Punchestown Festival

The jump season draws to a close in fitting style with the five-day Punchestown Festival. 

There are plenty of handicaps and 12 Grade 1's across the week, three of which Racing Lee has already analysed as part of his debut piece for oddschecker.

Punchestown Tips

Without declarations for the handicaps it’s nearly impossible to advise tips, therefore I am going to keep it simple in focusing on the Graded races. On the Tuesday, I think TULLYHILL is overpriced for the Champion Novice Hurdle on account of his Festival disappointment. 

Yet the reason he went off favourite that day was because of his performance at Punchestown. The Supreme places an emphasis on stamina which is something that suited 2m 4f winner Slade Steel, and I believe that Tullyhill is too overpriced on account of that Cheltenham run. 

1pt win Tullyhill (Tuesday 3.40pm) @ 13/2 William Hill

Punchestown Festival Races & Schedule

Tuesday 30th April Punchestown Races

  • 2.30pm: Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase
  • 3.05pm: Blood-Stock Full Circle Series Final Handicap Hurdle
  • 3.40pm: KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 4.15pm: Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle
  • 4.50pm: Goffs Defender Bumper
  • 5.25pm: William Hill Champion Chase (Grade 1)
  • 6.00pm: Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)
  • 6.35pm: Haier Flat Race

 

Wednesday 1st May Punchestown Races

  • 2.30pm: Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle
  • 3.05pm: Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final
  • 3.40pm: Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle
  • 4.15pm: Channor Real Estate Group (War of Attrition) Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 4.50pm: Race and Stay at Punchestown Champion I.N.H Flat Race (Grade 1)
  • 5.25pm: Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1)
  • 6.00pm:HSS Hire (L’Escargot) Handicap Chase
  • 6.35pm: Weatherbys GSB Irish EBF Mares' Flat Race

Thursday 2nd May Punchestown Races

  • 3.40pm: Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle
  • 4.15pm: Frontline Security Handicap Chase
  • 4.50pm: Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase
  • 5.25pm: Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1)
  • 6.00pm: Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 6.35pm: Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle
  • 7.05pm: Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle
  • 7.40pm: JP&M Doyle (C&G) Flat Race

 

Friday 3rd May Punchestown Races

  • 3.40pm: Stanley Asphalt Hunters Chase for the Bishopscourt Cup
  • 4.15pm: EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase
  • 4.50pm: Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Mares Chase (Grade 2)
  • 5.25pm: Event Power Champion Hunters Chase
  • 6.00pm: Boodles Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 6.35pm: Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 7.05pm: Uniquely Novice Hurdle
  • 7.35pm: Howden Insurance Brokers INH Flat Race

 

Saturday 4th May Punchestown Races

  • 2.30pm: Donohue Marquees Cross Country Chase
  • 3.05pm: Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase
  • 3.40pm: Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Bolshoi Ballet Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 4.15pm: Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase
  • 4.50pm: Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 5.25pm: SBK Gold Trophy Handicap Hurdle
  • 6.00pm: Lawlors Of Naas (Pro Am) Flat Race
  • 6.30pm: “Have the conversation – Say YES to Organ Donation” Punchestown Charity Race

 

Punchestown Festival Entries

Punchestown Day 1 Entries

In the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle on Tuesday the Supreme 1-2-3, Slade Steel, Mystical Power and Firefox, are all declared in an enticing rematch.

On top of that, the pre-race favourite Tullyhill also lines up as he returns to the track where he was so impressive at in February, a performance that led him to go off at an 11/4 favourite for the festival opener. 

Later on in the cards the champion chase 1/2 also line up in another festival rematch. However, the entry of Dinoblue catches the eye as she drops back down to 2 miles, a distance she won over at last year's Punchestown festival. 

Punchestown Day 2 Entries

On Wednesday, the Albert Bartlett winner Stellar Story looks to add another Grade 1 to his CV. However, Dancing City who was only third at the Festival is the pre-race favourite after his win at Aintree where he beat The Jukebox Man further than Stellar Story did at Cheltenham. On top of that, the Martin Pipe winner Better Days Ahead steps up in trip in a bid for graded honours.  

Later on in the card the Punchestown Gold Cup looks set to be a vintage renewal with Galopin Des Champ and Fastorslow renewing their rivalry.

Punchestown Day 3 Entries

Alcohol winner Gaelic warrior catches the eye in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase on Thursday. One has to think that a return to a right-handed track will suit him and he was so impressive at his meeting last year. Later on the Robcour pair Teahupoo and Irish Point look set to meet in a thrilling Stayers’ Hurdle. 

Punchestown Day 4 Entries

State man bids to win his fifth Grade 1 of the season in Friday's Champion Hurdle. With Constitution Hill still side-lined, he could face a small field. The exciting mare Lossiemouth does hold an entry but one fears she may run the following day in the mares’ race. 

Later on in the cards punters will get to see perhaps the most impressive Cheltenham Festival winner this year in Ballyburn who looks to cap of a fantastic season with a third Grade 1. 

Punchestown Day 5 Entries

On Saturday Nicky Henderson also has an entry for Aintree winner Sir Gino who was withdrawn from the festival due to the stable’s poor form. He could join Triumph hurdle second Kargese and Gavin Cromwell's exciting gelding, Bottler'secret who was last seen at Fairyhouse's Easter meeting winning a Grade 2. 

Earlier in the card is the Mares’ Champion Hurdle where Lossiemouth is a firm odds on shot if she decides to swerve a battle with State Man the day before.