Punchestown´s famous pre-Festival track walk will take place at 4pm on Friday (April 21) when many trainers with runners and jockeys riding in next week´s big races are likely to be at the course.

They will be joined on the walk by Clerk of the Course Joe Collins, Racecourse Manager Dick O´Sullivan, Racing Manager Richie Galway and Track Manager Sean Ryan. The track walk will be followed by dinner in the nearby Killashee House Hotel in Naas at approximately 7pm.

Janet Williamson, Punchestown´s PR Manager, said today: 'The annual pre-Festival track walk will give trainers and jockeys the opportunity to see that the ground is in peak condition at Punchestown. It also gives us the opportunity to tweak any minor glitch that may come to our attention on the afternoon. We have found this to be a very helpful exercise in the past and hope that many trainers and jockeys can make it. All are welcome to join us for dinner afterwards in the Killashee House Hotel.'

The ground at Punchestown is currently YIELDING. There is an unsettled forecast for the next few days and a decision on whether watering takes place will be made later in the week.

This year´s Irish National Hunt Festival boasts record prize money of 2.289 million euros and runs from Tuesday to Friday next week, April 25 to 28.

Members of the media are welcome to attend the track walk, for further information please contact Janet Williamson on + 353 (0) 45 89 7704