See also » Fountain kicks off Punchestown festival in style
It was the plan all year to come here and it has worked out. I didn't think he'd do it that easy but he is a proper horse and we've had great fun along the way with him,. He is a family-owned horse, we own him ourselves and unfortunately his regular rider Eoin Mahon was injured today. It was also Eoin that advised me to buy him and the horse hasn't looked back since then. I'm mainly into breaking and pre-training but keep a couple of these for the enjoyment. . We'll get him home now and hopefully we might run him again on Friday or Saturday. . Next year, for sure and following that performance today, we'll look at the La Touche back here. I think he is really coming into his own now and that is as good a performance as he has done. Ian John McCarthy, trainer

A steeplechase for ] Certified Hunters five years old and upwards over a special Bank/Chase Course that at entry have run at least three times in steeplechases (including Point-To-Point steeplechases) and that have between 1st October, 2022 and 22nd April, 2026 in Ireland or Great Britain, been placed first, second, third or fourth, in a steeplechase confined to Certified Hunters or in a Point-To-Point Steeplechase and have not won more than two steeplechases confined to Certified Hunters
Weights - 5-y-o 11st 5lbs 6-y-o and up 11st 7lbs. Mares allowed 7lbs.
Penalties - For each steeplechase won 5lb extra
Riders - Qualified Riders under I.N.H.S. Rules. Cont???.. Upcoming Race Conditions Week Commencing Monday 27th April ????.Contd (All Riders riding in this race must have ridden in at least 20 races (including INH Flat Races and Point-To-Point Races). Exclusions - Horses that have won a race under any N.H. Rules or Rules of Racing other than a Farmers Race or races confined to Certified Hunters. ? A Hunters Certificate valid in accordance with Rule 78 for the 2025/2026 season for each horse engaged must be registered at the Office of the I.N.H.S. Committee, The Curragh, Co. Kildare not later than 22nd April, 2026, or the horse will not be qualified to start. In the case of horses from Great Britain, Hunters Certificates must have been duly registered at the Racing Calendar Office. The IHRB have modified the relevant Rules to permit horses for which Hunters Certificates have been registered and which are eligible to run in Hunters Steeplechases in Great Britain to run in this race. However, horses with a Hunters Certificate that have run in any race other than a Hunters S