Matchbook 50/50 Series Returns to Punchestown Following Trail Blazing Launch Season
7th Oct 2026
7th Oct 2026
Matchbook 50/50 Series Returns to Punchestown Following Trail Blazing Launch Season
New for 2026/2027 – Expanded qualification opportunities with three additional races.
Media Release Wednesday 7th October: The Matchbook 50/50 Series returns to Punchestown for a second year, with an expanded programme offering more opportunities for horses to qualify in an initiative that unearthed a top quality crop of contenders.
The Matchbook Series, which rewards qualifying horses with the chance to compete for a €50,000 bonus at the Punchestown Festival, proved a major success in its first season, with qualifiers going on to enjoy winning form at the highest level throughout the campaign. The Matchbook 50/50 Series offers a €50,000 bonus to the connections of the first horse that wins a designated qualifier and subsequently wins a Grade 1 at the 2027 Punchestown Festival. If the bonus is won, Matchbook will also pay out €50,000 in free bets to Matchbook users.
Among the standout stories was Zanoosh, who came closest to securing the €50,000 bonus when finishing second at the Punchestown Festival in the grade one Channor Group Hurdle. Her upward trajectory through the season launched with her qualifier win in December and was swiftly followed up with four victories on the bounce including grade one success at Fairyhouse last Easter. subsequent performance at the Festival underlined the quality of the horses taking part and showcased the opportunities the Matchbook 50/50 Series can create.
Zanoosh emerged as the success story of the inaugural series but fellow qualifiers The Passing Wife and Koktail Brut, further underlined the quality of horse and demonstrated exactly what the initiative is designed to achieve — give connections the opportunity to progress throughout the season with a generous target to aim for on one of the biggest stages, The Punchestown Festival.
Ronan McDonagh, CEO Matchbook, said: “When it comes to the Matchbook 50/50 Series, our measure of success was just how close we came to having to pay out when Zanoosh was challenging right down to the final hurdle at the Punchestown Festival last year!
This is exactly what this Series was created to do. Encourage top quality horses to qualify and target an entire campaign at the home of Irish jump racing. Following the success of year one, the series returns with three additional opportunities to qualify, giving more owners and trainers 15 chances to get involved”.
With more routes into the series, enhancements to the format and a high-quality field of potential qualifiers, the second year of the Matchbook 50/50 Series promises to build on an impressive first chapter.
The ultimate goal remains the same, to provide connections with the opportunity to turn a qualifying success into a place on the Punchestown Festival stage — and a shot at the €50,000 bonus.
ENDS
The 2026/2027 Matchbook 50/50 Punchestown Qualifiers:
14-Oct-26
Maiden Hurdle*
4yo Only Flat Race*
09-Nov-26
3YO Maiden Hurdle*
Mares Maiden Hurdle*
Maiden Hurdle*
22-Nov-26
GR2 Craddockstown Chase (RTÉ Coverage)
08-Dec-26
Maiden Hurdle *
18-Jan-27
4yo Only Maiden Hurdle *
4yo+ Maiden Hurdle *
4yo+ Maiden Hurdle *
19-Jan-27
4YO Only Maiden Hurdle*
Mares Maiden Hurdle*
C&G Maiden Hurdle*
24-Feb-27
Maiden Hurdle *
Mares Maiden Hurdle*
Flat Race*
