available at www.punchestown.com

**ENDS**
For further information please contact: Aoife Merrins, Blood-Stock.com CMO on aoife@blood-stock.com

Champions coming home as PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL GRADE 1 ENTRIES unveiled

Galopin Des Champs faces elite opposition, Gordon Elliott looks forward to a Tea party and Russell considers beefing up British raiding party

Galopin Des Champs is in line to face one of the deepest fields in the history of the LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP and that is just one of the reasons to get excited as entries for Punchestown Festival’s dozen Grade 1 contests are released today.
The cream of the crop look to bring the curtain down on another stellar season for Irish racing, with all the Cheltenham champions targeting a coveted double and a wonderful cast of ultra talented rivals attempting to spoil the party at the Kildare venue, which opens to the masses of horse lovers and revellers from Tuesday, April 30th to Saturday, May 4th.
The pulsating action that ends the jumping year represents another opportunity to marvel at the genius of the peerless Willie Mullins and his team at Closutton. The maestro is currently leading the race to to become the first Irish-based jumps trainer to be British champion since Vincent O’Brien made it two-in-a-row in 1954.
But Punchestown is his happy place and he has signalled his intent to send the usual strong team to the jamboree which will have added intrigue as Paul Townend attempts to stave off the sustained challenge of Jack Kennedy, who is bidding to become champion jockey for the first time.
Gordon Elliott’s support has been the foundation of Kennedy’s bid and he will be doing everything he can to help the Dingle pilot get over the line.
Henry de Bromhead and Gavin Cromwell are other big-time operators seeking to add to the positive memory bank of Punchestown but smaller scale firms such as those run by Martin Brassil, Jimmy Mangan and Tom Gibney have already bloodied the nose of their higher profile colleagues this year and will be looking to do just the same in Grade 1 fare to draw bring an unforgettable campaign to a memorable conclusion.
Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls are familiar cross-channel names with entries, while Anthony Honeyball is an annual visitor to Punchestown who has saddled winners in the last three years and will be going all out to make it four.
The Full Circle Series, a new initiative targeting mid-level hurdlers, has attracted significant support from British trainers, with the likes of Ben Pauling, Tom Lacey and Charlie Longsdon sending runners.
The possibility of some of Lucinda Russell’s string making the journey is a mouth-watering one, with Corach Rambler and Ahoy Senor among her potential representatives in the LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP.

LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP
(Wednesday, May 1st – 22 entries)

Galopin Des Champs heads the Cheltenham 1-2-3 for the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup, while there are numerous other dangerous rivals, including the eight-year-old’s Punchestown nemesis Fastorslow.
The Mullins-trained, Audrey Turley-owned Galopin Des Champs elevated his reputation by joining the rare group of horses to go back-to-back in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month. The Timos gelding was electric once more at Prestbury Park but had his colours lowered in this race last year by Fastorslow when attempting to emulate Sizing John’s 2017 feat of registering the Irish, Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cup treble.
It is on again and Fastorslow resumes rivalries, representing long-time Punchestown supporters Seán and Bernardine Mulryan of the Ballymore Group, as well as expert conditioner Martin Brassil.
Their pride and joy also got the better of Galopin Des Champs at this track in the John Durkan Memorial last October but unseated JJ Slevin while still travelling well at Cheltenham, albeit they were still a long way from home.
There are no worries about the Mullins star’s liking for the Kildare venue, as he is a dual winner at the track, including at the 2021 festival.
Lucinda Russell has entered Corach Rambler, who finished third at Cheltenham but fell at the first when looking to win a second Grand National in succession at Aintree on Saturday. Also in the mix for the Scottish handler is Ahoy Senor, who ran a cracker when getting within a half-length of Gerri Colombe in the Bowl on Merseyside.
Grand National winner I Am Maximus is among six entries for Mullins, while Hewick would be a very popular winner for ‘Shark’ Hanlon and TJ McDonald, with the globetrotting King George VI Chase winner a lively contender should he line up.
Gordon Elliott has five entries. They are Gerri Colombe, who followed up his gutsy runner-up finish with that Aintree triumph, Grand National runner-up Delta Work, fourth-place Aintree finisher Galvin, dual Grade 1 winning chaser Conflated and Galway Plate winner Ash Tree Meadow.
That trio have probably run their last races of the season, Elliott reports and with Conflated preferring to go left-handed, that leaves one potential representative.
“Ash Tree Meadow is very versatile in terms of trip,” said Elliott. “We have him in the William Hill Champion Chase as well so we’ll keep an open mind on that and see what way the ground is looking. But I would imagine he will take up one of the engagements.”
Nicky Henderson, who has enjoyed so much success over the years at Punchestown, has reported that this race is definitely a potential target for Shishkin, with Bravemansgame, who finished third in a thrilling finish last year, entered by Paul Nicholls.

BOODLES CHAMPION HURDLE
(Friday, May 3rd – 7 entries)

State Man loves it at Punchestown, where he has won four times, adding two Morgiana Hurdles to a brace of festival successes, including in last year’s Boodles Champion Hurdle. Marie Donnelly’s nine-time Grade 1 winner arrives in Punchestown this year as champion of his division and his nearest rival at Cheltenham, Irish Point is likely to attempt to reverse that result.
“Irish Point also has the option for running in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle. He ran very well in the Champion Hurdle so this has to be in the mix for him again,” Elliott declared.
“With Teahupoo, Sire Du Berlais and Beacon Edge for the Stayers’, we might just be looking at this more to split them up. And given he ran so well in Cheltenham, you’d be keen to try Irish Point at two miles again.”
State Man is one of four Willie Mullins entries, with dramatic Aintree Hurdle victor Impaire Et Passe, a Punchestown Festival winner last year, among them. Lossiemouth would certainly be an interesting runner but the Mares’ Hurdle hero is probably more likely to display her wares in Saturday’s Coolmore Irish EBF Champion Hurdle confined to her gender.
Bob Olinger is another possible rival. He has been reinvigorated this year and after chasing home State Man at the Dublin Racing Festival, was an unlucky loser at Aintree, touched off just a nose by Impaire Et Passe.

LADBROKES CHAMPION STAYERS’ HURDLE
(Thursday, May 2nd – 19 entries)

Teahupoo has long been touted as a staying star and Robcour’s relentless galloper has been handled expertly by Gordon Elliott to justify favouritism in beating the best of his division last month.
That was only his second run of the season, having debuted in garnering the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in December. He was beaten only three lengths in third by Klassical Dream last year but is a fresher horse this term, as well as a more mature one.
“Teahupoo is in great order and this would look the logical step for him. We didn’t go to Liverpool with the intention of going here and it’s all systems go now for Punchestown. Everything has gone smoothly since Cheltenham and we’re pleased with him.
“Beacon Edge will probably go too. Sire Du Berlais missed Liverpool but the plan is sign off for the season with him here.”
Buddy One followed up his Cheltenham fourth by finishing second at Aintree and would be a very popular winner for the Gilligan family, while the reliable Home By The Lee could get the green light by Joseph O’Brien.
Former Grand National winner Noble Yeats, who won the Cleeve Hurdle earlier this year, has been given an entry while Champ (Nicky Henderson) and Dashel Drasher (Jeremy Scott) are the possible cross-channel contestants.

WILLIAM HILL CHAMPION CHASE
(Tuesday, April 30th – 12 entries)

This is traditionally one of the most thrilling spectacles of the week and Henry de Bromhead is aiming to let Captain Guinness make his bid for double glory, after the consistent gelding finally laid his Grade 1 bogey at Prestbury Park.
Nicky Henderson has said that Jonbon could very well take him on, given that the eight-year-old missed Cheltenham and illustrated his well being by winning the Melling Chase over two and a half miles.
El Fabiolo would be on a retrieval mission for Mullins and the Munir/Souede ownership team after fluffing his lines when odds-on at Cheltenham.
“I think we’ll go here with Fil Dor,” Elliott stated. “He ran creditably at Cheltenham and Fairyhouse, both times maybe shaping a little better than the bare result and maybe looking like a horse that might appreciate coming back to this trip.”

BALLYMORE CHAMPION FOUR-YEAR-OLD HURDLE
(Saturday, May 4th – 16 entries)

Sir Gino is the star of the juvenile category after his Cheltenham and Aintree successes. He has been given the option of travelling to Kildare by Nicky Henderson where he would face some high calibre opposition were he to make the trip.
Bottler’secret is a very inexperienced but clearly talented individual that sauntered to Grade 2 victory for Gavin Cromwell at Fairyhouse, having blitzed the opposition when only making his hurdling debut at Naas in February.
Immutable would be a very interesting runner for Joe Murphy, while Willie Mullins is heavily represented as usual, his squad headed by the amazingly consistent Kargese. Nurburgring missed Aintree and would be a leading contender for Joseph O’Brien, while Kalif Du Berlais, who chased home Bottler’secret in Fairyhouse, could be sent back to Ireland by Paul Nicholls.
Kala Conti hasn’t run since finishing a close fifth to Kargese at the Dublin Racing Festival, but beat Kenny Alexander’s filly prior to that.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30 – ADDITIONAL GRADE 1 RACES

There are 22 entries for the KPMG CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE with Henry de Bromhead’s Slade Steel, owned by the all-conquering Robcour, the double chaser in the two-mile novice hurdling division.
Willie Mullins has pencilled in the contest as a possibility for 16 charges, including Ballyburn, who won over the intermediate trip at Cheltenham and may be more likely to line up in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle on Friday.
Mystical Power was reeled in by Slade Steel up the straight at Cheltenham but the son of Annie Power went one better in Grade 1 competition at Aintree on Saturday.
Gordon Elliott has a number of options, including Firefox, who beat Ballyburn in their maiden hurdle and has been placed at both Cheltenham and Aintree, latterly behind Mystical Power.
“I wouldn’t rule out Firefox running,” said Elliott. “He wasn’t that busy from his maiden hurdle through to Cheltenham. He had just the one run. He progressed from his Cheltenham run to run really well in Aintree. We’ll see how he is after that and we’ll let the horse tell us.
“I’d imagine King Of Kingsfield will go here. He’s a horse that does like nice ground and was probably undone by the soft ground in Cheltenham. We skipped Aintree then on account of the ground so this is very much a target.”
The DOOLEYS INSURANCE GROUP CHAMPION NOVICE CHASE has attracted 19 entries. Emmet Mullins won it last year with Feronily and facile National Hunt Chase victor, Corbetts Cross would be an intriguing runner were he to take his place, having finished a close-up third in the Aintree Bowl against the senior Grade 1 chasers.
Nick Rockett, Tactical Move and Embassy Gardens are among the entries for Willie Mullins, while Inothewayurthinkin, who followed up success in the Kim Muir with a comfortable Grade 1 triumph at Aintree on Saturday, would be a real contender for Gavin Cromwell and owner JP McManus.
Irish Grand National hero Intense Raffles could be asked to step up to top-flight fare by Tom Gibney, while Spillane’s Tower reminded everyone of the supreme skills of Conna trainer Jimmy Mangan, when scoring in Grade 1 company at Fairyhouse.
Henry de Bromhead-trained Brown Advisory runner-up, Monty’s Star would bring the Cheltenham form, which Elliott will hope can be turned over.
“American Mike will run. He just didn’t fire at Cheltenham but he is a talented horse. He beat Fact Or File earlier in the season. He showed a really good attitude to win the Ten Up in February. The plan after Cheltenham was to come here and that’s what we’ll do.
“Salvador Ziggy didn’t fire either at Cheltenham. We’ll see with him. He’s a possible runner but he does want good ground.
“Three Card Brag has had an interrupted season but is a very nice horse. So I wouldn’t be averse to letting him take his chance.”

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 – ADDITIONAL GRADE 1 RACES

Willie Mullins could saddle two Grade 1 winning novices, Dancing City and Readin Tommy Wrong, who are among his 16 entrants in the CHANNOR REAL ESTATE GROUP NOVICE HURDLE.
There are 28 entries in total but it is Gordon Elliott who is likely to saddle the favourite in Stellar Story, as the Gigginstown House Stud owned galloper destroyed a strong field to win the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham by seven and a half lengths.
“Stellar Story came out of Cheltenham in good shape. The plan then was to come here and he is very much on the ticket. He always looked like he’d make into a good staying novice. While he didn’t run up to his best at Dublin Racing Festival, at Cheltenham, he showed what he was capable of.
“We were very happy with Staffordshire Knot’s run in Aintree behind Brighterdaysahead. He looked like a horse who’d relish stepping up to three miles so I’d say he’ll run as well.
“Three miles is certainly Search For Glory’s thing so it’s quite likely he could turn up here. Better Days Ahead has the option of running in this or the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle. It was the intention to go to Punchestown after Cheltenham with him and that’s still the plan. He’s pretty versatile trip-wise. He won the Martin Pipe over two and a half but has very good form at two miles as well.”
Cullentra House will make a bold bid for honours in the RACE & STAY AT PUNCHESTOWN INH FLAT RACE, which has 22 entries. Closutton’s Jasmin De Vaux will be attempting the double but Elliot saddled the runner-up, third and sixth in the Champion Bumper and Romeo Coolio, Jalon D’oudairies and The Yellow Clay are among the darts he could throw at this Grade 1.
“They’re all young horses of course but they acquitted themselves really well at Cheltenham and this seems the next logical step for them,” said Elliott. “Their future is all in front of them and we’ll see how they are in the next couple of weeks but we would expect to have a strong representation.”
Fergal O’Brien has entered his exciting Aintree runner-up Tripoli Flyer, while Barry Connell’s facile Naas victor, William Munny would be a fascinating contender having swerved the British festivals.

THURSDAY, MAY 2 – ADDITIONAL GRADE 1 RACES

The BARBERSTOWN CASTLE NOVICE CHASE has a lucky 13 possible runners with the Susannah Ricci owned Gaelic Warrior heading the baker’s dozen after his impressive Arkle Chase triumph. Given his preference for running right-handed, he should be very difficult to beat though Willie Mullins might also saddle Blood Destiny, who seems best at the minimum trip.
Philip Rothwell has put his improving chaser Captains Nephew into the mix, and Con O’Keeffe has given his admirable mare, Silent Approach the option.

FRIDAY, MAY 3 – ADDITIONAL GRADE 1 RACES

A whopping tally of 35 horses are under consideration for the ALANNA HOMES CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE. Ballyburn is the standout. Ronnie Bartlett’s exciting six-year-old won the Gallagher at Cheltenham by 13 lengths after having subsequent Supreme winner, Slade Steel seven lengths back at the Dublin Racing Festival in Leopardstown.
Jeriko Du Reponet and Jingko Blue could be given the office by Nicky Henderson, while Caldwell Potter, formerly trained by Gordon Elliott, has an entry from Paul Nicholls. Elliott will certainly be represented.
The aforementioned Firefox and Better Days Ahead have this as an option.

SATURDAY, MAY 4 – ADDITIONAL GRADE 1 RACES

There are 22 entries for the COOLMORE IRISH EBF MARES’ CHAMPION HURDLE. Cheltenham heroine, Lossiemouth is the standout, with Telmesomethinggirl, Lantry Lady and Hispanic Moon all potential opposition having run brilliantly at Prestbury Park for Henry de Bromhead.

TRM Equine Nutrition Salute Stable Staff with Punchestown Season Best Turned Out Series

Media Release Monday 13th October 2025: As the jump racing season gets underway the skill, dedication and professionalism of Ireland’s stable staff will be in the spotlight as TRM Equine Nutrition, a global leader in equine supplements, partners with Punchestown Racecourse to launch the ‘Saddled In Style’ Best Turned Out Series for the 2025/2026 jumps season.
The series will run across all 20 fixtures at Punchestown between October and June, including the five-day Punchestown Festival in April. At each fixture, the Best Turned Out award of each race will earn points toward the season-long leaderboard, with the overall winning yard crowned at the final meeting on Sunday 7th June 2026.
Thanks to TRM Nutrition, the winning yard will receive a €1,000 TRM voucher, TRM-branded gear and a celebratory breakfast morning delivered to their stables, recognising the exceptional work of the teams who care for and present horses at the highest standards.

TRM is a global brand trusted in over 90 countries, providing world-class nutritional supplements and healthcare products for racehorses, sport horses and a wide range of performance and leisure horses. Despite its international reach, TRM remains proudly rooted in their county Kildare base. Punchestown staff who visited the Newbridge factory were impressed by the cutting-edge systems in place to guarantee the quality, integrity, and quantity of every product leaving the facility. TRM also adapts its products and branding for each jurisdiction it enters, ensuring local relevance while maintaining global standards.

Enda Kelly, TRM Chief Commercial Officer, said: TRM are thrilled to team up with Punchestown for the forthcoming season. National hunt racing, breeding and its heritage are a huge part of our core business dating back over 35 years of TRM’s history, and it is a wonderful opportunity to give something small back through this innovative sponsorship”.

Janet Creighton of Punchestown also added: “Punchestown has always valued the massive contribution made by stable staff. The annual Up The Yard Stud & Stable Staff Race is now established as a firm favourite and a highlight of the season. The TRM Best Turned Out Series now extends that recognition across all fixtures, rewarding the teams whose work is essential to Irish racing.”
The Punchestown season gets underway on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th October before rolling on to the early season highlight of The Premiere Weekend on 22nd and 23rd November.

**ENDS**

Winners of the famous Velka Pardubicka from outside the Czech Republic has been as rare as hen’s teeth in the past 30 years, but Stumptown leads the charge to become the first ever Irish-trained winner of the race on Sunday since its creation in 1874.

The winner of cross country races at Cheltenham and Punchestown is one of three declarations for the race trained outside the Czech Republic, looking to break a home-trained stranglehold on the race. It’s A Snip in 1995, and before that, Stephen’s Society in 1973, are two in just seven foreign-trained winners of the race in 60 years.
Gavin Cromwell, whose expertise spans major Flat races as much as the top echelon of Jumping, reported Stumptown to have set off for Pardubice on Monday, and will join him there for Sunday’s race, his first visit with a runner, although he attended as a spectator 18 years ago.

“We’re delighted to have a runner. It’s a unique discipline and some stuff at Pardubice will be new to my horse. If he takes to it, he’ll take some beating,” he reported today. Owners, the Furze Bush Syndicate, led by Ger Teahon, will be in vociferous support of jockey Keith Donoughue, who has an outstanding record in cross country events.
The Irish challenge is completed by Peter Maher’s Cavalry Master and a late purchase, trained by Mrs Arthur Moore, in Gentleman de Reve. Cavalry Master, who joined Peter Maher from Gordon Elliott last January, has been well beaten and pulled up in two outings over the banks course at Punchestown and ridden by Francis O’Keefe. Gentleman de Reve is a different kettle of fish altogether.

The French-bred has been running in the best cross country company under the guidance of Emmanuel Clayeux. Six sporting US owners, led by Dixon Stroud, one of the leading US timber race owners, tasked their Maryland trainer, Joe Davies, to find a horse, to be ridden by son Teddy, who is diverting from University studies this weekend to take the mount, and has already tasted big race success in the 2024 Maryland Hunt Cup. He pulled up in the Czech race last year a mile from home after his horse blew up. Co-owners Sam Slater, Charles Noell, Victoria Crawford, Mary Charlotte Parr and Dann Colhoun will travel from Baltimore later this week.

Gentleman de Reve is not eligible to run in US jump races, so will lodge with Peter Maher after the race with a view to taking in cross country races at Punchestown and possibly Cheltenham. Expect him to figure in Crystal Cup standings as the series develops.

“These are a group of great sporting owners,” reported Joe Davies. “Dixon set his heart on the Velka some time back, and this is our second attempt. I guess if you’re fishing for Moby Dick, best bring the tartare sauce.” American parlance for fancying their chances, we think.
But if the English-speaking raiders think this will be an easy task, they are sorely mistaken. The entire Czech steeplechase calendar is built around qualifying for this 4 1/2m contest, so no surprise that course and distance winners do well here.

The home team is led by Klarc Kent, a length second to Captain Cody in the Scottish National last April when trained by Willie Mullins. Since purchased by Jiří Charvát, Chair of the Czech Jockey Club and owner of Most Racecourse, an hour north west of Prague, his single race over cross country obstacles to date was disappointing, giving him ground to make up on Dulcar de Sivola and Stormmy, but if that experience has taught him how to deal with the wide variety of fences this discipline presents, his rating should put him in with a strong chance.
Two of last year’s first three line up again for a race in which 4 horses have won on 3 or more consecutive occasions since 1987, the most recent being Orphée des Blins in 2014. Last year’s dead heat winner Sexy Lord, trained by Martina Růžičková, has enjoyed a near perfect prep, winning at Pardubice over 5,800m in June with several of Sunday’s runners behind, and a length second to Chelmsford in an identical race in August. The gelding has the beating of Cuwall, Lost, Dumon du Roclay and Zarate on the form of those races. Zarate is one of two mounts James Best has picked up at Pardubice.

Eight year old High In The Sky hasn’t won for trainer Dalibor Török since October ’23, finishing a never-challenging second in his qualifying race at the start of September. Charyjape also has plenty to prove against Dulcar de Sivola on the form of their last meeting here in early September. Araucarias was an 8l second to the French-bred on that occasion too.
The Velka Pardubicka, now in its 135th year, throws up occasional surprising results in the way Aintree used to before modification of the fences turned it into a fairly orthodox, albeit very valuable, handicap. As a conditions race, all bar the mare, Lost, carry 70kg, lending the advantage to those familiar with both the obstacles and course. Stumptown is however, more highly rated than any of the other runners, and with luck in running, should prevail over Sexy Lord with Zarate fancied to fill the minor placings.

The chance for one lucky family to win an adventure to Lapland this December at the Punchestown Premiere Weekend

Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 November

THE PRIZE – FULL DETAILS

This one-day Lapland adventure will be on Saturday 13 December travelling from Dublin airport. The highlight of this memorable experience will be meeting Santa in his log cabin after visiting Kittila’s Snow Village where little ones can zoom on the snow slide, learn how to drive a miniature skidoo, enjoy a short husky-led sleigh ride and visit get involved in arty activities and warm up over lunch in the cafe.

Read about the full trip HERE.

HOW TO WIN?

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Plenty more to look forward to for all families this weekend at Punchestown on 22 and 23 November:

Mullins States case for his Man as Constitution Hill and Golden Ace threaten Boodles Champion Hurdle three-in-a-row bid

“Bring them on!” is the defiant message from Patrick Mullins after the declarations for Friday’s blockbuster BOODLES CHAMPION HURDLE on the penultimate day of the sun-kissed Punchestown Festival were made this morning.

Huge crowds are anticipated at Ireland’s home of jumps racing to watch the clash between State Man and Constitution Hill at the season-ending carnival, with Jeremy Scott doubling the British raiding party by saddling Cheltenham’s Champion Hurdle victor, Golden Ace.
The mare capitalised as State Man took a crunching fall at the last when seemingly on the cusp of making it back-to-back triumphs in the championship race for two-mile hurdlers.

That was the first time the Marie Donnelly-owned jumper had lined up alongside Constitution Hill but the 2023 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle victor, trained by Punchestown regular Nicky Henderson, came a cropper even earlier four from home.

Michael Buckley’s star also fell in the Aintree Hurdle but has satisfied the team at Seven Barrows sufficiently after a strong piece of work and schooling over fences to make his Punchestown bow. The Mullins camp have long considered their chief representative to have been unfairly under-appreciated, despite being an 11-time Grade 1 winner and enjoyed success twice at Cheltenham.

Indeed, the eight-year-old son of Doctor Dino is attempting a third straight triumph in the Boodles Champion Hurdle and a fourth consecutive victory at the Punchestown Festival, as he registered a facile success in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle on this same day in 2022.

Should he be victorious, State Man would be emulating another Mullins-trained legend, Hurricane Fly, who completed the three-in-a-row in 2012 and went on to make it four 12 months later.

In all, State Man has won five times at the track, having scored in the Morgiana Hurdle twice before his three-in-a-row bid was scuppered by Brighterdaysahead last November, his first and only reverse at the venue.
However, Willie Mullins’ son and assistant is optimistic about what will unfold in two days’ time, reporting State Man to have shown no ill effects whatsoever from his shuddering fall.

“State Man was unlucky and lucky at Cheltenham,” says Patrick Mullins. “It was an awful fall. It was great that he got up. He seemed a 100% afterwards. It doesn’t seem to have knocked his confidence at all so it’s going to be fascinating to see the two English horses come over and take him on, on home soil.
“I think he was well in the process of redeeming his reputation at Cheltenham and I would be expecting him to redeem it even further at Punchestown so bring it on!”
Six runners have been declared with County Hurdle winner Kargese also representing the Mullins team and owner Kenny Alexander, who won the race with Honeysuckle in 2021 and 2022.

Break My Soul and Bottler’secret give trainers Ian Donoghue and Aidan Melia a tilt at some major prize money in the €300,000 feature, with €6,000 guaranteed to the sixth-place finisher.
Final Demand is part of a team of three from Closutton looking to follow State Man as a winner of the day’s other Grade 1, the preceding ALANNA HOMES CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE.

The Yellow Clay, who finished just ahead when the strapping gelding was third to The New Lion in the Turners Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham, returns for another battle and the Bective Stud-owned novice prepped by Gordon Elliott is sure to be difficult to overhaul.
A new strategy will be deployed in an attempt to bring about a different result for the impressive Dublin Racing Festival winner.
“Final Demand came off third best in a fantastic three-way tussle at Cheltenham but I think he would have learned a lot there and we will stick with the intermediate trip for Punchestown and take on The Yellow Clay again,” says Mullins Jnr.

“I think maybe we will change tactics slightly and hopefully that will bring about a different result.”
The JP McManus-owned Lovely Hurling is thrown in at the deep end by Colm Murphy, having run only once since winning a Wexford bumper 11 months ago, albeit while scoring impressively on in a Naas maiden hurdle in February.

Harry Derham, who got on the board for the first time at the festival with Ascending Lark yesterday, has declared Queensbury Boy, who will be ridden by his popular owner David Maxwell, while Fergal O’Brien’s Tripoli Flyer will have Johnny Burke in the plate as he bids to provide the Gloucestershire-based Tipperary native with his first triumph at the meeting.

A glorious start to the Punchestown Festival!

 

Almost 18,000 attendees enjoyed a glorious start to the opening leg of the five-day festival at Punchestown Racecourse. The great and the good of National Hunt Racing from both sides of the Irish sea went head-to-head on the track, while social racegoers basked in the glorious sunshine and soaked up the electric atmosphere.

The feature race on the card, the William Hill Champion Steeplechase (Grade 1) worth €300,000 did not disappoint with Marine Nationale, owned and trained by Barry Connell and ridden by Sean Flanagan, following up Cheltenham success at the Kildare venue. An emotional Barry Connell commenting “This is a great success for all the team and for Kildare. This is the horse of a lifetime. I am coming to Punchestown since I was his age with my father, (grandson Jack Connell) and this is a very special day for all my family, there will be cake later Jack!”

An exciting seven race card featuring no less than 3 grade ones, the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition and a whole new festival layout, ensured the opening day gave punters a great taste of what’s in store for the rest of the week at the County Kildare Venue.

Genevieve Ryan from Roscommon enjoyed a superb first visit to the Punchestown Festival when she was chosen as the daily winner of the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition. Having really embraced the theme of the competition and shopped her own wardrobe first, Genevieve wowed the judges and attendees with her impeccable style and the story of how she curated her unique twist on the classic monochrome look.

Head judge Jess Colivet commented “Within 10 mins of arriving in the gate, she was clearly the one to beat! A perfect blend of sophistication and elegance, showcasing how a keen sense of fashion and attention to detail teamed with a sustainable ethos will always be a winner in the Bollinger style stakes at Punchestown!”

The shirt, a versatile piece purchased three years ago from MacBees in Killarney, recently underwent a facelift when Genevieve cleverly swapped the old buttons for new ones to refresh her look.

Her polka dot skirt was a recent purchase from Coosy worked so well with her Jimmy Choo shoes, a Depop bargain she nabbed online for €180. The real wow factor was her hat, a handmade with love at home piece finished with her 3 year old daughter’s favourite teddy’s bow. She accessorised perfectly with rings from Chupi, earrings from Faizie Maizie and her cloud bag by Aoife

Mullane was another Depop purchase.

 

The attendance was up on the opening day of the festival again this year with 17,842 in comparison to 16,361 in 2024 and 14,937 in 2023.

The first race tomorrow (Wednesday) goes to post at 2.30pm the feature being the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup at 5.30pm. For more information and updates on the Punchestown Festival visit www.punchestown.com.

 

ENDS.

Mullins off the mark with first Grade 1 as British take two races early on

Newly minted British champion trainer, Willie Mullins secured the first Grade 1 of the Punchestown Festival but not for the first time, it wasn’t with the expected horse, as Irancy benefited from a peach of a ride by Mark Walsh to score in the KPMG CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE at 18/1. The seven-year-old led home a Mullins 1-2-3-4.
Although a winner at Grade 2 level in Fairyhouse subsequently, Irancy had been more than 32 lengths behind stablemate Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and 14 in arrears of another Closutton representative, Salvator Mundi, who subsequently delivered at Grade 1 level in Aintree.
Walsh opted not to get involved as the market leaders set strong early fractions. The signals from the 30/100 favourite, Kopek Des Bordes were not positive from the outset even with that suitable strong pace, as he made a number of mistakes under Paul Townend and his race was run after another at the penultimate obstacle.
In stark contrast, Walsh was sitting pretty, having asked Irancy to close the gap and a brilliant jump at the last put the affair to bed, as the gelding cantered to a nine-length triumph over Salvator Mundi, who had Patrick Mullins doing the steering, with Karbau and Danny Mullins in third and Kopek Des Bordes fourth.

“Irancy has always been a good horse and met with a setback after winning here earlier in the season, but it might have been the best thing to have happened as he came here fresh,” said Mullins.
“I gave Kopek Des Bordes a nice break after Cheltenham and probably gave him too much and should have brought him to somewhere like Ayr or Perth.
“Looking at him in the parade ring I thought he was carrying too much condition and that showed in today’s pace.”
“Fair play to Willie for getting this lad to the track because he is a seven-year-old and he has had a lot of problems,” said Walsh. “Luckily this year everything has gone right for him and he deserved that big race today.

“Once we jumped the third hurdle at the top of the hill, the two lads were gone on me and I couldn’t go any quicker, so I didn’t force this fella.
“He didn’t come down the hill in Cheltenham great so I just held him together going down the hill here in Punchestown and just let him go his own comfortable stride. I wasn’t chasing them. Luckily enough, they came back to me going to the second last.”
There was a strong British tinge to the opening of the Punchestown Festival, with the second and third races headed for export.
Ascending Lark went off at an attractive 8/1 in the Listed Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle despite having won her previous five races for the red-hot team of trainer Harry Derham and his Mitchelstown-born jockey, Paul O’Brien and going to post with only 10-6 on her back.
Derham revealed afterwards that it took him quite a while to get a handle on the Great Pretender mare after he acquired her from Tipperary trainer, Liz Lalor, but patience proved a virtue.
““There is not many that win six never mind six in a row,” said Derham, who was saddling his first winner at the Punchestown Festival but had memorably overseen Clan Des Obeaux’s Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup triumph in 2021 when assistant to his uncle, Paul Nicholls.
“We didn’t plan on being that far back but she’s a good horse. He said he was going to ride her to come home and come home she has. Will (Watt) gave John (Lalor) half of her as a wedding present so it was quite the gift!

“A couple of times last year I was on the verge of retiring her. I couldn’t get her right… but her owners were very patient and thank God they were as she’s some mare.”
The Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final Handicap Hurdle was won by an English trainer in its inaugural running 12 months ago, when Tom Lacey’s Tune In A Box scored to delirious celebrations.
And there were similar scenes this time around when Scottish conditioner, Mike Smith legged his teenage son Ben up on Buy Some Time to score at 50/1.
Smith, who has known the sponsor, Ronnie Bartlett since their riding days, revealed that he had targeted this €100,000 contest for some time.
“Ben had to torture himself to get down to do the weight and he was spot on,” said Smith. “Is there anything better than a day like today at the Punchestown Festival and your son winning like that. It doesn’t come any better than that.
“I used to ride in point-to-points against Ronnie years ago. We had some fun doing it and there are some stories to tell.
“When he jumped the second last I thought we can finish in the first four and then he just galloped away.
“They all tell you that you can’t beat the Irish and Willie (Mullins)comes over and beats us all, but it doesn’t always happen that way. You have to be brave to take the risk and throw the darts!”
Taghmon owner/trainer, Richie O’Keeffe showed that it isn’t only Mullins that can lead the opposition a merry dance as he produced the first two home in the historic Kildare Hunt Club Chase for the Ladies Cup, with Transprint (22/1) coming late under a vigorous drive from Tony Doyle to deny Turnupdevolume and Cheltenham Festival-winning pilot, Barry Stone.

Marine Nationale did not go off favourite despite winning the Cheltenham Champion Chase but the doubters were silenced as Barry Connell’s pride and joy cantered to a seven-length triumph over the gutsy Captain Guinness in the feature of Punchestown Festival’s opening day, the WILLIAM HILL CHAMPION CHASE.
Willie Mullins had secured the first two Grade 1 contests on the programme and his Ryanair Chase winner, Fact To File was sent off the 11/10 favourite to complete the full deck stepping back to two miles.

The eight-year-old found the going too hot, however, and was struggling to when the taps were turned on between the fourth- and third-last fences.
At that juncture, the eye was drawn to Paul Townend and El Fabiolo, who loomed outside the pace-setting former Champion Chaser, Captain Guinness and Solness, with Sean Flanagan nudging Marine Nationale into position having been found temporarily in a pocket.

Once with space to move into, Flanagan returned to motionless setting approaching the second-last, while Townend started to squeeze, albeit only slightly. Not for the first time in his career, however, El Fabiolo paid scant regard to an obstacle, ploughing through it and dumping his helpless pilot to the turf
From there, it was bar a fall and that never looked likely, the margin stretching to easy seven lengths at the lollipop.

“I felt that the horse had improved from every run and improved again from Cheltenham and we were proved right,” said an exultant Connell, who is a rarity, if not unique at this level as an owner and trainer.
“He won doing a half-speed and I think this horse has all the attributes to be a multiple Champion Chase winner going forward.
“Our target is to win three (at Cheltenham) and equal Badsworth Boy, who is the only horse in history to win three Champion Chases despite all the storied horses over the years.
“He’s only eight. That’s his 12th run. No mileage on the clock so he can go back next year, nine and ten, and he grows an extra leg at Cheltenham. He’s just so laidback, goes through the gears, does enough, doesn’t burn any extra petrol than what he needs.
“It’s fantastic as he is the most wonderful creature. Everybody in the yard has had a huge part to play in this. Garret (Cotter) rides him every day and looks after him… it’s a great success story for Kildare. We’re thrilled. We’ve a small little yard (in , we’ve only 13, 14 horses riding out and we’re able to punch at the highest level if we get the ammunition and this is the horse of a lifetime.”
Flanagan was equally overjoyed and unsurprised.
“I felt coming into it he was a bit of an underdog, not an underdog, but he wasn’t talked about,” the jockey observed. “All the talk was Fact To File. He’s done what I was feeling. I actually probably got a better feel off him at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival than I did at Cheltenham. I got there a little bit soon at Cheltenham and he idled a bit up the hill. He’s done that very well there.
“I had a little bit of a moment. JJ (Slevin, on Solness) and Rachael (Blackmore, on Captain Guinness) are two very solid riders and I was behind them turning into the straight and I said, ‘I’m going to struggle to get out of here.’ For a brief second I half-thought about edging out but I said no, I’d bide my time, I’d plenty of horse. I could see Paul making a move and I waited until we came into the straight and started edging out. I was confident enough that we would win.
“Barry holds the horse in such high regard. As he says, he’s the horse of a lifetime. I’ve ridden a lot of horses through the years and I’ve never ridden anything like him.
“I’ve said several times before, I’m riding 20 years and people say, ‘Why do you still get out of bed and go every day,’ and that’s why. You’re looking for one, just one like him, and I think we’ve found one!”

Having landed an apparently unconsidered outsider to score in the day’s first Grade 1 with 18/1 shot Irancy in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle, champion trainer, Mullins landed the second, the DOOLEY INSURANCE CHAMPION NOVICE CHASE with Champ Kiely, who went off at 22/1 but upset 11/8 favourite and stablemate, Ballyburn by six and a half lengths.
It was an incident-packed contest, with three other Mullins competitors coming a cropper along the way.
The most disappointing was the fall of Lecky Watson, the Brown Advisory winner at Cheltenham, who brought down the strongly fancied Impaire Et Passe, coming into the race off a very impressive triumph at this level at Aintree.

Ile Atlantique also fell but thankfully, all three horses and riders appeared none the worse for wear afterwards.
Townend sent Ballyburn to take it up from Polly Gundry’s Don’t Rightly Know and Harry Cobden heading out on the final circuit but Danny Mullins in the Mags Masterson colours moved on his outside turning for home and the writing was on the wall for favourite backers.
All that was needed was a safe leap at the last and he got it, before galloping to the line.

Danny, who time and again has delivered Grade 1 winners for his uncle, most recently with Il Etait Temps at Sandown on Saturday to confirm the annexation of a second straight British trainers’ championship, hailed the maestro for turning Champ Kiely around quickly, after finishing third in the WillowWarm Gold Cup nine days ago.
“He never really attacked when the loose horse upset him in Fairyhouse last week,” he reported. “But in fairness to Willie, he wasn’t afraid to come back here. Knew the variable was stepping up five furlongs in trip and there was every chance he’d go and do that.

“I knew Paul was the horse to beat. The Gigginstown one (Stellar Story) was going to play a part but we got the better of him off the bend and he is a good horse to put it to bed nicely. For me, I’m just so lucky to be part of the team in Willie’s. I’m just blessed to be on the team and get to ride some of the good ones on these days
Mullins made it three big-priced winners in a row when Ruth Dudfield steered Wonderful Everyday to secure the Goffs Defender Bumper at 16/1 with Stephen Connor guiding the Stuart Crawford-trained Green Hint to second.

The day’s concluding race, the Willie Coonan Memorial INH Flat Race went to the Gavin Cromwell-trained debutant Bud Fox. Ridden by the relentless Derek O’Connor, who had steered him to victory in a maiden point-to-point at his local Bellharbour venue in February, the four-year-old could be picked out among a group of horses in contention before they hit the home straight.
He stayed on soundly to win by four and a quarter lengths from Celestial Tune, who is trained by Tom Cooper and was ridden by Barry Stone, a Cheltenham winner in March, who was settling for the silver medal position for the second time in the day, having been just denied in the opening Kildare Hunt Club Chase for the Ladies Cup.
The attendance on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival was 17,842, up from 16,361 in 2024.

 

 

 

Galopin Des Champs faces select but talented opposition in bid to

finally add LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP to CV

Jasmin De Vaux and Bambino Fever to attempt festival doubles

Galopin Des Champs is reported to have come out of his Cheltenham exertions well and faces a select but talented group of three as he attempts to win the LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP for the first time on Wednesday.
It is the only blank on the CV of Audrey Turley’s heroic nine-year-old, who was second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when bidding to join the all-time greats of jump racing with a third straight triumph.

He is a previous winner at the Punchestown Festival however, with two of his 11 Grade 1s having come in the famed Kildare amphitheatre.
With the horse that denied him his Cheltenham/Punchestown double bids, Fastorslow, ruled out for the season by injury before Christmas, and his Cotswolds nemesis, Inothewayurthinkin on holidays, it looks like Spillane’s Tower, who finished ahead of him in second in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in November, could be his most serious rival.
The Jimmy Mangan-trained seven-year-old is a fresh horse having missed Cheltenham and Aintree, and will be ridden by Mark Walsh, who took the scalp of Galopin Des Champs at Cheltenham.
Monty’s Star, who was just touched off by Spillane’s Tower in the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase 12 months ago, was fourth in the March blue riband and resumes rivalries for Henry de Bromhead, with Rachael Blackmore in the plate.

The field is completed by the Joseph O’Brien-trained Banbridge, who was ridden by Galopin Des Champs’ rider Paul Townend to score in the King George VI Chase on St Stephen’s Day. Regular partner, JJ Slevin, who produced Ronnie Bartlett’s gelding for a last-gasp triumph in the William Hill Champion Chase last year, completes the high-class field.
“Galopin Des Champs knew he had a race after Cheltenham but has had plenty of time to recover and seems back to himself now,” said Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer to his father Willie, the newly minted two-in-a-row British champion trainer, who will bring his tally of Irish championships to 19 on Saturday.
“Obviously, he’s trying to break his Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup hoodoo but there’s not Fastorslow there this year so hopefully he can finish out his season in style. But regardless, it’s been an incredible season for him and we are already looking forward to next year.”
For the second year in a row, Jasmin De Vaux comes to Punchestown attempting a double, having scored in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. He is joined in the CHANNOR REAL ESTATE GROUP NOVICE HURDLE by Closutton stablemates Argento Boy, Luckinthecity and Jarrive De Mee, while the Gordon Elliott-trained Aintree Grade 1 winner, Honesty Policy is included in the field of eight.

“Jasmin De Vaux finally put it all together over hurdles in the Albert Bartlett and I thought Paul was magnificent on him but it will be a very different test here,” said Mullins Jnr. “There’s going to be a lot more jumping. It’s going to be a lot tighter and sharper than the New Course at Cheltenham.
“Obviously, he disappointed in Punchestown last year so there’s a few question marks but he seems in great form and we’re hoping he can follow up.
“We’ve got a few others in there but I think Jarrive De Mee could run very well. I think stepping up to three miles will really suit him, being a point-to-point winner by Authorized and I think going right-handed and the nice ground will suit him too. He’s a horse that is fresh and well and could well run into a place.”

The Grand National winner will ride Copocabana in the RACE & STAY AT PUNCHESTOWN CHAMPION INH FLAT RACE, as he did at Cheltenham when they could only finish tenth, with the Jody Townend-Bambino Fever tandem that prevailed at Prestbury Park in March being retained for the seven-strong contest.
The Noel Meade-trained Colcannon could lay down a strong challenge having stayed at home since scoring at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival in February, but Bambino Fever will be favoured to join an elite group.

“Bambino Fever came out of Cheltenham in great form,” said Mullins. “She put in two huge performances at DRF and Cheltenham so hopefully she can follow in the footsteps of Facile Vega, Champagne Fever and Cousin Vinny, who all followed up at Punchestown. She is most definitely the one to beat.
“Copacabana was a little disappointing at Cheltenham but it was probably not a race ran to suit and I would be expecting a much improved showing from him on Wednesday.”