Bollinger Style Concierge Debuts at Punchestown Festival with Exclusive Ayu and Vision Ireland Collaboration

 

Media Release, Wednesday 23^rd April – The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition is raising the stakes in 2025 with the debut of the Bollinger Style Concierge, an elegant and immersive style experience set to elevate the fashion and beauty offering at this year’s Punchestown Festival, taking place from April 29th to May 3rd.

Designed as a premium beauty and pre-loved fashion area within the Style Quarter, The Bollinger Style Concierge  will feature two guest collaborators: Ayu Cosmetics and Vision Ireland. Ayu Cosmetics, the beloved Irish beauty brand founded by internationally renowned makeup artist Suzie O’Neill, will offer racegoers exclusive make-up top-ups and expert advice from Ayu’s professional artists to keep their look flawless from flag fall to après racing music and dancing.

Partnering with Vision Ireland, the Bollinger Style Concierge places a spotlight on sustainable fashion. Festival goers can browse a curated rail of designer and pre-loved pieces co-styled by Head Judge Jess Colivet and Style Council Member Roxanne Parker, embracing the spirit of the 2025 Bollinger Best Dressed theme of “Something Old / Something New” in an elegant, timeless and ethical way. Whilst partaking in her best dressed judge duties, Roxanne will be showcasing a Vision Ireland pre-loved and especially tailored outfit.

Michelle O’Sullivan of Bollinger said “The introduction of the Bollinger Style Concierge is an exciting enhancement to what is a flagship event on the Irish social calendar. As a B-Corp certified organisation, Bollinger are proud to raise awareness of sustainable style options by Vision Ireland and showcase homegrown ethical beauty products from Ayu. This is all part of our Something Old/ Something New concept for the 2025 Bollinger Best Dressed at Punchestown”.

“Ayu Cosmetics is honoured to be part of the debut of the Bollinger Style Concierge –  an exciting new addition at what is one of Ireland’s most stylish social events”.  said Suzie O’Neill founder Ayu. “In collaboration with Vision Ireland, we’re bringing our signature beauty expertise to this elegant space, offering exclusive makeup top-ups to ensure guests feel as flawless, confident and as radiant as the Punchestown Festival itself.”

Ciara Coleman, Head of Development & Growth at Vision Ireland said: “Vision Ireland are delighted to take part in this years Punchestown Festival as part of the Bollinger Concierge. In collaboration with Ayu Cosmetics we will be operating our pop-up over the five days, with a fantastic offering of pre-loved designer pieces from our studio that have been specifically curated for this event. With designer brands such as Gucci, Valentino and vintage Dior, we are sure there will be something for everyone! We believe sustainability should never mean a compromise of style.”

“Our team have worked tirelessly to curate a stock package that showcases the very best of designer racewear while incorporating our ever important sustainability focus. Throughout the event we will showcase our pre-loved designer collection that includes not only ready-to-wear, but also a fantastic range of race day essentials such as head pieces and accessories”.

The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition, a longstanding highlight of the festival, will run throughout the first four days of the event, with daily finalists progressing to the grand final on Ladies Day, Friday 2^nd May. The Bollinger Style Council will be searching the enclosures for candidates who have shown their ability to style a race day appropriate outfit featuring a sustainably chosen piece.

 

Marine Nationale “in super form” ahead of possible joust with Fact To File in mouth-watering William Hill Champion Chase

WILLIAM HILL CHAMPION CHASE
(Tuesday, April 29th – 13 entries)

The winners of the last four Queen Mother Champion Chases have been given the option of running in the William Hill Champion Chase, which looks like getting the Punchestown Festival off to a stupendous start.

Energumene (2022, 2023), Captain Guinness (2024) and the new kingpin, Marine Nationale are all included in a mouth-watering list. And if that wasn’t enough to get the juices flowing, Willie Mullins has included easy Ryanair Chase victor, Fact To File for what would be an intriguing look at the minimum trip after scoring so readily over 2m5f last March.

Fact To File won the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown over the intermediate trip in November but Marine Nationale is undoubtedly the one they all have to beat after his stunning exhibition of jumping and closing speed at Cheltenham.

“He’s great, in super form,” declares owner/trainer Barry Connell. “He came out of the race brilliant. He didn’t have much of a blow after the race. I think he was the easiest winner of the whole week and he’s come out of the race in super shape.

“He hasn’t had an over-taxing season really. We’ve been building up to the spring festivals so we’re looking forward to him going to Punchestown. Hopefully we get the usual nice spring ground, which will suit him well.

“The big thing with him was that he came into the season basically still a novice, lacking a lot of experience, and he was being pitched in against battle-hardened chasers and it’s a difficult thing to do, particularly in the two-mile division, where jumping accuracy is so important.

“He kicked off low-key in Naas. That was a big stepping stone. His two runs at Leopardstown were really good. He jumped well and as he usually does when he goes to Cheltenham, he comes alive, loves the place. It was all building towards getting the experience and fitness and everything came together at Cheltenham.

“His jumping was exemplary and it took him into the race without any great effort. And then the usual thing he does, when he jumps the last at Cheltenham, he just takes off.

“We couldn’t be happier with him now looking forward to Punchestown, and whatever turns up, we’ll be happy to take them on.”

 

SBK IRISH EBF MARES’ CHAMPION HURDLE.

 

Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead are among the 10 entrants in the SBK IRISH EBF MARES’ CHAMPION HURDLE. The vaunted duo are also possible runners in the Boodles Champion Hurdle at the start of the week but would add real A-list glamour to Saturday’s card were they to cross swords on the concluding day of the Punchestown Festival.

Lossiemouth’s stablemate Kargese illustrated her talent in the County Hurdle, while Henry de Bromhead’s pair, Lantry Lady and July Flower are very talented performers capable of making a bold bid.

 

 

BALLYMORE CHAMPION FOUR-YEAR-OLD HURDLE
(Saturday, May 3rd – 19 entries)

Willie Mullins dominates the entries here, with a dozen possible participants, including Poniros, who won the Triumph Hurdle on his first public outing over obstacles at 100/1 under Jonjo O’Neill Jnr. Aintree victor, Murcia is also among the group.

Nicky Henderson has entered Lulamba, who was narrowly denied at Cheltenham, and Gavin Cromwell intends to run Hello Neighbour, a Grade 1 winner at the Dublin Racing Festival who ran with credit in Cheltenham before fading late on to be sixth, less than six lengths behind Poniros.

“He just didn’t work well enough for us in his last bit of work before Aintree, so that’s why he didn’t travel over there,” Cromwell explains. “He’s fine and has plenty of time to freshen up and presuming he comes good again, he’ll run.

“I suppose he had a hard race at Cheltenham and it was off the back of the Grade 2 win on his debut at Christmas and then the Dublin Racing Festival. We just said we’d give him a chance. It was a very quick turnaround this year from Cheltenham to Aintree and when you’re borderline on sending him, I’m glad we didn’t as that might have left a mark on him and we have Punchestown to look forward to now.”

 

The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition Returns for 2025 Punchestown Festival

Emphasis on sustainable fashion as Something Old/Something New Theme Announced

Introducing Guest Judges Aoife McNamara and Isabel Gleeson

An Exclusive Trip to the Bollinger Estate & Paris Awaits the Winner

 

The prestigious Bollinger Best Dressed competition returns to the Punchestown Festival at the end of April with some fresh new faces and a forward-thinking theme: “Something Old/ Something New” in recognition of the iconic champagne house’s B Corp status.

Emphasising sustainable fashion focusing on style and sophistication, the competition invites racegoers to showcase their ‘consciously curated’ ensembles for a chance to win an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime trip to the iconic Bollinger Estate in France’s stunning Champagne region with 5* Paris hotel and Michelin dining experience, flights and more.

The competition will take place over the first four days of the 2025 Punchestown Festival with daily finalists chosen from Tuesday 29th April to the culmination on Ladies Day, Friday, 2nd May. The style action will unfold in the elegant Bollinger Garden Style Quarter, where race goers will be immersed in the glamour, refinement, and timeless prestige synonymous with both Bollinger and the Punchestown Festival.

 

New Style Council Members
In line with the theme of Something Old/Something New, the Bollinger Style Council welcomes back familiar faces alongside new guest judges Aoife McNamara (@aoifemcnamarax) and Isabel Gleeson (@styledbyisabel_). Trailblazer Aoife McNamara, founder of Ireland’s first B Corp fashion brand Aoife Ireland and a leading voice in ethical style shares her perspective: “I’m truly honoured to be part of the Bollinger Best Dressed competition at the Punchestown Festival. Having grown up attending this event, I am excited to see race fashion embraced in a sustainable way”.

 

Sustainable Race Day Fashion
Head Judge Jess Colivet (@jesscolivet) explains how to approach race day style in a sustainable way: “When it comes to the Bollinger Best Dressed, sustainable fashion means putting together your look in a conscious way. Rather than rushing out and buying a whole new outfit, I would always suggest that you start by ‘shopping your own wardrobe’ first. I myself will be reinventing a look based on a piece that I have worn at four Punchestown festivals!

Jess continued “Fashion is evolving, people are borrowing pieces from friends, the rental market has exploded and both online and in store pre-loved fashion is the norm among younger generations. Identifying ethical brands and investing in a beautifully made coat, dress or piece that will stand the test of time is always a sustainable fashion choice. Think timeless quality. Each year the best dressed at Punchestown produces a wonderful story with a hat, bag, dress or even jewellery that has been passed down from generation to generation. That’s sustainable fashion at its best”.

Reflecting on the parallels between Bollinger’s commitment to sustainability and excellence and the upcoming best dressed competition, Michelle O’Sullivan of Findlater & Co. remarked: “Achieving B Corp certification (A globally respected benchmark that recognises businesses meeting the highest standards of social and environmental impac) is a proud milestone for Bollinger, aligning with their dedication to environmental responsibility, craftsmanship, and uncompromising quality. This has inspired the theme for the 2025 Bollinger Best Dressed at Punchestown. We’re looking for creativity, showcasing reinvented pieces and a balance of timeless elegance — an aesthetic that echoes the exceptional quality and heritage of Bollinger.”

The prestigious Bollinger Best Dressed competition remains a highlight of the Punchestown Festival taking place from Tuesday 29th April to Saturday 3rd May. Event tickets start from €35 with concessions for seniors, students and families (on Saturday 3rd May). For full event details please visit www.punchestown.com

Meet Your Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council 

 

Lead Judge – Jess Colivet  @jesscolivet  

Personal stylist and content creator Jess Colivet, is based in Kildare, Ireland, and her Instagram feed is full of great fashion inspiration. After completing a postgraduate degree at Trinity and a trend forecasting course at the London College of Style, Jess started her Instagram journey in 2020 and has been charting her style ever since.

This is Jess’s 3rd year leading the Style Council at the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition at Punchestown Festival. Personal style should be an extension of your personality and the version of yourself that you want to share with the world. To me, there is nothing more stylish than someone wearing their clothes with confidence. Don’t let age define your style.

 

Jessica O’Mahony @jeskaomahony 

Jessica is our newest addition to the Style Council for Bollinger Best Dressed 2024. As a busy mum of three, Jessica has amassed a following of over 95,000 Instagram (@jeskaomahony) followers thanks to her enviable sense of style from formal occasion wear to casual match day outfits and everything in between. Whilst more familiar pitch side than track side, as Jessica’s husband is Peter O’Mahony, captain of the victorious Six Nations Irish rugby team, the Cork woman is looking forward to embracing this new experience. Whilst I’m as comfortable in casual wear I do love an excuse to pull out all the stops and a big day out at the races with friends is just that, not to mention the amazing prize from Bollinger.”

 

Eve Gottesman & Michelle O’Sullivan  @Champagne_Bollinger

Bollinger is a timeless classic. A world renowned brand built on heritage and craft. It is the taste and soul of Champagne. Much of Bollinger’s success today is traced back to ‘Lily’who married into the family and took over the reins in 1914. In a continuation of female influence at Bollinger, today Michelle and Eva will represent at the Punchestown Festival. They will be looking for essence of Bollinger in the winner – elegance and style.

 

Suzie O Neill @suzie.ayu

Kildare resident and award-winning entrepreneur Suzie O’Neill is the owner and CEO of Ayu Cosmetics and Koolfit Apparel. Suzie’s ethos has always been about engagement with the customer and using feedback to inspire and develop new products. This will be Suzie’s second year on The Style Council at Punchestown.
Suzie’s business journey started with a range of affordable, premium quality brushes back in 2015 and since then AYU has expanded to include a full suite of cosmetics with many new and innovative products in the pipeline. A champion of women in business Suzie has a team of over 35 talented women and men across her brands.
When not running her successful business this busy Mum is running marathons with Clane Athletics Club.

 

Roxanne Parker @roxanne_parker

Roxanne Parker began her journalism career 20 years ago and has been working as a fashion stylist for more than 20 years. Roxanne’s styling skills are highly sought after for magazine and print media editorials and designer brand look books as well as curating television broadcast wardrobes. Roxanne writes a monthly sustainability column “A Better Way” for Social & Personal magazine and has dressed celebrities in sustainable looks for the red carpet. Roxanne has launched a Sustainable Fashion Podcast My Soul Style.

Roxanne champions sustainable and slow fashion and supports designers and brands creating pieces with a planet conscious mission while encouraging people to dress as their authentic selves and not be a slave to trends. A Roxanne style top tip would be to source a great tailor and alterations service which can transform existing items or elevate great second hand finds.

 

Lawson Mpame @lawsofstyle

Lawson Mpame is a Creative Director and menswear stylist who has been working in the fashion industry for seven years. His passion for fashion and storytelling through visual mediums has led to collaborations and projects with some of the biggest fashion brands in the world. Styling their latest collections and creating high end content allows Lawson to showcase both his style and creativity. The three pillars of his brand are class, creativity and confidence. 2024 will be Lawson’s second year on The Style Council and his very first visit to the Punchestown Festival.

 

David O Connor @styledoc

Louis Copeland Group GM/Creative Director/ Made-To-Measure specialist.
Aptly named known as ‘The Style Doctor’ David has been working with the Louis Copeland group for over twenty years where he has styled some of the sharpest dressed, well known gentlemen including actors Patrick Dempsey and John C Reilly, celebrity chef Donal Skeahan, Tv Presenter and Olympian Greg O’Shea and globally renowned Mentalist Keith Barry.
This will be David’s Punchestown debut and as a passionate flag bearer of gentlemen’s style he will be looking for impeccable grooming, excellent tailoring fit and perhaps a different take on the traditional occasion suit.

Keen to champion gentlemen’s style and optimize the opportunity for the title to go the way of the men for the first time, David will be looking for perfect fit through great tailoring as well as attention to detail on presentation.

 

Jessica O’Mahony Welcomed as the Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council Assembles for Punchestown 2024

Media Release, Thursday 28^th March 2024: As the countdown to the 2024 Punchestown Festival gets underway the Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council is delighted to welcome Jessica O’Mahony as guest judge for the prestigious racing fashion competition.

As a busy mum of three, Jessica has amassed a following of over 95,000 Instagram (@jeskaomahony) followers thanks to her enviable sense of style from formal occasion wear to casual match day outfits and everything in between. Whilst more familiar pitch side than track side, as Jessica’s husband is Peter O’Mahony, captain of the victorious Six Nations Irish rugby team, the Cork woman is looking forward to embracing this new experience “This will be my first visit to the Punchestown Festival and certainly my first time being involved in a style competition like this. I’m excited to experience a different side of a major sporting event and take in all the fashion, colour and atmosphere that it brings. Whilst I’m as comfortable in casual wear I do love an excuse to pull out all the stops and a big day out at the races with friends is just that, not to mention the amazing prize from Bollinger.”

The 2024 Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 30^th April to Saturday 4^th May with the iconic champagne house Bollinger celebrating eight years involvement at the social and sporting highlight. The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition takes place over the first four days of the event. Judges and style scouts will be tasked with seeking out a number of finalists each day. The daily winner will then progress to the grand final on Ladies Day, Festival Friday, 3^rd May.

The overall winner and guest will enjoy an appropriately stylish and exclusive ‘money cannot buy’ trip to the famous Champagne Bollinger Estate with luxury overnight stays in Paris and Reims to include Michelin dining and private transfers. Truly a trip of a lifetime and something worth dressing up for.

Jessica O’Mahony joins the established and diverse Style Council led by head judge, stylist and influencer Jess Colivet and ably assisted by returning names including beauty entrepreneur Suzie O’Neill of AYU, David O’Connor from Louis Copeland, stylist Lawson Mpame, sustainable fashion stylist Roxanne Parker, former winner Katie Nally-McCormack and MC Marietta Doran. Travelling especially from France to enjoy her first Punchestown Festival experience is Champagne Bollinger Brand Ambassador Eva Gottesman. The best place to keep up to date with Bollinger Best Dressed information is via the Punchestown Instagram page

This year’s Punchestown Festival will roll out new reduced ticket pricing, a refreshed layout with enhanced customer experience venues and earlier start times on the first two days. Whilst hospitality is now sold out from Tuesday to Friday there is limited availability on Saturday 4^th May with waiting lists in operation throughout the week. For full event information and ticket options please visit: www.punchestown.com

 

 

**ENDS**

 

Punchestown Returns with The Homecoming Festival

**Download Festival Fact Sheet**

Media Release : They’re coming home! The winners, the heroes and the champions return to the home of Irish jump racing for the grand finale of the season as the 2023 Punchestown Festival returns from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April.

Organisers anticipate an attendance of 110,000 people across the five-day event that attracts visitors from throughout Ireland, the UK and further afield. The main attraction is the prestigious top-class racing that showcases the very best of Irish racing talent including Rachael Blackmore, Willie Mullins , Henry de Bromhead and Paul Townend. Visiting trainers from the UK are an integral feature of the festival with regulars such as Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and new comer Olly Murphy sending horses across. A fully subscribed sponsorship portfolio of 50 event partners delivers an impressive prize fund of over €3.3 million on offer across forty races including twelve grade one contests. The entries for the flagship races are now closed and feature equine superstars including major festival players Galopin Des Champs, Energumene, Bravemansgame and Envoi Allen.

People make Punchestown and key to all great celebrations is the combination of guest list, live entertainment, delicious food, amazing style and this is where the Punchestown Festival delivers in spades. Over 17,000 hospitality clients from 795 companies, 158 of which are UK based, will enjoy delicious seasonal menus prepared and served by 60 chefs, 420 catering staff and 280 bar staff. Catering for this number means large scale and three tonnes of fresh vegetables, over 60 kilos of artisan cheeses and 15,000 portions of petit four desserts and canapes will be enjoyed over the five days. Throughout the pavilions, bars and enclosures the atmosphere builds with live music, street theatre and DJ sets running alongside shopping village and full entertainment programme.

The Bollinger Best Dressed competition is one of Ireland’s most prestigious style contests in the country with finalists chosen across the first four days progressing to the final on ladies day, Friday 28^th April. Open to all, the fresh take on race day style encourages racegoers of all ages to be creative, sustainable and brave in a bid to win the ‘money can’t buy’ prize to Paris and The Bollinger Chateuax in Champagne region. An all-star cast featuring some of Ireland’s most popular style names make up The Style Council who will select the winners.

As one of Ireland’s largest events the Punchestown Festival is big business bringing a massive boost to the local economy with over €25 million generated through tourism, leisure and associated spends. However, the event also plays a significant community roll working alongside local GAA clubs and charities to generate funds through volunteer schemes and fundraising initiatives. The Punchestown Kidney Research Charity race, now in its 32 year, has raised close to €2 million and is joined this year by charities Barretstown, Samaritans, Cara Girls Project and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.

Punchestown CEO Conor O’Neill looked ahead to the event: “The Punchestown Festival is a combination of so many moving parts. A showcase of Irish sporting excellence, one of the largest corporate events in the country, a huge social occasion, an essential fundraiser and a gathering of 100,000 people of all ages, urban and rural who will share in a memorable experience. People make Punchestown and we look forward to welcoming friends old and new to the home of Irish racing for the last week of April”.

 

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Shona Dreaper, Punchestown Racecourse

Contact: 045 897704 or sdreaper@punchestown.com

 

No-repro Fee images – https://we.tl/t-RJBYK6NqvW

Social Media Assets – https://we.tl/t-62fmsDzTh0

 

Event Notes:

The 2022 Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April.

Tickets from €35pp are available at www.punchestown.com Pre-booking is advised.

Discount group deals are available online.

Concession senior and student tickets are only available to purchase on the day.

Contactless payment available throughout the venue. Cash accepted but visitors are advised to collect cash in advance of their arrival to avoid queues.

 

 

 

TIME TO DRESS UP 

 

Finally, the excuse to get dressed up that we’ve all been waiting for is almost upon us! ‘The Great Comeback Festival of 2022’, The Punchestown Festival returns from Tuesday 26^th to Saturday 30^th of April with the Bollinger Best Dressed Lady event taking place over the first four days. Stylish ladies and fashionistas from all across the country are planning their outfits now, in the hope of winning the much-coveted Bollinger Best Dressed Lady title and the amazing ‘money can’t buy’ prize that it comes with. 

The Bollinger Best Dressed Lady will win a VIP trip for two to visit the exclusive Bollinger Estate in France where you and your guest will be given a private tour of the estate and guided tasting opportunities. Furthermore, this trip of a lifetime also includes Michelin star dining, chauffeur transfers, five-star accommodation and more. 

The magnificent Bollinger Garden in The Style Quarter will be the epicentre of all things fashion at The Punchestown Festival. From Tuesday to Friday style scouts will be tasked with finding the most stylish attendees at the racecourse. Finalists will be selected each day and daily winners will be presented with Bollinger and Bellamiante prizes and goodie bags. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s winners will be fast-tracked to the grand final on Ladies Day, Friday 29^th. 

Ladies who are keen to compete are advised to come along to the races early and make tracks to The Bollinger Garden in The Style Quarter. Shona Dreaper, Communications Manager at Punchestown Racecourse commented “The Style Quarter is the epicentre for all things fashion during the festival. The Bollinger Champagne Lounge and Garden will play host to the daily selections and grand final on Friday. Ladies are advised to arrive from 1pm, enjoy a stroll through the parade ring enclosure, make their way through the festival shopping venue on Osprey Avenue and on to the reserved enclosure for great views of the racing, live music, wonderful atmosphere and of course, style! It’s great to be back and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Punchestown”.  

The Punchestown Festival runs from Tuesday 26^th to Saturday 30^th April. Race & Dine Hospitality packages from €149pp. Tickets from just €30 with group concessions available. Bundled transfers, accommodation and event packages are available.