When is the Punchestown Festival?

The Punchestown Festival is held every year over five days at the end of April. Punchestown week 2024, takes place from Tuesday 29 April to Saturday 3 May. The first race kicks off at 2.30pm.

How much do tickets cost for the Punchestown Festival?

Tickets for the Punchestown Festival cost from €30 for students & U/14's race for free. Up to €149 euro for hospitality packages.

What is the Punchestown Festival?

The Punchestown Festival is the culmination of the National Hunt season in Ireland. Jump racinga??s top quality horses, trainers and jockeys go head to head and it is a much celebrated week of racing. There are 40 races in total and the feature races are; the Champion Chase, the Punchestown Gold Cup, the Stayersa?? Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle.

Where is the Punchestown Festival held?

Punchestown races are held at Punchestown Racecourse in Co. Kildare. The racecourse is situated southwest of Dublin.

What is the dress code for the Punchestown Festival?

Racegoers are advised to dress smart casual or smart and to be mindful of the weather.

How do I get to the Punchestown Festival?

Punchestown Racecourse is very accessible for those travelling. Marathon Travel runs regular coaches from Aston Quay in Dublin and the journey time is 1 hour. Those travelling from Dublin city centre are able to catch a bus to Naas with JJ Kavanagh & Sons. It is recommended to book online. Shuttle buses run regularly from Poplar Square in Naas., Those flying to Dublin can use the above services or take the train from Dublina??s Heuston Station to Sallins, which is close to Naas.

When does the Punchestown Festival start?

The first race of Punchestown 2025 kicks off at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday 29 April.

Punchestown Day 1 Tips - Tuesday, 28th April 2026

Updated on Apr 27, 2026

punchestown day one tips

The Punchestown Festival gets underway on Tuesday, 28 April and the day's feature race could prove to be one of the races of the season.

Our editor Vincent Finegan has cast an eye over the cards and selected his top tip on day one of the festival.

Vincent Finegan

Vincent, who lives on the Curragh in Co. Kildare, is the editor of irishracing.com and has almost 40 years experience in the horse racing industry. He writes a weekly blog on this website covering all aspects of the sport and presents our Irish Angle video show on Mondays. He is a dual winner of The Irish Field naps table.

Vincent Finegan's Punchestown Day 1 Tip

El Cairos 4.15 Punchestown, Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

El Cairos was somewhat disappointing in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, only finishing fifth to Old Park Star. I'd be inclined to give him a chance to redeem himself here as on more than one occasion this season he has looked top class.

Day 1 Highlight - Champion Chase

The highlight on day one of the Punchestown Festival is the two-mile William Hill Champion Chase and leading the market is Cheltenham Champion Chase winner, Il Etait Temps around the 6-4 mark.

Trainer Willie Mullins has won six of the last ten renewals of this race and also has the second favourite in the race Majborough, while stablemates Blood Destiny and two-time winner of this race Energumene may also join the contest.

Last year's winner Marine Nationale holds an entry and will return after a setback which ruled him out of Cheltenham.

Captain Guinness, runner up in 2025, appears among the entries as do Gidleigh Park and Solness.

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