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Punchestown Celebrates 175 Years and Racecourse of The Year Award with a Free New Year’s Eve Race Meeting

Kindly Supported by Tote

Media Release, 17 December 2025 — Punchestown Racecourse will celebrate a remarkable 175 years of racing heritage with a very special New Year’s Eve race meeting, offering free admission for all, generously supported by Tote, on Wednesday, 31 December. The anniversary is all the more poignant as the track recently landed the 2025 Racecourse of The Year Award.

The Kildare Races at Punchestown was first recorded in 1824, the event moved to various venues across the county before officially establishing Punchestown as their permanent home in 1850. From those early beginnings has grown into what is now internationally recognised as the Punchestown Festival — a five-day celebration of top-class horse racing, culture and community spirit.

To honour this rich legacy, Punchestown is inviting everyone to come together on New Year’s Eve to celebrate 175 years of memorable sporting, historic and community moments. From the construction of the first ever grandstand, the role played by the La Touche Family, the endurance through civil and world wars right up to the famous Match Race of 1986, the legacy of so many racing dynasties and the dominance of Irish racing talent. Punchestown has played host to so many iconic occasions through the years.

The New Year’s Eve meeting promises a festive and family-friendly atmosphere, with complimentary mince pies and mulled wine on arrival while stocks last, live music by the Ballymore Band and free children’s entertainment.

Gates open from 11am with the first race going to post at approximately 12.30pm. The Hay Café, The Feedroom and a selection of mobile eateries will provide tasty snacks, barista coffee or delicious full hot food menu with something for everyone whilst the bars will be serving up festive cheer!

For those looking to enhance their day and arrange something a bit special this New Year’s Eve, the very popular Trackside Race & Dine package is available to book online for €95pp with children’s menu available.

Conor O’Neill, Punchestown CEO, looked ahead to the special day: “This New Year’s Eve meeting is about celebrating our past, enjoying the present, and welcoming the future together. Thanks to Tote for their generous sponsorship which allows us to invite everyone to race for FREE. O’Neill continued: We are merely custodians of this special place and everything we do here is to safeguard Punchestown for future generations.”

*ENDS*

What: Punchestown 175th Anniversary New Year’s Eve Race Meeting
Where: Punchestown Racecourse, W91 VCX4
When: Tuesday, 31 December
Gates Open: 11.00am
First Race: Approx. 12.30pm
Admission: FREE for all

Punchestown Tuesday December 9 transferred to Thursday December 11

Following the cancellation of the Punchestown meeting scheduled for today, Tuesday December 9 due to an orange status wind warning, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has announced that this meeting will now take place this Thursday, December 11.

Declarations and rider bookings stand for this meeting, and the time of the first race remains at 11:50am.

 

Punchestown Launch the Matchbook 50/50 Graduation Bonus Series for 2025–2026

€50,000 Bonus for Winning Connections Plus €50,000 in Free Bets for Matchbook users

 

Punchestown Racecourse, in partnership with Matchbook Betting Exchange, is proud to announce the launch of the Matchbook 50/50 Graduation Bonus Series for the 2025-2026 Jump Season.

This initiative offers a €50,000 bonus to the first horse that wins a designated qualifier and subsequently captures a Grade 1 at the 2026 Punchestown Festival. In addition, Matchbook will reward existing Matchbook users with €50,000 worth of free bets.

Matchbook offers users a premier horse racing betting experience and is industry renowned for best odds across Irish Racing. The Betting Exchange will sponsor 28 races at Punchestown this season including three graded contests. This marks one of the largest annual sponsorship commitments at the ‘Home of Irish Jumps’. The partnership also includes Day 2 of the Punchestown Premiere Weekend this Sunday, 23rd November, where Matchbook sponsor the GR2 Matchbook Betting Exchange Craddockstown Novice Chase. Based in Cork, the partnership is evidence of Matchbook’s commitment to supporting Irish Horse Racing.

Early Qualifiers Already Deliver Promising Contenders

The Matchbook 50/50 Graduation Bonus Series is built around twelve targeted maiden hurdle and bumper qualifiers, each designed to showcase emerging talent on the road to later Spring Festivals including the 2026 Punchestown Festival.

The opening two qualifiers staged last week at Punchestown produced highly impressive winners in Koktail Brut and Sopelana, both of whom now become the first horses eligible for the €50,000 bonus.

Ronan McDonagh of Matchbook Betting Exchange, said:

“We’re extremely proud to launch the Matchbook 50/50 Graduation Bonus Series and deepen our involvement in Irish jump racing. The €50,000 bonus provides a meaningful, season-long target for connections, while the €50,000 in free bets allows us to reward our loyal Matchbook users. Punchestown is a world-class racing venue and supporting 28 races here including three graded events is a natural fit for us. We are particularly excited to sponsor the GR2 Craddockstown Novice Chase this Sunday as part of our Punchestown Premiere Weekend involvement.”

Leona Hughes at Punchestown Racecourse, said:

“The Matchbook 50/50 Graduation Bonus Series is exactly the type of creative, high-impact initiative that elevates our season. It not only incentivises connections but engages the wider racing audience as well. Early winners Koktail Brut and Sopelana have set the bar high, and we look forward to the exciting season ahead. We sincerely thank Matchbook for their substantial and exciting support, including their sponsorship of the GR2 Craddockstown Novice Chase this Sunday.”

MATCHBOOK 50/50 GRADUATION BONUS SERIES – QUALIFIERS

13 November

9 December – Re-scheduled to 11 December

12 January

26 January

18 February

For more information on the Matchbook 50/50 Graduation Series, please visit insights.matchbook.com.

ENDS

 

 

The Punchestown Premiere Weekend

Saturday 22 &  Sunday 23 November

The Premiere Weekend is probably the biggest early season race meeting in Ireland with two days of top class racing featuring a grade one double header. On Saturday the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle will welcome the reigning and potential champion hurdlers. Sunday features the very prestigious Grade one John Durkan Memorial Chase whilst the supporting cast of listed, graded and cross country racing runs across the weekend. Throw in great bars, live music, free kids stuff, tasty food and free bus to Naas and your weekend is sorted.

TIMES  

TICKETS – BOOK HERE

TRANSPORT:  

Free Naas Shuttle Bus Service

Return Dublin City Service

 

FOOD & FACILITIES 

Dress up or dress down.

Make it special and pre-book our famous Race & Dine packages with truly delicious seasonal food and fantastic views of the action.

Keep it casual and enjoy tasty dishes in The Feedroom, Hay cafe or food trucks with a really good selection of hot or cold dishes and snacks along with great home bakes and great coffee. No booking necessary.

There are no enclosures at Punchestown. You can enjoy all the facilities except the private hospitality areas. We have great bars, cafes and plenty of seating and screens.

 

FAMILY FRIENDLY WEEKEND 

MUSIC, SHOPPING & MORE

 

Stars to Shine at Punchestown Premiere Weekend

Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 November 2025

 

Punchestown Racecourse is gearing up for an unmissable two days of top-class jump racing as the Punchestown Premiere Weekend returns on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November. The highlight fixture will showcase the very best of Irish jumps racing, featuring the highly anticipated Grade One double header – the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle and the John Durkan Memorial Chase.

The Unibet Morgiana Hurdle, an integral early-season test for the country’s leading hurdlers, will take centre stage on Saturday. A new name is set to enter the fold following news that reigning champion State Man is out of action for the season due to injury. His absence will open the door to the next generation with entries featuring the unbeaten, Donnelly owned, Anzadam, the Gordon Elliott trained Galway hurdle winner Ndaawi, Aintree winner Salvator Mundi, Punchestown festival winner Irancy and the potential for a Lossiemouth reroute to Punchestown.

Sunday’s card is headlined by the John Durkan Memorial Chase, a race steeped in quality and history. This grade one contest over two and a half miles produced what was considered a race of the season last year with Fact To File galloping to victory. Ireland’s top trainers have entered a galaxy of stars at early closing stage with 44 grade 1 wins between them. Reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup champion Inothewayurthinkin, reigning Punchestown Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs, Grand National hero Nick Rockett, 2023 Durkan winner Fastorslow and last year’s race winner Fact To File form the foundation of an extremely talented cast.

Irish and British champion trainer Willie Mullins remarked on the importance of the Durkan chase: “I think this years Durkan will be the same in that all the ones you hope and expect to see will pitch up there including Fact To File who is in great shape. He was very good in the race last year and I imagine that’s where he’ll start again.

Mullins continued: “There’s few options as good for those horses and it’s a lovely big galloping track so it’s the obvious choice. They’re ready to go”.

Beyond the track, the Punchestown Premiere Weekend offers that friendly, fun atmosphere that Punchestown is synonymous with. Race goers of all ages can expect a raft of entertainment with free kids festive fun in The Playroom, a chance to win a trip to Lapland on Sunday along with the Laura Lynn Santa Truck visit. For the bigger kids there will be live music after racing, packed restaurants, shopping and buzzing bars with a free shuttle bus to and from Naas.

Conor O’Neill, Punchestown Racecourse CEO said: “We had a vision for The Premiere Weekend and now in it’s third year it has exceeded expectations. We’re proud to bring together racing fans, newcomers, families, and the racing community from near and far for what’s become one of the highlights of the winter calendar. The cross section of demographic is proof that quality sport, entertainment and facilities at the right price is appreciated and will be supported. We are all set for a very special weekend and look forward to welcoming everyone back to Punchestown”.

Tickets, hospitality packages, and full event details are now available at www.punchestown.com

**ENDS**

The €100,000 Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Launches at Punchestown Premiere Weekend 

This will be the third running of the series with both Scotland and England on the scoreboard. 

“Punchestown is the only place I want to be again!” – 2025 Winning Trainer Mike Smith

 

The Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series returns for the 2025/26 jump racing season, marking the third consecutive year of the popular cross channel, multi-region series. Supported by Albert Bartlett, the UK’s leading producer of potato products, the series continues to bring together horses, trainers and owners across England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Twelve qualifiers will get underway on the opening day of Punchestown Premiere Weekend, 22 November before embarking on a tour of the five regions ultimately leading to the €100,000 Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final on Tuesday 28th April 2026, the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.

Albert Bartlett Chairman Ronnie Bartlett outlined the key driver behind their support of the series “The key objective of the series is to encourage travel, cohesion and alignment throughout jump racing in the UK and Ireland with the exciting prospect of horses trained and owned throughout the regions aiming to compete at the Punchestown Festival. The series allows owners and trainers to visit new tracks, cross the Irish sea, meet with new peers, all built around enjoying flagship race days and competing for meaningful prize money. Ultimately we hope this will create more fulfilling, memorable and entertaining days for race fans to enjoy and that’s what it is all about.”

The 2025 renewal proved a landmark moment, with an unprecedented ten UK-trained runners travelling to Punchestown for the final – a record level of participation that highlights the growing appeal of the series.

Now entering its third year, Ireland are still seeking their first victory with England and Scotland sharing one win apiece following successes for Herefordshire trainer Tom Lacey (2024) and Ayrshire trainer Mike Smith (2025).

Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Details

 Each qualifier will be a hurdle race run over a distance between two miles two furlongs and two miles six furlongs, exclusively for horses rated 0–120.

2025/26 Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Qualifiers

22/11/2026     Punchestown Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)

11/ 01/2026     Punchestown Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)

22/01/2026     Huntingdon – 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (0-115)

25/01/2026     Naas– 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)

NEW DATE 27/01/2026     Chepstow – 2m3.5f Handicap Hurdle (0-125)

13/02/2026     Kelso– 2m6f Handicap Hurdle (0-120)

14/02/2026     Gowran Park– 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)

25/02/2026     Wincanton– 2m5f Handicap Hurdle (0-115)

06/03/2026     Ayr– 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (0-115)

17/03/2026     Down Royal– 2m4f Novice Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)

19/03/2026     Cork– 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)

27/03/2026      Wetherby– 2m5f Handicap Hurdle (0-120)

For further information contact Sean Crowe, Punchestown Racing Department – info@punchestown.com

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.

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.