The 2025 Punchestown Festival Five Day Celebration Gets Underway Tuesday 29 April

MEDIA RELEASE – 28th April 2025 – The grand finale of an unforgettable jump racing season takes centre stage as the 2025 Punchestown Festival kicks off Tuesday 29th April and runs until Saturday 3rd May at the iconic Punchestown Racecourse, Co. Kildare.

Organisers are anticipating over 100,000 visitors across five spectacular days, with festival fans traveling from across Ireland, the UK, Italy, United States and even Australia to be part of this world-class celebration of sport and culture at the home of Irish jump racing.

Racing Ahead with Thrilling Clashes and Visiting Raiders

Across 40 races, featuring 12 Grade 1 contests and €3.5 million in prize money, the Punchestown Festival once again delivers the very best in jump racing. All indications are that major showdowns are guaranteed with old rivals, young pretenders and redemption missions on the cards. The opening day features a massive clash between Cheltenham heroes Marine Nationale and J.P. McManus’s Fact To File. The Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup will see superstar Galopin Des Champs take on a challenge from the impressive Spillane’s Tower whilst Friday’s Boodles Champion Hurdle is being billed as the race of the season with Constitution Hill confirmed to meet State Man and Golden Ace amongst others.

Headlining the action is an incredible line-up of training and riding talent including the unstoppable Irish and recently crowned British champion trainer Willie Mullins along with his son, Grand National winning rider Patrick Mullins, champion jockey elect Paul Townend, top trainers Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead, Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer Gavin Cromwell and the ever popular Rachael Blackmore among those in action.

What is particularly evident at entry stage is the significant increase in UK trained runners at the festival with numbers returning to the heights last seen in 2008. Festival friends and regulars Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, Jonjo O’Neill, Harry Derham and Anthony Honeyball are joined by new names and faces to sustain the visitor involvement for the future. The UK contribution is integral to the festival as it not only generates vastly increased interest and TV viewer numbers from across the Irish sea but also each horse running brings with them owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and associated entourages that require accommodation, hospitality and entertainment in the locality. Over 20% of the festival attendance hail from outside of Ireland so the event is a major contributor to the Kildare tourism numbers and campaign.

The track team have prepared, mowed, aerated, fed and watered over 170 acres of racing ground or the equivalent of around 42 Croke Park pitches. The main team of five men have crafted 330 metres of hand filled steeplechase fence, 180 sections of handmade hurdles and erected just under 10 kilometres of white racing rail all to provide what is essentially a fresh race track each of the five days

New For Punchestown 25

In 2025, the Punchestown team rolls out four key innovations based on customer feedback and trial runs:
• Earlier start times of 2.30pm have been rolled out across the week with the exception of Friday that remains at 3.40pm.
• The revamped Festival layout and entertainment programme, removing reserved enclosure barriers and improving flow, was very well received in 2024 so this along with further enhancements and improvements are in place for 2025.
• Ticket Price Freeze: Prices were reduced last year with discounts for those that book in advance of festival week. Generous concessions remain for senior, student and family (Saturday) and free entry for children under 14 throughout the week.
• Friday Remote Drop & Collect Bus Service to address the changes in transport habits, Naas racecourse and Killashee Hotel are the two off-site drop and collect points on Festival Friday. From 12 noon. Free out and €5 cash back. Full transport services available on www.punchestown.com

Festival Social Scene

Like all great celebrations the Punchestown party will feature great live music throughout the enclosures with Spring Break playing floor fillers for the first three days and exciting new DJ performances planned for Friday and Saturday evenings.

17,000 hospitality guests from 806 companies (including 164 from the UK) will enjoy delicious seasonal menus crafted by a 68-strong team of chefs, supported by over 760 hospitality staff. Three and a half tonnes of fresh vegetables, 60 kilos of artisan cheeses, and 15,000 exquisite canapés and desserts will be served across the five days. A team of almost 300 bar staff will pour an estimated 132,000 pints, measure 20,000 shorts and fill 8,000 champagne glasses.

Style lovers will once again flock to the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition, open to all, taking place over the first four days and culminating in the grand final on Ladies Day, Friday 2nd May. Fresh for 2025 is the sustainable theme of Something Old/Something New focusing on conscious fashion choices. New to the Style Council judges are multi-award winning sustainable designer Aoife McNamara and acclaimed stylist Isabel Gleeson.

Further additions include the Bollinger Concierge marquee where Kildare-based beauty brand Ayu will have a host of professional make-up artists offering make-up top-up and professional advice. Vision Ireland will have specially curated rails of pre-loved designer garments to showcase just how stylish sustainable fashion can be.

People Make Punchestown – Community & Charity

Beyond the track, Punchestown plays a vital role in the local community where the Festival contributes over €60 million annually. What is considered the most important race of the festival because it makes the biggest difference is the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund Charity race and in it’s 34th year of running is on target to break the €2,000,000 fundraising mark.

At the centre of the festival is community and at the centre of community is family and the GAA. We are delighted to continue our great association with Naas, Eadestown and Ballymore Eustace GAA clubs who steward the track, fences, hurdles, and horse crossing areas throughout the site in return for club funding.

In a landmark collaboration, Punchestown Racecourse, Aramark, Ireland’s leading food services provider and St. Kevin’s Community College in Dunlavin have joined forces to launch Elevate 2025 – a pioneering Transition Year (TY) programme that combines community involvement, real-world skills training, and local pride. Following a five week training programme, 70 St. Kevins College transition year students will be employed by Aramark for paid work experience at the upcoming Punchestown Festival.

Each year a number of national charities are joined by local schools in the official bucket collection campaign. This year we are proud to welcome Down Syndrome Ireland, St. Corban’s National School, St. Brigid’s Hospice and The Samaratin’s and wish them the very best in their fund raising endeavours.

Punchestown CEO Conor O’Neill said:

“There is something really special about the buzz ahead of this year’s Punchestown Festival. It’s even more than the brilliant achievements by our horses, jockeys, owners and trainers throughout the season. It’s the local and national enthusiasm and pride that are reflected not only in bookings and sales but in requests for information, signage, enquiries about how they get involved. People Make Punchestown and there is a great appetite and goodwill for the event this year even more than previous. Combine this with a forecast that we can only wish for and we are in for a magic week. See you at Punchestown!”

The 2025 Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 29th April to Saturday 3rd May at Punchestown Racecourse. Tickets and full information available at www.punchestown.com.

ENDS

 

 

 

Spillane’s Tower “100%” for likely clash with Galopin Des Champs in Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup

 

LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP
(Wednesday, May 30th – 11 entries)

Galopin Des Champs will be attempting to win the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup for the first time and after going out on his shield when denied an historic third Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph on the trot, faces the prospect of renewing battle with the horses immediately in his wake, the Mouse Morris-trained Gentlemansgame and Monty’s Star, from the Henry de Bromhead yard.

It was Inothewayurthinkin that foiled Galopin Des Champs’ bid for glory and trainer Gavin Cromwell has revealed that the JP McManus’ seven-year-old is bound for his holidays. The decision was taken after a conversation with the owner and his racing manager, Frank Berry.

“I had a good chat with JP and Frank and we decided he’s only a young horse and we thought it best that we’d just let him off for the year,” Cromwell details. “He’s done his job for us for the year and hopefully there’s plenty more to come from him and we just thought as a young horse, we’d look after him.”

McManus could be represented by Spillane’s Tower, however. Last year’s Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase winner sat out both Cheltenham and Aintree, though the latter ground-based call was made at the very last minute.

Trainer Jimmy Mangan is upbeat about stepping into the lion’s den around a course that clearly suits his stable star.

“He’s 100%,” says Mangan. “I was a small bit disappointed that we didn’t get to run in the Bowl. We were in the pre-parade ring and luckily Mark Walsh rode in the race previous and he hopped off and came over to Frank Berry and myself and said, ‘The ground is gone, Jimmy, withdraw the horse.’ He had travelled over well and everything was 100% and I was expecting a massive, big run out of him. But the horse is home, safe and sound, and getting ready to run in Punchestown.

“It was great to win at the festival last year and he won his beginners’ chase there as well, and a Grade 3 after that, so he loves Punchestown. It would be great to have a crack at the big one there this year and that’s certainly the aim.”

 

Punchestown Returns with The Homecoming Festival

**Download Festival Fact Sheet**

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Shona Dreaper, Punchestown Racecourse

Contact: 045 897704 or sdreaper@punchestown.com

 

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

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

 

Event Notes:

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

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

Discount group deals are available online.

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

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

 

 

 

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

 

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 25^th 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 27^th 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.

TIME TO DRESS UP 

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

Bollinger, sponsor of the Best Dressed Competition at the Punchestown Festival in April has announced a most exciting change of format to the high-profile event for 2020. The Bollinger Best Dressed Competition will not only include the most fashionable ladies from all across the country this year but also the most stylish gents will now compete for the much-coveted title and amazing prizes too!

The Punchestown Festival, the social and sporting highlight of the Irish calendar takes place from Tuesday 28^th of April until Saturday, May 2^nd. The search for the best dressed ladies and gentlemen will be held over the first four days of the festival. Each day style scouts will be tasked with finding the most stylish attendees and selecting finalists, from which a daily winner will be chosen to progress to the grand final on Ladies’ Day, held on Friday, May 2^nd.

The decision to widen the format of the competition to include the thousands of men in attendance at the festival was an obvious one according to organisers. Michelle O’Sullivan, Champagne Bollinger said “It’s a very exciting year, with the highly anticipated release of the new Bond movie in April, which celebrates 25 years of James Bond. Bollinger’s association with the world’s most famous spy is synonymous and we felt it was an appropriate fit to celebrate this with a new improved format at Punchestown. Champagne Bollinger, distinctive, elegant and stylish – reminiscent of the famous special agent and the qualities that our judges will be looking for in this year’s Punchestown winner.”

Shona Dreaper, Punchestown Racecourse commented “When it comes to high profile sporting events Punchestown bucks the demographic trend with the number of ladies and gents in attendance pretty much equal and so it’s time for the guys to enter the style stage! It is a festival in the truest sense and race goers really enjoy the opportunity to dress for the occasion. As you stroll through the enclosures the sharp tailoring and attention to detail by the gents certainly merits strong contention for the coveted Bollinger Best Dressed Title. Afterall, Bollinger is the champagne of choice for the ultimate male style icon James Bond. It will be interesting to see how the judges handle it as there can only be one Bollinger Best Dressed Winner! One thing’s for certain, the judges will have their work cut out for them.”

The Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 28^th of April to Saturday 2^nd of May. The action-packed, fun-filled, style showcase attracts over 125,000 people to the Co. Kildare venue with packages ranging from high-end hospitality to great value admission only tickets available at www.punchestown.com or by calling +353 (0)45 897704. Prices start from as little as €30pp with concessions for groups, seniors and students. The famous Punchestown hospitality package range is available from just €129pp.