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 3 Tips - Thursday, 30th April 2026

Updated on Apr 27, 2026

Photo Healy RacingPunchestown day 3 tips can be found here courtesy of editor Vincent Finegan who has considered the entries and selected his best bet of the day.

Staying hurdlers are in the spotlight on day 3, with Teahupoo attempting to follow up on his excellent victory in this contest last year for trainer Gordon Elliott.

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 Day 3 Punchestown Tip

Kopek Des Bordes 5.25 Punchestown, Barberstown Castle Novice Steeplechase (Grade 1)

Willie Mullins has won the last ten renewals of this Novice Chase and looks almost certain to extend that sequence to eleven this year as he is likely to saddle the first two home from the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham. On that occasion Kargese caused a minor surprise by beating her better fancied stablemate Kopek Des Bordes by 2 1/2 lengths. Kopek Des Bordes was unlucky, making a crucial mistake at the final fence when appearing to have the race at his mercy and can reverse that form here.

Day 3 Highlight

Teahupoo is favourite to take this spoils in the Stayers' Hurdle for the second consecutive year and will be taken on by his stablemate Bob Olinger. The duo finished 2nd and 3rd in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham this year and head back into battle.

Home By The Lee has been a revelation this season, winning both the Stayers' Hurdle and the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree and he holds an entry, along with Honesty Policy and Kawaboomga.