New Cross Country Race A thrilling February 5th Race Programme at Punchestown has been given an extra boost with the addition of a new Cross Country Race which will be known as the Western Pleasure P.P. Hogan Memorial Steeplechase. The three mile spectacle will be run over a course that includes the infamous Punchestown banks and other unique obstacles. Cross Country racing was the very foundation of modern day steeplechasing and has been major part of Punchestown's heritage. Punchestown remains the only racecourse Britain and Ireland to race over natural banks and each year hosts the infamous La Touche Cup, The Ladies Cup and The Kildare Hunt Cup at it's Irish National Hunt Festival. The ?15,000 Western Pleasure P.P. Hogan Memorial Steeplechase will serve as perfect stepping stone for cross country specialists heading to Cheltenham and then back to Punchestown. Cross country maestro Enda Bolger is delighted to have another opportunity for his talented team of horses and commented 'It's fantastic to have a new cross country race on the schedule as there are so few opportunities for such specialist horses. A lot of work goes into schooling these horses and as it is such a spectacle for racegoers, it makes so much sense to add more of this type of race to programmes at Punchestown. The fact that the race has been named in honour of the real cross country legend P.P. Hogan makes it even more special. My thanks to the sponsors Western Pleasure.'The feature race on the superb February 5th programme will be the Gr. 2 ?55,000 Byrne Group Plc Novice Hurdle also used as a stepping stone to Cheltenham for top class novices, won last year by the talented Justified. Another Gr. 2 race on the card also sponsored by Byrne Group Plc is the ?53,000 2 mile Tied Cottage Chase which has been won by Moscow Flyer twice in the past three years. On receiving positive vibes from trainers on the introduction of this new cross country race, Richie Galway, Racing Manager at Punchestown said 'Thanks to the support of John Fahy of Western Pleasure, we have been able to introduce The Western Pleasure P.P. Hogan Memorial Steeplechase which gives an already valuable card a real boost. We are hoping for strong support for all races and overseas trainers have also been notified about this new cross country race. It would be a real treat if they were to send some runners over for both the Graded races and the cross country race.'
