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Want to Win €2,000 for your sports club?  

Presenting Fit Club @ Punchestown on Sunday 11th June 2023

 

Punchestown Racecourse, in association with Primal Performance & Fitness, today announced a community event to help local sports clubs to fundraise, win a €2,000 cash prize bonus and enjoy an afternoon of family fun at the races.

How Does it work?

The competition is open to all sports clubs from GAA, athletics, tennis, cross fit, rugby – basically any fitness based club.

Twelve lucky clubs will be selected. Each club will nominate a team of four members with two females and two males. One member must be under 18 years of age.

There will be three team challenges based on strength, agility, fitness and most importantly teamwork!

 

Show Me The Money?

The winning team will receive a €2000 cash prize.

Each team will have the opportunity to fund raise by purchasing heavily discounted tickets which they then sell to supporters and club members to come along and enjoy the day. Minimum of 30 tickets per club.

 

When and Where?

Taking place before racing on day two of the Summer In Town meeting Sunday  11th June from 12.30. There will be two events pre-racing and a final decider after the first race followed by presentations and a relaxing afternoon of family fun.

The Punchestown Summer In Town mini-festival takes place on Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 June 2023.  Summer in Town Saturday is a great social occasion with great racing, live music, tasty food and live match coverage.

 

How to Enter:

Energumene will have five rivals in the William Hill Champion Chase as he bids for a second consecutive Cheltenham-Punchestown double following declarations for Tuesday’s opening leg of the five-day Punchestown Festival, which boasts prize money of €3.3m throughout the week. Tony Bloom’s brilliant two-mile chaser would be winning at the festival for the third year in a row were he to prevail but his trainer, Willie Mullins has certainly not spared him in terms of opposition.

The soon-to-be 17-time champion trainer also saddles open Grade 1 winners Blue Lord, Gentleman De Mee and Chacun Pour Soi, the latter announcing himself as a force at the festival in 2019 when galloping to victory in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase, which was won two years later by Blue Lord. That season, Chacun Pour Soi added the William Hill Champion Chase to his record and he finished runner-up last term to Energumene. Gentleman De Mee missed out on Cheltenham and will be the freshest of the quartet as a result and while Mullins admitted in his Punchestown preview this week that it would be hard to see Energumene beaten on his favourite soft ground, Gentleman De Mee’s seven-length defeat of Blue Lord in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown in February illustrated his ability on a sounder surface. He is the likely pace angle in the race.

Henry de Bromhead’d Magic Daze is also likely to be prominent and travelling exertions excepted, should be relatively fresh too having been left at the start in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham. She had been an impressive winner of a listed mares’ chase at Naas before that. The declaration of Rebel Gold is an interesting one and trainer Pat Foley admits that he is chasing some prize money with a progressive horses who he expects to see the best of next season. Foley has enjoyed a tremendous campaign, scoring at a strike rate of 19 per cent and Rebel Gold has been his flagbearer, winning the Dan & Joan Moore at Fairyhouse before securing the Grade 3 Newlands Chase at Naas with Denis O’Regan in the plate on each occasion.
The Aughabeg trainer learned his craft by the side of his late father, Tom and enjoyed some wonderful occasions at Punchestown, a track where the People’s Champion, Danoli scored three times. He cuts a realistic approach to his current star’s prospects.

“The original plan was to go to Fairyhouse for the Grade 2 but we just got a bit of a setback,” said Foley today. “After he won in Naas, Denis said it’d be no harm to give him an entry in some of the good races as they can cut up a little bit. So maybe it’s all for luck. “He had a slight muscle strain so we didn’t want to take the chance on it in Fairyhouse but we’re quite happy with the horse now and we’ll let him take his chance. The most realistic goal is probably to finish fourth but even if he finishes sixth of the six, you’re picking up prize money and on ratings, we are the lowest rated horse in it. If he’d had a proper clear run, I’d be going there hoping to beat one or two of them but we’re not going to be in any way disappointed wherever he finishes.
“We’re really looking forward to next season with him. He definitely improved this season. He’s a big, backward horse. It was my own mistake last year, trying to step him up in trip and make him a stayer, where he’s really an out-and-out two-miler. We’ll be keeping him at that trip and in graded races.

“I remember Danoli going to Punchestown and it’s been a lucky track even for myself since I started. The horses have been doing well there. It’s lovely to be going there, even if it may be a step too far for him this time, but it won’t do any harm to let people see you have a horse good enough to compete in some of these races. If he puts in a decent run we’ll all be very, very happy.”
The KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle is the first of the festival’s 12 Grade 1s and five horses have been declared, with Supreme Novices’ Hurdle second and third, Facile Vega and Diverge, as well as Dublin Racing Festival Grade 1 winner Il Etait Temps representing Willie Mullins, while local trainer Oliver McKiernan saddles No Looking Back. Gordon Elliott’s Found A Fifty completes the field, with the fit-again Jordan Gainford getting the leg up. “Things just didn’t work out for Found A Fifty at Aintree,” said Elliott earlier this week. “He’s a very talented animal and we didn’t see the best of him there and he’s one to be very excited about for the coming seasons.”

There are six contestants for the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase, which sees Willie Mullins stepping Appreciate It up to three miles for the first time since winning a point-to-point when in Pat Doyle’s care five years ago. Derek O’Connor rode Appreciate It that day and he was also in the saddle when the then Ellmarie Holden-trained Sir Gerhard scored through the flags but Mullins decided to give him a try at three miles for the first time under Rules as well, to see if he can rediscover his hurdle form over the larger obstacles. James Du Berlais and Classic Getaway complete the Mullins squad. Emmet Mullins has an intriguing runner in Feronily, who has been campaigned aggressively all season, despite only winning his point-to-point – again under Derek O’Connor – last November. Since then, the Paul Byrne-owned six-year-old has been third in a Grade 2 bumper, made his hurdling debut when fourth in a Grade 2 hurdle and then finished runner-up on his chasing debut at Grade 3 level a fortnight ago. Journey With Me also has a chance for the in-form Henry de Bromhead yard, coming into the race off a good Grade 3 victory in Naas having previously been just touched off by subsequent Cheltenham victor Impervious at Punchestown.

O’Brien aiming for slice of the action with bargain buy in €75,000 Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final

After claiming significant prize money through the qualifiers, Terence O’Brien is aiming to add a “cherry on top” by targeting a tilt at the €75,000 Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final, which takes place on Wednesday, April 26th, the second day of the prestigious Punchestown Festival.

The Carrigtwohill trainer has been a regular participant since the series’ inauguration and his Ik’s Man is among 19 potential contenders for the final on Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup day. A €9,000 purchase at Tattersalls Ireland’s June Derby Sale in 2019, the Walk In The Park seven-year-old has been a good money-spinner for connections by being second in a couple of the qualifiers and making that initial outlay of €9,000 back from his three outings in qualifiers to date.

“The series is a great opportunity for horses that were bought at the sales under the €30,000 or €45,000 mark,” declares O’Brien. “It gives us a chance to be competitive in maiden hurdles all year. The final is another cherry on top if you can qualify for it, to give owners an opportunity to land at the festival on a big day. “We’ve won a few of the races before and were placed a good few times. The prize money is very good and it’s a brilliant series for the small trainer to be honest with you. “Ik’s Man has had three runs in the series and been placed in a couple. We’ll head to Punchestown. We’ve a good few owners involved in him and I’m sure they’ll all be delighted for a day out. If he just improves another little bit, he’ll hopefully be in the shake-up again.”
Now in its fifth year, the series was designed to create opportunities for horses bought for €45,000/€30,000 or less at store sales in Ireland and the UK, thereby giving owners and trainers an opportunity to claim some of the €395,000 in prize money on offer throughout the series.

To enter the €75,000 final at the Punchestown Festival, EBF eligible horses must have run in one of the 16 qualifiers and have not won a graded or listed race.
Paul Nolan’s Sandor Clegane is the highest-rated acceptor, having achieved a mark of 141 following a number of consistent runs, following up his Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle victory at Punchestown in November with two placed efforts at Grade 1 level, most recently when just a length and a quarter shy of Albert Bartlett victor Stay Away Fay at Cheltenham.
Peter Fahey, who certainly has the Midas touch having won the last two renewals with Surprise Package and Ambitious Fellow, is represented by Rocco Bay, triumphant in the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle at Limerick last May. He was last seen in behind Hands Of Gold in a Naas qualifier and the promising Arthur Moore-trained five-year-old is another possible runner.

Dual winner Senior Chief is an interesting entry for Henry de Bromhead, while the Noel Meade-trained Nucky Johnson is a course victor who would be competitive if lining up. It is a field that speaks to the enduring quality of a series that has consistently produced top-grade alumni.
Three Card Brag certainly fits into that category. The son of Jet Away actually had Sandor Clegane and Nucky Johnson in second and third when scoring in a red-hot Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle at Galway last October.

He has been highly tried by Gordon Elliott since then, finishing placed in two graded events before getting back on the mark in Fairyhouse. His most recent run was in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle, where he finished fifth, four and a half lengths behind Sandor Clegane. Elliott understands the value the series, with recent Irish Grand National runner-up Gevrey among its graduates.
“The Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series is a definite option for Three Card Brag,” said Elliott. “The only thing is maybe on better ground he might prefer to go a bit further than two and a half miles but it’s a great pot and a great initiative and I love to support it wherever I can. “It would be nice to win the final at some point. I haven’t done so yet but we’ve had some nice horses come through the series like Gevrey, who was third in the final a few years ago and he was second in the Irish National a couple of weeks ago so it’s a great series.”

Nessa Joyce, Irish EBF Manager, said: “The Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Series has gone from strength to strength in a short period of time, thanks to the support of the many trainers and owners who make it a key target each year. This season 70 different trainers campaigned 119 EBF eligible store-bought horses in 16 qualifying races, with an average auction price of just over €14,000, so there is great anticipation to see who will win the €75,000 final next week. The Irish EBF board would like to thank all the connections for supporting the series and special thanks goes to our sponsorship partners Connolly’s RED MILLS for their continuing generous support.”

Gareth Connolly, CEO Connolly’s RED MILLS, added: “We are proud to sponsor the RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Series for the fifth season and are looking forward to the €75,000 Final at Punchestown next week. This series has provided a platform for horses in the that middle segment of the market to compete for good prize money, with each of the qualifying races worth €20,000, thus supporting the owners and trainer who take part in the series. “The series has contributed greatly to the stimulation of the middle market, and the stats show how it has promoted healthy competition, fostering growth within the industry. As a company dedicated to the wellbeing and nutrition of horses, we recognise the importance of investing in events like this and to promote the industry that supports our business all year round. We want to thank the team at the Irish EBF and Punchestown for being such great partners and thank also all the trainers and owners who have run horses in the series since it was launched in 2019.”

For Further Information:

Jane Davis, Head of Equine Marketing, Connolly’s RED MILLS
Goresbridge, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
M: +353 86 3490681, E: jane.davis@redmills.ie  Twitter: @REDMILLShorse

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

 

The Ultimate Destination for All Your Outdoor Needs in Ireland

A beautiful outdoor space can transform your home, providing a sanctuary for relaxation, entertainment, and quality family time. In Ireland, where nature’s beauty is abundant, there’s no better way to enjoy the outdoors than with a stylish and functional outdoor area. OutdoorLiving.ie, one of the largest outdoor retailers in the country, is your go-to destination for all your outdoor needs. Let’s delve into the story behind OutdoorLiving.ie and explore why it’s the best option for your outdoor projects in Ireland.

A Family Business with a Rich History OutdoorLiving.ie is a family-owned business that has been serving the Irish market since 2006.

Founded by Pat Kelly, who has over 40 years of retail industry experience, the company has grown into a thriving enterprise under the leadership of Pat and his son, Damien. The father-son duo’s shared passion for creating beautiful outdoor spaces and supporting each other in their ventures has been the driving force behind the company’s success. With a team of over 40 dedicated employees, OutdoorLiving.ie prides itself on its positive work environment and commitment to fostering growth within the company.

An Extensive Range of High-Quality Products OutdoorLiving.ie offers an impressive array of high-quality products for both domestic and commercial markets.

From outdoor furniture, artificial grass, greenhouses, composite decking, and more, you can find everything you need to transform your outdoor space into a stylish and functional retreat. The company sources its products from leading manufacturers, ensuring the highest quality and durability for your investment.

Expertise and Knowledge

With years of experience in the outdoor living industry, the team at OutdoorLiving.ie has outstanding knowledge and expertise in quality products. The company’s strong relationships with factories and manufacturers enable them to offer the best range of high-quality outdoor products to their customers. You can trust OutdoorLiving.ie to provide expert advice and guidance on your outdoor projects.

Largest Outdoor Furniture Showrooms in Ireland

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.

Meanwhile, the Dunboyne premises focuses on artificial grass, artificial trees and plants, beanbags, and a commercial showroom catering to hotels, pubs, restaurants, schools, charities, and government organisations.

Over 17 Years of OutdoorLiving Experience

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.

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.

Welcoming exhibitors old and new to Osprey Avenue Shopping

Brought to you by

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

 

Connolly’s RED MILLS, the premium animal feed company, has announced that they will continue to sponsor the Grooms’ Canteen at the Punchestown Festival. In addition to the canteen sponsorship, stable staff will be entertained by the popular ‘Spin To Win’ promotion and giveaways and the Carr & Day & Martin Gallop Shampoo Bar will be available in the wash bays each day of the festival.

The sponsorship is an important initiative by Connolly’s RED MILLS to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of stable staff. In addition, RED MILLS in partnership with the Irish EBF will stage the fifth renewal of the €75,000 RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Series Hurdle Final on Gold Cup Day. The final is open to all horses that ran in one of the 15 qualifying races, each worth €20,000.

“We are delighted to continue our support for the Grooms’ Canteen at the Punchestown Festival,” said Gareth Connolly, CEO of Connolly’s RED MILLS. “This sponsorship is our way of recognising the hard work and dedication of the stable staff, who are the unsung heroes of the racing industry. We are also excited to be sponsoring the RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Series Hurdle Final for the fifth time. This series continues to provide opportunities for horses bought for €45,000/ €30,000 at the store sales and we are looking forward to another competitive Final on Gold Cup Day at Punchestown.”

Welcoming the continued support Punchestown Sponsorship Manager Leona Hughes said: “The Punchestown Festival is the grand finale of the season, and every element of the event is elevated to reflect the prestige of the occasion. RED MILLS go above and beyond in enhancing the stable staff experience with complementary meals and refreshments as well as a full programme of engagement in the yard itself. We are very fortunate to collaborate with industry leaders like RED MILLS to deliver an enhanced experience for stable staff who are truly the backbone of the industry.”

The Punchestown Festival will take place from April 25th to 29th, 2023. Connolly’s RED MILLS will have a presence throughout the festival, fuelling stable staff via the Grooms’ Canteen including the Spin To Win promotion and the Carr & Day & Martin Gallop Shampoo Bar that will be available in the stable yard. Also, RED MILLS Store will have a pop-up shop in the shopping village.
For more information about the festival and the RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Series Hurdle Final, visit www.punchestown.com or www.redmillshorse.com

WATCH Behind The Scenes Video 

Osprey Hotel is the place to be before and after the races once again for 2023 and is bigger and better than ever, this year the 4-star hotel in Naas has lined up another fantastic week of entertainment to coincide with the Punchestown Festival 2023.

As a sponsor of Punchestown with the growing Osprey Avenue shopping village at the festival, this year the hotel is pulling out all the stops to make 2023 the best one yet.

A complimentary shuttle bus will be running regularly each day from the hotel to the festival before and after the races.

A new addition this year is the star studded Punchestown Preview from 12 – 2pm on Tuesday 25th April in partnership with the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund in the refurbished Osprey Ballroom, a great way to start the week hearing from RTE broadcasters, racing pundits and jockeys. Enjoy some delicious carvery options, while enjoying a pint and soaking up the atmosphere for the start of the festival, before you head for the track for an amazing day of racing.

After hopefully a successful day at the races, there is plenty of reason to return to the Osprey Hotel afterwards and soak up the atmosphere and witness the great entertainment on offer.

Live entertainment will be on each evening in the Osprey Bar, grab a drink and absorb everything the hotel has to offer. New for 2023 is the addition of our SilverStream food truck in our courtyard with a post race BBQ on Thursday 27th April.

On Friday night the Osprey Hotel hosts the Ultimate Festival Finale to a packed house, our DJ’s will entertain in the lobby, restaurant and bar while the ticketed ‘ULTIMATE FESTIVAL FINALE’ event takes place in the ballroom featuring for 2023, none other than ‘SPRINGBREAK’ and includes full access to our courtyard stretch tent, food truck and outdoor bars.

Michael Boyle, General Manager is eagerly awaiting the arrival of this years festival:

“We are delighted to continue our sponsorship with Punchestown Festival for 2023. Even more so this year as it’s such an exciting time at the hotel at the moment with so many positive things happening within the team and hotel property. We were delighted to complete the refurbishment of our public areas with the full refurb of our bedrooms due to commence in the coming months. We recently celebrated being awarded ‘Great Place to Work’ accreditation along with receiving Silver status through our sustainability endeavors with Green Tourism. The team enjoy the week so much, welcoming back our regular racing guests and the general buzz and atmosphere makes it the most anticipated week of the year at Osprey and we can’t wait”.

For full details visit www.ospreyhotel.ie or follow on their social media platforms.

CONCEPT COLOURS ADD THE FINISHING TOUCH AT PUNCHESTOWN

Press Release  14/02/2023 – Punchestown Racecourse today announced that new sponsor Concept Colours will join the action packed line up on Sunday 19th February at the home of Irish jump racing. The Concept Colours Rated Novice Chase will take place over two miles and offers a prize fund of €21,500.Concept Colours are the industry leader when it comes to painting and decorating contracts across multiple sectors including residential, commercial, education and special interest. With an impressive client base that lists Glenveagh, Cairn, Kingscroft, The Elliott Group, Bennett Construction, Sisk and Bam, the Wexford based firm have established themselves as the go to painting contractor in Ireland.

For Concept Colours founder and Managing Director Ger Byrne, the Punchestown sponsorship makes sense on a number of levels. “It’s a case of the best of both worlds as my family have an interest in a few horses and we’ve always enjoyed spending an afternoon racing at Punchestown.  On a recent visit it became clear that our current and potential clients also share this interest so commercial involvement there would be a good move. Whilst Punchestown offers a great platform for awareness it also provides a good opportunity to network in a unique and relaxed way”
Byrne continued to explain how his company has grown in the twenty years since it’s foundation    “Our focus is on the people. The people involved in each project, that is from initial client consultation to briefing our highly skilled management team and fully trained personnel. Our aim is to deliver an exceptional standard of finish and to do it on time. This takes planning and professionalism which, after twenty years in the business, we feel we can deliver on every project regardless of size”.
Leona Hughes Sponsorship Manager Punchestown racecourse welcomed Concept Colours and highlighted the similarities between the two businesses “We constantly repeat that ‘People make Punchestown’ and this includes clients, sponsors, contractors and race goers. It is a pleasure to work with clients like Ger Byrne and the Concept Colours team. They know the drill. They recognise the value of the people involved at Punchestown and whilst it’s a great place to relax and enjoy yourself it is also a wonderful opportunity to do business. We welcome Concept Colours and look forward to working with Ger and his team to develop the partnership”.
The €21,500 Concept Colours Novice Rated Steeplechase will  go to post at 1.40 and at entry stage there is a select quality field of six runners:
  1. Francin (FR) (JABerry)
  2. Gallyhill (GElliott)
  3. Hollow Games (GElliott)
  4. Indiana Jones (FR) (MFMorris)
  5. Politicise (NTSlevin)
  6. Wild Hunt (GB) (DGHogan)

 

Racing gets underway at 1.10pm on Sunday 19th September and in addition to the Concept Colours race features the QuinnBet Grand National Trial and ARKequine AquaTabs InLine P.P. Hogan Cross Country. Advance admission discount and complimentary racecards available at www.punchestown.com

**ENDS**