Punchestown team reflect on an 'incredible week' Hard work and firm belief in the Punchestown Festival was rewarded with amazing results on and off the track itself, in what has been described as the best racing week ever at the County Kildare course. With drama from start to finish and sub plots aplenty, there was so much for racegoers to digest. The week had been set up as the last round in the battle between Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott to be crowned Ireland’s champion jumps trainer. But in the end there were many talking points. Paul Townend's manoeuvre on Al Boum Photo that caused chaos at the final fence in Tuesday's Champion Novice Chase set the tone. He hit back in the best possible way by riding a treble on Wednesday - when his boss Willie Mullins saddled six of the seven winners. Then Thursday saw brilliant victories by Faugheen and Footpad, in the Stayers Hurdle and Novice Chase respectively. Drama returned on Friday when the exciting novice Samcro and Melon fell independently in the Champion Hurdle, before the surprise retirements of top female jockeys Katie Walsh and Nina Carberry, after they had both ridden a winner, added the human touch to a memorable five days. "It was an incredible week," said Shona Dreaper, PR and communications manager, ahead of a meeting with sponsors on Monday. "The feedback we got from a lot of people, from visitors and industry people alike, was that it was the best Punchestown Festival we’ve ever had. "The racing obviously was unbelievable. The feat that Willie Mullins managed showed he truly is the king of Punchestown and to have so much drama throughout the week. "Each day had a different story — Katie and Nina retiring were just two examples. "The attendance was through the roof. We were aiming for 125,000 and getting well over 127,000 with 17,000 corporate guests in the mix of that. "It's what we've been aiming at for a long time. "Punchestown over a decade ago was on its knees, financially. Thank God we seemed to have rebuilt and re-stabilised the company to a point where we now have a capital development programme launched this year and the new Hunt Stand was brilliant. "Overall, we were delighted with the week."
