The €100,000 Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Launches at Punchestown Premiere Weekend
This will be the third running of the series with both Scotland and England on the scoreboard.
“Punchestown is the only place I want to be again!” – 2025 Winning Trainer Mike Smith
The Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series returns for the 2025/26 jump racing season, marking the third consecutive year of the popular cross channel, multi-region series. Supported by Albert Bartlett, the UK’s leading producer of potato products, the series continues to bring together horses, trainers and owners across England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Twelve qualifiers will get underway on the opening day of Punchestown Premiere Weekend, 22 November before embarking on a tour of the five regions ultimately leading to the €100,000 Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final on Tuesday 28th April 2026, the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.
Albert Bartlett Chairman Ronnie Bartlett outlined the key driver behind their support of the series “The key objective of the series is to encourage travel, cohesion and alignment throughout jump racing in the UK and Ireland with the exciting prospect of horses trained and owned throughout the regions aiming to compete at the Punchestown Festival. The series allows owners and trainers to visit new tracks, cross the Irish sea, meet with new peers, all built around enjoying flagship race days and competing for meaningful prize money. Ultimately we hope this will create more fulfilling, memorable and entertaining days for race fans to enjoy and that’s what it is all about.”
The 2025 renewal proved a landmark moment, with an unprecedented ten UK-trained runners travelling to Punchestown for the final – a record level of participation that highlights the growing appeal of the series.
Now entering its third year, Ireland are still seeking their first victory with England and Scotland sharing one win apiece following successes for Herefordshire trainer Tom Lacey (2024) and Ayrshire trainer Mike Smith (2025).
Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Details
Each qualifier will be a hurdle race run over a distance between two miles two furlongs and two miles six furlongs, exclusively for horses rated 0–120.
- The series culminates with a 130 = 11st 12lb final, allowing improving horses to remain eligible as their handicap marks rise through the season.
- The first five home in each qualifier will be eligible to enter the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final.
- Qualifier placings will take precedence over handicap ratings in the ballot process, ensuring the most competitive horses earn their chance to compete in the Final.
- The Final will be run over two miles four furlongs at the 2026 Punchestown Festival.
- The series will once again be hosted in association with leading tracks across England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
- The 2025/26 series launches on Punchestown Premiere Weekend, Saturday 22nd November 2025, and culminates on Tuesday 28th April 2026, the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.
2025/26 Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Qualifiers
22/11/2026 Punchestown Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)
11/ 01/2026 Punchestown Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)
22/01/2026 Huntingdon – 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (0-115)
25/01/2026 Naas– 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)
NEW DATE 27/01/2026 Chepstow – 2m3.5f Handicap Hurdle (0-125)
13/02/2026 Kelso– 2m6f Handicap Hurdle (0-120)
14/02/2026 Gowran Park– 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)
25/02/2026 Wincanton– 2m5f Handicap Hurdle (0-115)
06/03/2026 Ayr– 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (0-115)
17/03/2026 Down Royal– 2m4f Novice Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)
19/03/2026 Cork– 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)
27/03/2026 Wetherby– 2m5f Handicap Hurdle (0-120)
For further information contact Sean Crowe, Punchestown Racing Department – info@punchestown.com