The UK challenge for this week’s Punchestown Festival will not be affected by the current flying restrictions with the star racehorses arriving into Punchestown from early evening today.

Every year approximately 15,000 overseas race goers make the pilgrimage to Punchestown and this year many are going to extraordinary lengths to ensure they don’t miss out on the excitement.

Among those travelling is Paul Nicholls trainer of Twist Magic and Denman “The horses are currently en route to the ferry and will be arriving as schedule. Personally we tried getting a private plane but it too has been cancelled so we are now booked onto the ferry and it’s only an hour from the port to Punchestown so we’ll be there on Tuesday and are really looking forward to it “

Ferdy Murphy who is based in the North of England said “ Kalahari King is already at Holyhead, and we are sailing out of Stranraer to Larne tomorrow evening after racing in Hexham, where there’s a will there’s a way “

Commenting on the situation Punchestown General Manager Dick O Sullivan said “ We very much value our UK customers and we are disappointed that many of them won’t be able to join us this year but heartened by the extraordinary efforts many have made to be in Punchestown this week. “ He continued saying “Everything is set here for an amazing week of racing and entertainment and we are urging anybody who finds themselves unable to travel out of the country to make Punchestown an alternative destination for their holiday this year”.