A collection of Ireland’s premier racehorses are on course to line up at Punchestown’s Premiere Weekend next month as Grade 1 racing returns to the home of jump racing.
Ireland’s highest rated hurdler and highest rated chaser feature among the entries for the Grade 1 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle and the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase respectively. Both races will see an increase in prize money this year with the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle receiving a €25,000 boost and the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase prize being upped by €50,000.
State Man is one of 12 horses entered for the €150,000 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle which takes place on November 23rd, while dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs could be set for another Punchestown showdown with dual Punchestown Gold Cup winner Fastorslow on November 24th in what could potentially be one of the races of the entire season.
Willie Mullins has only had the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle prised away from his keeping once since 2011, that was when Abacadabras claimed the 2020 renewal for Gordon Elliott and Mullins once again has a strong supporting cast alongside Champion Hurdle hero State Man.
Seeking a hat-trick of victories in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle, State Man is joined among the entries by Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle winner Ballyburn, KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle winner Mystical Power and Coolmore Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle winner Lossiemouth as well as Daddy Long Legs, Sir Gerhard and Winter Fog.
Gordon Elliott’s quest for a second victory in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle relies on the Grade 1 winning novice Brighterdaysahead and Fils d’Oudairies who was third in this race last year.
Recent Punchestown winner Aspire Tower may well stick to hurdling for this assignment after getting his season off to a good start at Punchestown this month for Henry de Bromhead, while the potential line up is completed by the locally trained No Looking Back for Oliver McKiernan, and the Andy Slattery-trained Smooth Tom.
A mouthwatering list of 20 horses have been entered for the €150,000 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, headed by Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow.
Galopin Des Champs has reigned supreme twice in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but Fastorslow has had his measure in two editions of the Punchestown Gold Cup as well as the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase last season. Added into the mix is the Gordon Elliott-trained Gerri Colombe and the Joseph O’Brien-trained Banbridge is a fascinating entry having won the Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase here in April.
The Jimmy Mangan-trained Spillane’s Tower ended the season with a Grade 1 double when claiming the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse before signing off a fine campaign in the Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival and could make his seasonal deubt back at the Kildare venue.
Conor O’Neill, CEO of Punchestown Racecourse, commented: “This is one of the most exciting times of the year for all of the team here at Punchestown Racecourse as we reignite the jump season with quality Grade 1 racing. We have 32 horses entered across our first two big races of the season, the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle which has six individual Grade 1 winners entered and the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase with 16 of the 20 entries already proven as Grade 1 winners.
“It is already promising to be a fantastic weekend at Punchestown and we can’t wait to welcome back so many familiar faces who will be in for an absolute treat.”
A weekend ticket to cover both days of the Punchestown Premiere Weekend is just €25 and more details on all available packages can be found at www.punchestown.com
What a great day out!
Free family fun in The Playroom, Santa truck (Saturday) and Santa Train (Sunday), horses and jockeys, tasty festive treats AND the chance for one lucky family to win an adventure to Lapland this December.
THE PRIZE – FULL DETAILS
This one-day Lapland adventure will be on Saturday 7 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?
- BE THERE – To enter you must attend one of the Premiere Weekend Days at Punchestown Racecourse on Saturday 23rd or Sunday 24th November.
- ADMISSION – Family ticket includes 2 adults with kids – €25 on the day with free access to The Playroom and entertainment. A selected number of local primary schools will receive a limited number of complimentary family tickets.
- COLLECT GOLDEN TICKET ON ARRIVAL – Enter the racecourse via the family turnstile to receive your Golden Ticket.
- POST YOUR TICKET – Complete & post your Golden Ticket entry at the Lapland Letterbox.
- Winner to be announced before the second last race on Sunday 24 November
- Please note that selected local primary schools that are part of the Punchestown community network will receive complimentary tickets. Listed below and final for this season. No additions at this stage.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
- By entering the competition, you will be deemed to have read and agreed to the terms and conditions of the Competition.
- Prize must be booked directly with Midland Travel with names as soon as the competition is complete. Holiday must be confirmed by Monday 25th November 2024.
- Prize is non – refundable, non-transferable, and non-endorsable. It holds no cash value.
- Any requested upgrades or changes to the stated holiday prize will be at the winner’s own expense.
- Flight tickets are not valid for any other destination.
- Prize must not be sold or auctioned.
- It is the prize winner’s responsibility to ensure all passport & visa (if required) are valid for travel.
- Initial names given as prize-winners cannot be changed; names must be furnished as per passport. Any additional changes or charges as a result of name changes after the prize has been booked will be the sole responsibility of the prize winner.
- This prize is won as is and cannot be altered or changed. The dates are non-transferable.
- If for any reason the first drawn winner cannot travel or accept the prize another ticket will be drawn and so on until a winner is established.
- The results are final and at the discretion of Punchestown management.
- Once the prize is official allocated to a winner Punchestown will have no further involvement and the arrangement will be directly between the winner and www.midlandtravel.ie
Schools in the Punchestown Community Programme 2024/2025
- An Linbh Iosa, Ballycane
- Ballyshannon National School
- Caragh National School
- Halverstown NS- St Josephs NS
- Hollywood NS
- Kill National School/ Scoil Bhride
- Killashee Multi Denominational National School
- Lacken
- Rathmore National School
- Scoil Mhuire National School, Ballymore
- Scoil Bhride National School, Kilcullen
- Scoil Brid, Oldtown Naas
- Scoil Chorbain
- St Marys J.N.S, Blessington
- St Marys SNS, Blessington
- Marks Newbridge
- Naas Community National School
- Ursaille Naofa, Twomilehouse
- Valleymount