FESTIVAL RACE PROGRAM
The Punchestown Festival is considered the grande finale of the jump season with top class horses, trainers and jockeys from both sides of the Irish sea converging on the Kildare venue to settle scores and confirm reputations. The quality of racing is unrivalled with a total of 12 Grade 1 contests taking place. Punchestown is proud to be the home of Irish Jumps Racing and host the famous La Touche Cup, a spectators favourite run over the cross country course. It's a "must see" for any racing fan.
There are a total of 39 races run at the Punchestown Festival including 12 Grade 1 contests.
Grade 1 entries released Wednesday 10th April. Handicaps released Thursday 25th April.
Five day entry stage for remainder. 48 Hour declarations in place for Grade 1 races.
Racing gets underway at 3.40 each day except Saturday when the first race goes to post at 2.35. Gates open at 12.00 (11.30 on Saturday)
Tuesday 30th April - BoyleSports Champion Chase Day
3.40: Kildare Hunt Club Fr. Sean Breen Memorial Cross Country Steeplechase of €15,000 over 3 miles 1 furlong
4.20: The Grade 1 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle of €100,000 2 miles 100 yards
4.55: The Killashee Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) of €60,000 2 miles 100 yards
5.30: The Grade 1 BoyleSports Champion Steeplechase of €300,000 2 miles
6.05: The Goffs Land Rover Bumper of €100,000 2 miles 100 yards
6.40: The Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Novice Steeplechase of €100,000 3 miles 120 yards
7.15: The Dooley Insurances Flat Race of €15,000 2 miles 100 yards
Wednesday 1st May - Coral Punchestown Gold Cup Day
3.40: The Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle of €30,000 2 miles 5 furlongs
4.20: The Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final of €75,000 2 miles 4 furlongs
4.55: The Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle of €25,000 2 miles 4 furlongs
5.30: The Grade 1 Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle of €100,000 3 miles
6.05: The Grade 1 Coral Punchestown Gold Cup of €300,000 3 miles 120 yards
6.40: The Grade 1 Racing Post Champion I.N.H Flat Race of €100,000 2 miles 70 yards
7.15: The Guinness Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A) of €100,000 2 miles 4 furlongs
7.45: The Weatherbys GSB Irish EBF Mares Flat Race (Grade 3) of €50,000 2 miles 70 yards
Thursday 2nd May - Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle Day
3.40: The JLT Handicap Hurdle of €30,000 2 miles 40 yards
4.15: The Pigsback.com Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B) of €65,000 2 miles
4.50: The Punchestown Cross Country Steeplechase for the La Touche Cup of €30,000 4 miles 2 furlong
5.30: The Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle of €300,000 3 miles
6.05: The Alanna Homes Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) of €60,000 3 miles
6.40: The Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Steeplechase of €115,000 2 miles
7.15: The Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) of €35,000 2 miles 40 yards
7.45: The Kildare Post (C&G) Flat Race of €17,500 2 miles 40 yards
Friday 3rd May - BETDAQ Champion Hurdle Day
3.40: The KFM Hunters Steeplechase for the Bishopscourt Cup of €15,000 2 miles 4 furlongs
4.20: The EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A) of €100,000 2 miles 5 furlongs
4.55: The Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Mares Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B) of €75,000 2 miles 5 furlongs
5.30: The Grade 1 BETDAQ Punchestown Champion Hurdle of €300,000 2 miles
6.05: The Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle of €100,000 2 miles 4 furlongs
6.40: The Star Best For Racing Coverage Champion Hunters Chase €30,000 3 miles 120 yards
7.10: The SalesSense International Novice Hurdle of €25,000 2 miles
7.45: The GVA Donal O'Buachalla Property Advisors INH Flat Race of €15,000 2 miles 2 furlongs
Saturday 4th May - AES Festival Family Day
2.35: The Dooley Insurances WFA Cross Country Steeplechase(Banks) of €15,000 3 miles
3.10: The Boylesports Handicap Steeplechase of €50,000 3 miles 7 furlongs
3.50: The Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle of €100,000 2 miles 4 furlongs
4.25: The Grade 1 AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle of €100,000 2 miles
5.00: The Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B) of €60,000 3 miles 120 yards
5.35: The Ballymore Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) of €100,000 2 miles 4 furlongs
6.10: The K Club Hotel and Resort (Pro -Am) Flat Race of €15,000 2 miles
6.40: The Carry An Organ Donor Card Punchestown Charity Sweepstakes 1 mile 7 furlongs