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The members-only bookmaker makes Punchestown Festival debut, and includes a shot at a €100k bonus for the winner.

 

Fitzwilliam Sports announce sponsorship of the €100,000 Fitzwilliam Sports Handicap Hurdle on the final day of the Punchestown Festival, Saturday, April 29.

The brand-new members-only bookmaker is also putting up a €100,000 bonus for the winner of this race, should they go on to win the 2023 Galway Hurdle.

 

Media Release: As anticipation builds ahead of the 2023 Punchestown Festival, the home of Irish jump racing today announced Fitzwilliam Sports as an exciting addition to the sponsorship line-up ahead of this year’s jump racing showcase, which takes place from Tuesday, April 25 to Saturday, April 29.

The €100,000 Fitzwilliam Sports Handicap Hurdle, over two miles and three furlongs, takes place on the concluding day of the Punchestown Festival and the 2022/23 Irish National Hunt season. This year for the first time, the race will have an additional €100,000 bonus for the winner should they go on to win the Galway Hurdle at the 2023 Galway Festival.

The Grade B contest has proven to be another fruitful race for Willie Mullins, who will this year be bidding for his fifth success in six years in the race. Long-time Punchestown Festival supporter Phillip Hobbs won the 2022 renewal with Camprond, ridden to victory by Aidan Coleman for owner JP McManus.

Fitzwilliam Sports is a brand-new members-only bookmaker based in Dublin, offering discreet, dependable and customer-focussed services to its clients. Fitzwilliam Sports don’t offer casinos, virtuals or slot machines, just proper bookmaking that will lay a decent bet at a fair price. Membership with Fitzwilliam Sports is capped to a certain number of clients, ensuring high-quality friendly service is always provided.

John Sheil, Trading Director at Fitzwilliam Sports, is no stranger to Punchestown and explains the importance of their support at the festival: “When we established Fitzwilliam Sports, we had a very clear concept of what we wanted to achieve; to lay decent bets at fair prices and to provide a high-quality service to our clients. As one of Ireland’s leading national-hunt racetracks, the parallels with Punchestown are obvious. The Punchestown team always delivers a fantastic festival, with exceptional racing on the track and world-class customer service off the track. Like us, they understand their customer’s needs and make every effort to ensure those needs are met and exceeded. We also wanted to add some extra incentive for the first year of our sponsorship, so we are delighted to offer a €100,000 bonus to the winner of this race, should they go on to win the 2023 Galway Hurdle. With many of our team involved in racehorse ownership themselves, we understand the importance of offering good prize money and added bonuses, so we’re really excited about this initiative. We are delighted to partner with Punchestown and look forward to welcoming clients and racing fans to Punchestown on Saturday, April 29.”

Janet Creighton, Punchestown Sponsorship Team, welcomed the announcement: “Paul Byrne and his team at Fitzwilliam Sports are an ideal fit as exclusive festival Saturday bookmaking partner. Fitzwilliam Sports speak our language when it comes to tailored customer service and elevated client experience. When you contact Punchestown you speak with someone who knows the place and product inside out and wants to optimise customer experience. Fitzwilliam Sports are on the same page and we look forward to developing this partnership”.

The Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April 2023. For full event info, tickets and hospitality package availability please visit www.punchestown.com

**ENDS**

Punchestown are delighted to team up with Outdoor Living to provide a lovely new garden room racecard hut solution ahead of the 2023 Punchestown Festival

 

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OutdoorLiving.ie boasts two incredible showrooms located in the Glen of the Downs, Co. Wicklow, and in Dunboyne, Co. Meath. Each showroom offers a unique and immersive shopping experience tailored to the specific needs of their customers.

The Glen of the Downs showroom hosts an extensive display of outdoor furniture, wooden structures for all needs, greenhouses, water features, and more. Additionally, the newly opened shop offers coffee, snacks, and a multitude of garden accessories, making your visit an enjoyable and relaxing experience.

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Shopping with OutdoorLiving.ie not only means buying high-quality products but also supporting an Irish family business. All products can be shipped nationwide, with flexible lead times and excellent communication from their committed sales representatives. The company prioritizes customer satisfaction, offering convenient shopping options through their showrooms, online store, and phone orders.

This coming April 25th-29th, we will be showcasing our Eimear 6.7m Wooden Gazebo at the Punchestown Race festival. You will be able to purchase your race card from here and get to view the elegant Nordic Spruce structure for yourself. We at OutdoorLiving.ie pride ourselves on the vast range of wooden structures we supply. Many of these are on display at our Glen of the Downs showroom where you can walk around with the backdrop of the Sugar Loaf mountain in your view throughout the premises. Working with Punchestown officials, we also have a 30 second video about us & our range of products which will be playing in between races in the lounges and bar areas.

OutdoorLiving.ie is the ultimate destination for all your outdoor needs in Ireland. With a rich family history, extensive product range, expert knowledge, and unparalleled shopping experience, OutdoorLiving.ie is committed to helping you create the outdoor space of your dreams. Visit one of their showrooms or shop online to discover why OutdoorLiving.ie is the best choice for your outdoor projects.

Mullins in tip-top shape for Punchestown after surgery

Galopin Des Champs leads power-packed team for “end of term” carnival

VIEW MULLINS PREVIEW VIDEO HERE

Willie Mullins has pronounced himself fit for action ahead of the Punchestown Festival, following a successful hip operation three weeks ago.
Mullins has enjoyed spectacular success at the traditional conclusion to the Irish jump racing season and reports that most of his top guns will join him in making the journey from Closutton to Punchestown from Tuesday to Saturday, April 25th-29th next week.
The champion trainer – he will be crowned top dog for the 17th time – was speaking in a wide-ranging online interview (attached) in which he touched on a range of topics not confined to but including his admiration for stable jockey Paul Townend, starting protocols, his 93-year-old mother Maureen’s “incredible appetite” for the sport, and why he has a picture of triple Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle winner Quevega inside his trademark Fedora.

His Punchestown team is headed by Galopin Des Champs, who is on track for a possible reunion with Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame in the Ladbrokes Gold Cup, a race offered further intrigue by Henry de Bromhead committing another Cheltenham victor, Envoi Allen to taking part. Energumene, Impaire Et Passe, El Fabiolo and Lossiemouth are other Cheltenham scorers aiming to complete a high-class double, having emerged from their exertions in better nick than their trainer, who was quite lame at Prestbury Park and had an operation scheduled upon his return.

“I was in Tramore the other day and I’m on the gallops every morning,” Mullins declared. “I’ve missed very little time. “It’s fantastic what surgeons can do nowadays. I was amazed. Three weeks ago (Monday) I went in, and they kicked me out of the hospital on Wednesday morning. I was back on the gallop the next morning. I missed a few mornings; I did a little too much early on. When I came off the painkillers it soon settled me back! But it’s coming along nicely so hopefully I’ll be well able for Punchestown.”

He has spoken before of his rich memories of going to Punchestown as his legendary father Paddy brought a slew of stars from Doninga, and of his admiration for the “amphitheatre” of racing.
“It’s a nice time of year preparing for Punchestown. It’s like then end of term, when you’re going to school, you’re looking forward to the last exam and getting away for the summer holidays.
“From the time we were kids growing up, Punchestown was the end-of-season festival but it’s grown so much. The vast quality of the races, the huge prize money, the way that management are able to keep the ground safe for good horses. It’s a credit to the organisation. “Punchestown is a tremendous festival. It’s lucky that it’s a little later in the season. It usually get the weather, gets grass, gets everything. It’s set later in the afternoon when people can get to the races and enjoy themselves. It’s got a huge amount going for it.”

He describes his Cheltenham yield of six winners as “fantastic,” while noting that there was some external expectation that he might double that tally given he was sending his biggest team. But winning the Cheltenham Gold and Queen Mother Champion Chase, as well as a number of key novice events that suggest he has the next crop covered, left him very satisfied.
Champion jockey, Paul Townend was hailed for his ride on Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but it paled in comparison to his heroics on board I Am Maximus in the Irish Grand National.

When Mullins commented on tactics deployed on Facile Vega at the Dublin Racing Festival in February, it was interpreted as criticism of Townend but that wasn’t how the boss saw it and he leaves no doubt about how highly he rates and values his man. “I didn’t call it criticism at the time. I just thought it was a tactic that didn’t go right. Put it the other way around. What I asked him to do on I Am Maximus in the Irish National, I had tied him down to instructions because he’s a particularly awkward horse that doesn’t like going right-handed. I’d asked him to go down the inside so he could keep horses on his outside the whole time but after a circuit, Paul changed his mind. He did the exact opposite and went down the outside and it worked.
“In Cheltenham, Paul was a jockey in the Gold Cup. In Fairyhouse, Paul was a horseman in the Irish Grand National. All he’d gleaned from pony racing, from hunting, from just riding, he put into use on I Am Maximus. I thought it was a fantastic ride. Whatever we thought about Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup, I thought his riding in Fairyhouse was excellent, something top drawer.
“I always think a good jockey is a guy that can pull a race out of the fire and win on horses that he shouldn’t win on. That’s the difference between great jockeys and good jockeys, I think. And he pulled that one out of the fire. That was an absolutely extraordinary ride.”

Aintree didn’t yield the same dividends. He watched events unfold from his sofa, including the disruption caused by protestors, and could only glean from the pictures what the rest of us did but feels the authorities deserve praise for how they handled the situation. The starting procedures are a source of frustration, however.
“In flat racing, if you don’t go into the stalls, you’re withdrawn but I think a lot of jockeys maybe cynically hold up starts when they haven’t a good position.
“Is there a case for a race being advertised at quarter-past five, if you’re not there at quarter-past five with your horse, that’s your problem? The starter shouldn’t have to wait for you unless there’s a real problem. To me, they should be ready to go and facing the right direction. Too many jump races are stopped with a false start waiting for a horse that has no intention of going. Even if he does go in the end, why upset 25 other horses or 30 horses for one horse? We’ve had plenty of horses over the years like that. You get your chance to line up and if the rest of them are in the right order, let them go.”

And what about that photo of Quevega, spotted as he doffed his hat in acknowledgement?
“I always keep a photograph of Quevega in my hat,” he exclaims with a hearty laugh, before explaining. “It’s just a business card I have in case someone picks up the wrong hat. My details are on the other side of it. I was flabbergasted the detail that you could see from that far away. But sure why wouldn’t Quevega be in my hat!”

A GUIDE TO WILLIE MULLINS’ PUNCHESTOWN RUNNERS 2023

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup)
“He’s in great shape. We’re aiming for Punchestown since Cheltenham. I didn’t have any worry about his stamina until about four furlongs out (in Cheltenham) when I said, ‘Right, now,’ when what I was convinced about was gonna happen or not. I just took his novice hurdle form to mean he would stay three-and-a-quarter miles easily as an older horse. I didn’t have any fear about him staying all year. I was surprised myself how much doubt crept in as they rounded the top of the hill.
“But Paul seemed to be going well at all stages. The only little blip was at the third-last where he brushed the top but the minute he did that, Paul just pulled him together, got him in behind the others, gave him just a little bit of time to recover. You could see Paul’s body language telling you, ‘This fella’s got plenty in the tank.’”
“JANIDIL is other one that could go there so hopefully we’ll be nicely represented.”

ENERGUMENE (William Hill Champion Chase)
“I was particularly pleased how he did it in Cheltenham. He’d been working like that at home. We were all a little disappointed when he disappointed at the rescheduled Clarence House Chase but I think we learned so much that day which meant he was a very good winner of the Champion Chase. The white fences might have upset him, we sharpened up tactics. I think he’s a fair sort to do what he did two years running and in the manner he did it in Cheltenham.
“Those ground conditions are very helpful to him as well. He probably won’t get those in Punchestown but if he does get wet weather, he’s going to be very difficult to beat with a clear round.
“We have GENTLEMAN DU MEE in that race and he won’t be hanging around at the start. That’s his nature and Energumene can follow away. Paul has the confidence to do both. I imagine, looking at the field, we could have four runners in the race with BLUE LORD and CHACUN POUR SOI taking their chances.”

STATE MAN (Paddy Power Champion Hurdle)
“I was happy with him at Cheltenham. He will run here. He’s in good form. We’ve SHARJAH, VAUBAN and ECHOES IN RAIN in the race. We will see whether Echoes goes for the Coolmore Irish EBF Mares’ Champion Hurdle or not. She could be a difficult ride over two and a half miles but ratings-wise, she would look the one for that, with Love Envoi the biggest challenge if she were to come but that looks the race to go for. In the same race, BRANDY LOVE would probably prefer to go left-handed but I think she’ll improve a good bit on her Cheltenham run.
“But back to the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle, State Man’s in good shape. There’s no Constitution Hill so hopefully he’ll be the one to beat there. Possibly VAUBAN needs a longer trip and we’ll give him a good shot at the flat later in the season to see what he can do there but the plan will be to go to Punchestown first.”

KLASSICAL DREAM (Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle)
“KLASSICAL DREAM is the one that can go back to Punchestown and win it (for the third year in a row). We didn’t know whether we were going to make it or not to Cheltenham but we thought his work was good enough. We took our chance. I think you’ll see the real Klassical Dream in Punchestown.
“It’s great to see ASTERION FORLONGE and MONKFISH coming back. Those horses had long breaks and have little turnaround from Fairyhouse to Punchestown and that’s a big negative for me. If they ran a good race, I’d be very happy. WHATDEAWANT is probably just not good enough. I’d be sticking with Klassical Dream.”

LOSSIEMOUTH (Ballymore Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle)
“I was particularly worried when LOSSIEMOUTH hit what appeared to be the front (in the Triumph Hurdle). She took off with Paul at the top of the hill. It’s a long way out for a mare to be in front. She took over herself from Paul and I could see Paul wondering, ‘I don’t want to stop her but I don’t want to let her go either,’ and he did fantastically well to manage her at what would have been five furlongs out and keep enough in reserve to finish the race.
“We haven’t missed much with her this season. Christmas, Dublin Racing Festival, Cheltenham. That’s a lot on a filly and she’s not the biggest filly in the world but she has a huge constitution so hopefully, we ask for just one more day. There’s no reason to say that she won’t give it. She’s just so laidback, I don’t think racing or anything fazes her or takes too much out of her. She’s really top class.

“GALA MARCEAU will definitely go. BLOOD DESTINY was a little disappointing in Fairyhouse and maybe should have another go. I think he hasn’t shown his best to us and may need another year with summer grass under his belt. GUST OF WIND should have another go as well. I think ZARAK THE BRAVE is going to be ready to run. He’s a nice type. He showed a lot and then got a colic during the season and we had to put him to one side. But he’s a horse to keep an eye on.”

NOVICE HURDLERS
IMPAIRE ET PASSE, FACILE VEGA, GAELIC WARRIOR and IL ETAIT TEMPS are all ready for action. I very seldom change the way I do things. When you look at Facile Vega and Impaire Et Passe, you’re probably going to separate them between the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle and the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle. DIVERGE comes into the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle after the form of Liverpool big time. Gaelic Warrior might want a longer trip and could be one of the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle. HUNTERS YARN was probably a little disappointing. We’ll see how they work this week and look at it but they’re ready for action.
“I don’t have any negatives about CHAMP KIELY for the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle. Facile Vega might come into the reckoning there (although) I’m not too worried about him over two miles. I always thought his dam Quevega had plenty of speed to win over two miles and I think she did earlier in her career in Punchestown but we always went down the longer road with her because we had Hurricane Fly and Annie Power around that time. This fellow has plenty of speed. We saw that in Cheltenham, he was so fast down between the third-last and the second-last. He’s not short of speed. It’s just using it, just the way the race worked out in Cheltenham. Like all our novices, they’re usually entered in both the two and a half and the two, or else the two and a half and a three and it’ll be one or the other.
“Gaelic Warrior is one that could come in for the two-and-a-half-mile race. Impaire Et Passe, no problem for him doing two and a half around Punchestown. We ran him over two miles in the Moscow Flyer in Punchestown before Cheltenham and the speed he showed in Cheltenham was fantastic but then again, that was against two-and-a-half-mile horses. NICK ROCKETT was very good in Fairyhouse. I might just leave him now. He’s in great shape but there’s a right shine to him after he did in Fairyhouse and whether I need to run him again, I don’t know. We’ll be well represented in it again.
“EMBASSY GARDENS and PARMENION are other possibles for the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle. SEABANK BISTRO is one for it and SHANBALLY KID is one I think hasn’t given his best yet. Embassy Gardens and Gaelic Warrior are probably the two best. Embassy Gardens is a horse that could be improving as we come into the Spring so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that he’ll run a big race there. Gaelic Warrior is a horse that probably needs to go out in trip. He shows plenty at home here. He did win the two-mile handicap in Leopardstown but I think he might be better off once he goes out in trip and maybe gets over a fence as well.”

NOVICE CHASERS
“EL FABIOLO and DYSART DYNAMO have come out of Cheltenham well. SAINT ROI might run in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase too. He seems to have come back fine from Aintree and we might roll the dice and let him take his chance. It’s a big prize and he won’t be doing anything else after that.
“El Fabiolo looks like he could be the real deal and could be the one contending for championship honours next year. We just hope we can keep him right, keep him sound. The type of performance he put in was fantastic. He’s a real nice prospect to have in the yard for next season.
“Dysart Dynamo can be his own worst enemy but a lot of people like that in a horse too, that he’s so exuberant and loves his game. I’m hoping as he gets older or gets a bit wiser, he learns how to settle and temper his enthusiasm. But of course sometimes, half his ability might be in his enthusiasm, especially for two-mile chases and he’s always a horse to be afraid of in one of those races. One day he’ll put it all together and maybe put in a huge performance.
“We’re well represented in the Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase. JAMES DU BERLAIS could go out to three miles and RAMILLIES could. APPRECIATE IT disappointed me a little bit in Fairyhouse. It might be too much coming back again. However, we’ve nothing left to lose and maybe we’ll just let him go there and take his chance. He’s a fair sort, I think, on his day. You’d have thought going up to two and a half miles should be enough for him. Sometimes horses lose their form and he might be one of those. Maybe he wants a trip but he wouldn’t be going there fresh. That race is going to be a tough race. He’s going to be one of the higher-rated horses in the race but a lot will depend on what he does. One bit of work will do him, maybe two. He seems to be fine. He was fine after the race, eating and drinking so that’s usually enough and we’ll let him take his chance.
“SIR GERHARD might go for a shorter trip. ALLEGORIE DE VASSY might go for a shorter trip.”

RACE &STAY AT PUNCHESTOWN INH FLAT RACE
“We’ve got a nice field of horses here. BALLYBURN was very impressive when he won the other day. Very hard on himself but I think he’ll be better off next time. DANCING CITY is a horse that I think is improving me. IT’S FOR ME is good enough to be in the field. RATH GAUL BOY’s performance when he was second to John Kiely’s horse (Champion Bumper winner A Dream To Share), we were a little bit disappointed on the day but his form looks well now. TULLYHILL looks a fantastic horse. When he won, he looked above average. WESTERN DIEGO is a nice type and WESTPORT COVE is another nice type. I’d imagine Ballyburn, Dancing City, It’s For Me, maybe Western Diego would be the top ones there. We’ve plenty to throw at it thankfully because it’s always a good sign that you might have novice hurdlers coming on for the following season.”

PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL FULLY EQUIPPED WITH HSS HIRE SPONSORSHIP

Media Release 20/04/2023: Punchestown Racecourse today welcomed the news that HSS Hire will complete the 2023 Punchestown Festival sponsorship line up as an exciting four-year deal is announced. Over 110,000 people from throughout Ireland, the UK and beyond are expected to attend the jump racing grand finale taking place from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April.

This day next week the HSS Hire Handicap Steeplechase of €100,000 will be the penultimate race on prestigious Punchestown Gold Cup Day, Wednesday 26th April. The two-mile-five-furlong steeplechase boasts a varied roll call of previous winners with trainers Willie Mullins, Mouse Morris and Nicky Henderson landing the spoils in the last three runnings respectively.

Established in Ireland over 30 years, HSS Hire have grown to become the market leader in the tool hire and equipment management sector. The nationwide branch network caters for all size projects from large scale businesses to trade and home improvement customers. With branches in Galway, Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Dublin HSS Hire is a convenient solution across the country.

HSS Hire Ireland Managing Director Michael Killeen looked ahead to an exciting enhancement of the company’s association with the home of Irish jump racing: “HSS Hire is in a period of growth and we have recently made major investment in a range of powered access equipment which is filtering out to our nationwide branches. No doubt some of that gear will be in use at Punchestown where we have been involved for a number of years. Elevating this involvement to sponsorship status made sense for us during this time of growth. Punchestown and HSS Hire have a similar solution-based approach when it comes to delivering excellent customer service so we look forward to developing the partnership with the Punchestown team”.

Conor O’Neill, Punchestown CEO explained the background to today’s announcement: “The Punchestown Festival site of 430 acres is considerable. The event build is massive with a significant demand for equipment and tools. Michael Killeen and the team at HSS Hire have always been available to assist, advise and supply whenever we needed support. Having access to a nationwide network of supplies and expertise is an invaluable resource when under pressure for deadlines and solutions. It is a pleasure to welcome HSS Hire to the Punchestown Festival sponsorship line-up”.

The 2023 Punchestown Festival will take place from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April. A prize fund of over €3.3 million is on offer across a forty-race programme that includes 12 grade one contests. Punchestown is big business and is Ireland’s largest sporting corporate hospitality event with over 17,000 guests expected to enjoy the famous dining packages and spectacular views.

With Ireland’s flagship jump racing festival only days away, Punchestown Racecourse today announced a major three-year sponsorship deal with global professional services firm KPMG.

The newly titled €125,000 Grade 1 KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle takes place on the opening day of the sporting highlight, Tuesday 25th April, and will raise the curtain for no less than twelve grade one contests across the five-day programme.

The 2023 renewal of the two-mile championship race has received a top-quality field of 19 entries featuring Cheltenham festival hero Marine Nationale in pursuit of a third grade one this season. Barry Connell’s pride and joy is unbeaten in five runs, only beginning his career at Punchestown in May of last year.

The first five from Cheltenham have entries in the KPMG sponsored Punchestown equivalent with Facile Vega, Diverge, Il Etait Temps and Hunters Yarn part of a strong Willie Mullins contingent that also includes Ballymore one-two, Impaire Et Passe and Gaelic Warrior.

Gordon Elliott has five entries – American Mike, Amir Kabir, Doctor Bravo, Found A Fifty and Irish Point – while Joseph O’Brien’s High Definition is another interesting possibility. Inthepocket finished fourth in the Supreme Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and is one of three entries for Henry de Bromhead along with Magical Zoe and the talented Arctic Bresil.

KPMG is no stranger to the jump racing scene since teaming up with the all-conquering Rachael Blackmore as brand ambassador in 2021. This deal builds on KPMG’s role as a partner of the 20×20 initiative to help elevate women’s sport and dedication that already includes ongoing sponsorships of Irish golfer Leona Maguire and the Dublin Ladies Gaelic football team.

Speaking at the announcement of KPMG’s support for the Punchestown Festival, Managing Partner Seamus Hand said: “Today’s announcement is a extension of KPMG’s support for Irish sport and homegrown talent. We are proud to have Rachael Blackmore as our brand ambassador and it’s inspirational for many to see her and other Irish athletes compete and win on racing’s biggest stages. We look forward to the return to Punchestown for the grand finale of the season, and we are delighted to be part of this occasion”.

Punchestown Racecourse’s Janet Creighton welcomed KPMG to the impressive sponsorship panel “We are delighted to welcome this announcement of what is now the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle. This race boasts an all-star line-up of previous winners including Hurricane Fly, Faugheen and Jezki who all went on to achieve great things – it truly is a key indicator for excellence. We appreciate that KPMG consider and curate the events and individuals that they choose to support. That translates as commitment to building relationships which is an approach that we share so we really look forward to working alongside the KPMG team over the next three years and beyond”.

The 2023 Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April. A programme of 40 races and a prize fund of over €3.3 million attracts the best of Irish and British racing talent. For full information on one of Ireland’s favourite sporting, social and corporate hospitality events please visit www.punchestown.com

Welcoming exhibitors old and new to Osprey Avenue Shopping

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The return of the much-loved Punchestown Festival is only a matter of days away and as always whilst the top-class racing takes centre stage organisers will provide a full programme of social events throughout the week with retail therapy featuring strongly!

The Osprey Avenue returns this year with some exciting new additions to the exhibitor line-up. Sponsored by the Osprey Hotel in Naas, the Osprey Avenue champions homegrown talent and hosts some leading names in Irish design, jewellery, millinery and art.

We strongly recommend allowing time for a stroll and browse along Osprey Avenue where acclaimed artists and sculptors exhibit their wonderful work. Long time regular Marina Hamilton returns with her wonderful and endearing studies of animals from her native rural Donegal base. John Fitzgerald’s works have caught the eye of many high-profile horse racing patrons and as always Sarah Lennon’s work is uplifting, vibrant and captivating.

With style and fashion delivering the colour and vibrancy of the festival, we are delighted to welcome back talented milliners Sophie Hunter and Isobel Marinot. Enhancing the lifestyle and design factor are newcomers Vanessa Ree Jewellery, Clare O’Connor luxury Irish design, aoife Lifestyle and award winning Tidings scarves.

Well-dressed gents in attendance will enjoy a visit to Devils Edge Shirts for made-to-measure tailoring while the ever popular Rathlin Knitwear, are famed  as much for their warm welcome as for their hand loomed Donegal wool signature pieces. Horse industry favourites Redmills and award winning new comer Equieire cater for all things country and equestrian attire, whilst Agent 74 deliver the goods on sports accessories such as binoculars and more.

PunchestownLive.ie brought to you by Media Force will offer racegoers and interactive media experience by bringing the festival to a huge digital audience. Elsewhere fans of racing can enquire about upgrading their interest with a visit to the Horse Racing Ireland Owners stand where details on clubs, syndicates and how to get involved will be available.

If you’re looking for something unique for your home or as gift we recommend you stop by the Metal and Mallet stand to view their bespoke sustainable hand carved art and furniture.  Olimar return with their selection of gift wear and accessories. Photography professionals and enthusiasts will already know Bermingham Cameras who have been supplying excellent photograpy equipment and customer service from their Dublin base for over 50 years.

So the message is clear. Factor in time and make your way to Osprey Avenue, enjoy a coffee, a chat and a browse through some wonderful Irish exhibitors stands where you could pick out something special to spend your winnings on!

 

                   The 2023 Osprey Avenue Exhibitors:

Aoife Lifestyle  – @aoifelifestyle

Irish award winning luxury sustainable fashion accessories brand

 

Marina Hamilton Art – @marinahamiltonpainterand

Donegal based painter and sculptor.

 

Vanessa Ree Jewellery – @vanessa_concept_jewellery

Contemporary and meaningful fine jewellery designed for you.

 

John Fitzgerald Art  – @johnfitzgeraldart

Meath based leading sporting, equine and portrait artist and sculptor.

 

Marinot Millinery – @marinotmillinery

handmade bespoke hats designed in Connemara

 

Rathlin Knitwear – www.rathlinknitwear.ie

Hand-loomed signature line in Donegal tweed from progressive Gaeltacht company.

 

Tidings – @tidings.ie

Marrying Irish design with Italian silks.

 

Sophie Hunter @sophiehuntermillinery

Hats and headpieces as unique as you.

 

RedMills Store @redmillsonline

Lifestyle store with exclusive brands

 

Agent 74  www.agent74.ie

Optical equipment specialists with a great range of sports themed gifts & accessorie

 

Claire O’Connor @clareoconnor_studio  https://www.clareoconnor.net/

Luxury brand of wearable art with silk and cashmere scarves.

 

Equieire @equieire

Equestrian sportswear using regenerated fabrics and innovative design

 

Olimar Gifts @olimargifts

Gifts and accessories

 

Sarah Lennon Art  @sarahlennonart

Seeing it in colour.

 

Bermingham Cameras @bermingham_cameras

50 years supplying photographic equipment and excellent customer service.

 

Metal & Mallet  @metalandmallet

Irish bespoke sustainable hand carved art and furniture.

 

Devils Edge @DevilsEdgeShirts

Tailoring beautiful made to measure luxury shirts.

 

HRI Owners @hriowners

Here to assist new and existing owners through the exciting journey of racehorse ownership.

 

Louis Fitzgerald Hotel www.louisfitzgeraldhotel.com

Designed for business and leisure guests.

 

www.PunchestownLive.ie

 

The One

Ladies fashion

 

The landmark Naas Hotel marks 110 years at Punchestown with festival Sponsorship of the Lawlor’s Hotel Naas (Pro Am) Flat Race on 29 April

Punchestown racecourse is delighted to welcome Lawlor’s of Naas back to where it all began with today’s sponsorship announcement ahead of the upcoming Punchestown Festival running from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April.

The Lawlor’s Hotel Naas Flat Race is a celebration of 110 years of association between the two landmark Kildare businesses as only a matter of months after opening as a restaurant, Lawlor’s were contracted as official caterer for the 1913 Punchestown races and so a history of hospitality began. The Lawlor’s Hotel Flat Race is the penultimate contest of the festival followed only by the famous PKRF charity sweepstakes and will be a fitting finale for the event given its rich tradition as the place to go after racing.

In the 110 years since Bridget Lawlor first opened the doors on Poplar Square in Naas town centre, Lawlor’s has grown to become a flagship Kildare hotel having undergone a multi-million euro redevelopment. Additions include – Vi’s Restaurant and iconic round bar – (named for the famed Violette Lawlor), a 360 capacity ballroom, the Glending Suite for groups of up to 250, a decorative private garden, increased capacity to 138 bedrooms and a new underground car park for 120 cars. Each of the 74 new rooms is built to a 4-star deluxe standard and all with high-speed Wi-Fi.

Dee Nix, General Manager at Lawlor’s of Naas looks ahead to the 110-year celebration at Punchestown “Lawlor’s has a long history and association with racing and sport in the thoroughbred county so we are delighted to further enhance our support with our sponsorship of the Lawlor’s Hotel Naas (Pro Am) Flat Race at the Punchestown Festival. It is important to acknowledge this wonderful long standing association and the great Lawlor women and family who established it, whilst also building on that heritage for the future growth of Lawlor’s. We look forward to welcoming racing fans to the hotel throughout the Festival and indeed the entire racing season”.

Leona Hughes Punchestown Sponsorship Manager said “Lawlor’s Hotel is a flagship business in the heart of Naas and the connection between the hotel and Punchestown is part of the county’s heritage. Back in 1913 the Lawlor family started a tradition of excellent food and hospitality for racegoers and that tradition continues today with the new team. We would like to take this opportunity to thank long term Punchestown supporter and owner of Lawlor’s of Naas Jack Tierney, CEO, Dee Nix and the Lawlor’s team for their support”.

The 2023 Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April. Please visit www.lawlors.ie for accommodation and dining options. Full event and ticket information www.punchestown.com/fixtures/

*ENDS*

 

Bollinger Best Dressed – Full Stop.

New approach to race day fashion as the Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council and concept for the Punchestown Festival is unveiled.

The countdown is on and all bets are off ahead of the 2023 Bollinger Best Dressed competition at this year’s Punchestown Festival from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April. Following such positive reaction to a fresh outlook on race day style at last year’s event, organisers have further enhanced this aspect as the 2023 Style Council is revealed.

The concept is Bollinger Best Dressed – Full Stop. The challenge is set and the competition is open to ladies and gents who catch the eye of the Style Council members by dressing with confidence, elegance and creativity whilst considering sustainability and appropriateness of their outfit.

Tasked with the challenge of scouring the Punchestown crowds and identifying the best dressed race goer is a collective of ladies and gents who are highly regarded in their respective fields, have a passion for style and have excelled to establish successful careers in the fashion, style and beauty industries.

The Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council Lead Jess Colivet explains what makes this Punchestown’s competition different to other best dressed race day’s: “whilst style is timeless we are looking for something fresh and new. Last year we embraced the fact that Punchestown was probably the first real opportunity to find your style feet again and dress up following Covid. This year all bets are off and we are looking for a fresh approach to race day and occasion outfits. We invite entrants of all ages and genders to show us their true style with special emphasis on individuality, creative styling and a fresh outlook.

 

Colivet continued to explain the sustainable angle: “Being stylish is not about spending a fortune, the most sustainable thing you can do when it comes to fashion is to wear what you already have in your wardrobe. Real style is how to wear it and what you wear it with so get creative and borrow, swap, reimagine and alter your way to the Bollinger Best Dressed title”.

 

Allow us to introduce you to the nine Bollinger Style Council members who will attend on a combination of days to ensure a diverse and varied selection of finalists:

 

Jess Colivet                @jesscolivet

Jess is The Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council Creative Lead and this will be her second year judging The Bollinger Best Dressed at Punchestown. A London College of Style trained image and style consultant, Jess’s passion lies in assisting both women and men in discovering their own personal unique style. Jess is a neighbour of Punchestown racecourse and has enjoyed attending the annual Punchestown Festival for many years.

Jess’s work as a personal stylist involves a consultation service for clients who want to feel more comfortable, confident and happy in their general appearance. Jess believes that “feeling confident and happy impacts all aspects of life from personal through to business. This can come from something as simple as how you dress and present yourself to the world”.  Jess believes that fashion is less about clothes and more about personal style.

 

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. 2023 will be Lawson’s first year on The Style Council and his very first visit to the Punchestown Festival.

 

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 twenty talented women across her brands.

When not running her successful business this busy Mum is running half marathons with Clane Athletics Club.

 

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.

 

Katie Du Jour                        @katiedujour

2019 Bollinger Best Dressed Winner and 2022 Style Council member Kate Nally McCormack is a mother of four from the Midlands who works with the HSE. Although a Punchestown Festival regular for many years, Kate made her best dressed debut in 2019 a winning one and having literally walked the walk knows what it takes to land the coveted title. The winning prize of a money cannot buy trip to France including an exclusive tour of Champagne Bollinger Estate, Michelin star dining and chauffeur transfers ranks as an experience of a lifetime for Kate. She believes that everyone should give it their best shot to be in with a chance to enjoy the same wonderful experience.

Kate possesses the knack of achieving a polished stylish look by combining high street with designer or vintage items.

 

Sinead Keary             @sinead_keary_personal_shopping

Sinead Keary is a fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded her self-titled fashion label in 2019. The first collection came to life after 12 years of working in luxury retail and with hundreds of personal shopping clients who repeatedly expressed the age old adage that they had a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear.

Sinead set about designing a collection of luxury essentials to help in forming the foundations of a capsule collection. Minimalism, femininity, fine fabrics and perfect fit are all essential components to the label collection that has been worn by Vogue Williams, Fearne Cotton and Rachel Stevens.

 

Sarah Battle @housebythewhitethorns

 Sarah Battle is a modern day wonder woman. She lives in the West of Ireland with her husband and five kids. In 2019 Sarah began her blog to showcase her passion for home décor, style, baking and now uses her platform as an insight to daily family life along with style and décor advice. Sarah has collaborated with many high profile fashion and lifestyle brands and has amassed over 123,000 followers on Instagram.

 

Roxanne Parker                    @roxanne_parker

Roxanne Parker began her journalism career 20 years ago and has been working as a fashion stylist for more than 15 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 holds a regular TV segment on Ireland AM 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.

 

Michelle O’Sullivan, Champagne Bollinger International Representative

Perhaps the most qualified of all the style council members Michelle O’Sullivan, representing Bollinger International has observed the evolution of style and occasion dressing at Punchestown since Bollinger’s sponsorship began in 2016. Bollinger say life can be perfect and with years of experience in the industry Michelle knows exactly what encapsulates the iconic Bollinger brand, ethos and customer.

 

Punchestown’s Shona Dreaper explained the thinking behind the Style Council concept “ The style element of the festival is so important and the best dressed competition gets plenty of discussion and airtime throughout the week I can assure you! At Punchestown we embrace progress and fresh thinking. Our concept is to move away from the traditional format, encourage entrants of all genders, age and style to get involved. The Punchestown Festival is a celebration and like all great parties a well-dressed guest list is essential”.

 

The Bollinger Garden in The Style Quarter will be the epicentre of all things fashion at The Punchestown Festival. From Tuesday 25th to Friday 28th April, 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 goodie bags complete with gorgeous AYU products. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s winners will be fast-tracked to the grand final on Ladies Day, Friday 28th. Stay tuned for more information on prize and format as the countdown to Punchestown 2023 continues.

The Punchestown Festival runs from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April. Race & Dine Hospitality packages from €159pp. Tickets from just €35 with group concessions available. Bundled transfers, accommodation and event packages are available.

 

ENDS.

 

Punchestown 2023:

The Punchestown Festival runs from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th April. Race & Dine Hospitality packages from €159pp. Tickets from just €35 with group concessions available. Bundled transfers, accommodation and event packages are available. Punchestown offers a unique blend of fashion, entertainment, shopping, food, music and all the fun of a festival. The famous atmosphere comes alive when racing champions go head-to-head and Ireland’s most stylish take each other on in the fashion stakes. The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition will take place over the first four days with the final of the competition on Friday, 28th April. For all your festival information visit www.punchestown.com, call 045 897704 or follow us on social media.

 

About Bollinger:

BOLLINGER, the iconic Champagne House respected and beloved the world over, is proud to be associated with an event that shares the same values and aspirations as Bollinger: great food, glamorous fashion, good company and thrilling sport. Bollinger Special Cuvée is a joy to be savoured on any special occasion, with the distinctly rich and elegant “Bollinger Style” lauded and admired the world over. http://www.champagne-bollinger.com/

 

 

AQUATABS INLINE PARTNER WITH PUNCHESTOWN IN RACECOURSE FIRST

World’s leading water purification system becomes official water partner at the home of Irish jumps racing

 

MEDIA RELEASE TUESDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 2023 – Aquatabs InLine, the world’s leading water purification system, is delighted to become the official water partner at Punchestown Racecourse following the installation of its closed-water system throughout the main and visiting stable yards in January this year.

To launch this unique partnership Aquatabs InLine will sponsor the famous P.P. Hogan Cross Country chase at the Grand National Trial Day on Sunday 19 February.

Punchestown Racecourse is the first track in Ireland to install Aquatabs’ InLine water system in the stable yards. The simple-to-install, low-cost, water purification system cleans a minimum of 360,000 litres of water and is the ideal solution for large race yards and race tracks.

Brought to the market by Kildare-based, equine solutions company, ARKequine, Aquatabs® is synonymous with supplying clean water around the world. Owned by Irish company Medentech, Aquatabs® kills microorganisms like viruses and bacteria commonly found in water and ensures Legionella is eliminated and biofilm remains under control.

ARKequine’s Kirsty McCann, Nutritional Manager, says “Water is very much the forgotten nutrient and we at ARKequine are working hard to change that. Our aim is to raise awareness of the importance of clean and plentiful water in racing and the home of Irish jumps racing is a great place to start that conversation ”.

Rosie Keary, Managing Director of Aquatabs InLine says “Aquatabs, a leading authority on human drinking water for nearly forty years are delighted to partner with ARKequine to bring the science and expertise behind our human drinking water brand to the equine sector. Sponsoring the famous P.P. Hogan Memorial chase in celebration of a unique partnership while highlighting the importance of clean, pure water makes for an auspicious beginning!

Leona Hughes, Sales & Sponsorship Manager at Punchestown says, “We are constantly looking for innovative ways to enhance and improve the race day experience at Punchestown for everyone from racegoers and industry staff to, in this case the stars of the show,  the horses. A huge volume of water is used in the stable yard each race day so it is essential that we provide the best quality that we can and that is where the ARKequine’s Aquatabs InLine system comes into play”.

The ARKequine Aquatabs InLine PP Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase will be the opening contest on this high quality seven race card on  Sunday 19th February. Runners and riders will make their way to the start of the famous three mile cross country course for a 1.10pm start time.

 

**ENDS**

Editor Notes:

 

In hosting the final Grade 1 race staged in Ireland this side of Christmas, Punchestown will be welcoming one of the most exciting prospects in the National Hunt ranks as Galopin Des Champs kick starts his season.

Off the track temperatures are set to reach proper National Hunt racing range but on Punchestown Racecourse’s famous green rolling hills the heat will be turned up a notch by Galopin Des Champs as he prepares to show off his Gold Cup credentials. The dual Grade 1 winning novice chaser, who was also successful in Grade 1 company over hurdles at the 2021 Punchestown Festival, Galopin Des Champs has seven potential rivals as he bids to give Willie Mullins a fifth straight win in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase. Haut En Couleurs and the Cheltenham Festival winning Stattler are on the same mission to extend Willie Mullins’ winning streak to five in the John Durkan Chase, but the 2m4f Grade 1 has been a happy hunting ground for a variety of trainers over the years.

Patrick Mullins is focussed solely on his father’s crew and the champion amateur rider who assists his father in Closutton had an upbeat bulletin today. “This has been a lucky race for us in the past,” Mullins reflected. “This looks an ideal starting point for Galopin Des Champs and we’ve been very happy with him at home. Hopefully he can continue where he left off last year.”
Mullins added: “The race is probably a little bit on the short side for Stattler but options are limited and it will be a nice place to get his season up and running and work forward from there. “Haut En Couleurs is obviously a good bit wrong at the ratings but we will take a closer look at the race in the coming days and we’ll see if he runs or not.”

Household names decorate the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase roll of honour. Native Upmanship, Florida Pearl, Beef Or Salmon, Kicking King and The Listener were all heroes of yesteryear, while more recently Min made the race his own with a hat-trick from 2018 to 2020 after Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Don Cossack and Sizing John had lit up Kildare in December.
Gordon Elliott won the race previously with the aforementioned Don Cossack and his challenge relies on the Gigginstown-owned pair of Conflated and Fury Road this time around.

Joseph O’Brien’s four-time Grade 1 winning Fakir D’oudairies will be aiming to add his name to an illustrious roll of honour, while the Mouse Morris-trained French Dynamite will return to Grade 1 company after a fine effort in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month.
Grade 1 performers aren’t confined to the Grade 1 titled race at Punchestown on Sunday as Appreciate It, Flame Bearer and Highland Charge all feature in the William Hill Beginners Chase. The William Hill Mares Novice Hurdle sees Deeply Superficial and La Malmason among the notable inclusions. Durkan Chase day action gets underway from 12.30pm with advance ticket discounts available on www.punchestown.com