The 2024 Punchestown Festival is the last big meeting of the National Hunt season in Ireland and takes place from 30th April to Saturday 4th May.

The Punchestown Festival has a whole host of top-quality contests to enjoy over five fantastic days of racing at the Punchestown Racecourse. It is the most important National Hunt jumps racing festivals in the year.

It features many top-class horses who have clashed at other leading racing festivals, such as the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree Grand National meeting, racing against each other again. Prize money and prestige are big, whilst large crowds are also drawn to the meeting, with the action starting in the late spring afternoon sunshine.

In our Punchestown Festival 2024 guide, we run through everything you need to know about the amazing Irish horse racing festival.

Find out more about the Punchestown Festival:

Contents

1 When is the Punchestown Festival?
2 Punchestown Festival Day One Racing
3 Punchestown Festival Day Two Racing
4 Punchestown Festival Day Three Racing
5 Punchestown Festival Day Four Racing
6 Punchestown Festival Day Five Racing
7 Popular Questions
- 7.1 How long is Punchestown Festival on for?
- 7.2 Is the Punchestown festival on TV?
8 Summary of The Punchestown Festival
9 2024 Punchestown Festival Related Articles

If you are looking for the best chances of winning at the Punchestown Festival, check out our Punchestown Tips.

When is the Punchestown Festival?

The Punchestown Festival is the last big meeting of the National Hunt season in Ireland that takes place from 30th April to Saturday 4th May 2024.

The 2024 Punchestown Festival has a whole host of top-quality contests to enjoy over five fantastic days of racing at the Punchestown Racecourse.

Day One – Tuesday, April 30th 2024

3.40pm: Punchestown Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed)
4.15pm: Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
4.50pm: Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)
5.25pm: Champion Chase (Grade 1)
6pm: Goffs Land Rover Bumper
6.35pm: Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)
7.10pm: Cross Country Chase
7.45pm: Punchestown Flat Race

Day Two – Wednesday, May 1st 2024

3.40pm: Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle
4.15pm: Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final
4.45pm: Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle
5.20pm: Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
5.55pm: Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1)
6.30pm: Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race
7.05pm: OMC Claims Handicap Chase (Grade A)
7.45pm: Irish EBF Mares Flat Race (Grade 3)

Day Three – Thursday, May 2nd 2024

3.40pm: Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle
4.15pm: Pigsback.com Handicap Chase (Grade B)
4.50pm: La Touche Cup Cross Country Race
5.25pm: Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)
6pm: Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)
6.35pm: Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1)
7.10pm: Mares Irish EBF Handicap Chase
7.45pm: JP&M 70 Years In Business (C&G) Flat Race

Day Four – Friday, May 3rd 2024

3.40pm: Punchestown Chase For The Bishopscourt Cup
4.15pm: EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase (Grade A)
4.50pm: Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Mares Chase (Grade 2)
5.25pm: Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
6pm: Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
6.35pm: Irish Daily Star Champion Hunters Chase
7.10pm: Salessense International Novice Hurdle
7.45pm: Avison Young INH Flat Race

Day Five – Saturday, May 4th 2024

2.35pm: Dooley Insurance Group WFA Cross Country Chase
3.10pm: Punchestown Handicap Chase
3.50pm: Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
4.25pm: Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)
5pm: Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle
5.30pm: Fitzwilliam Sports Handicap Hurdle
6.05pm: Lawlors Hotel Naas (Pro/am) Flat Race
6.40pm: Have The Conversation – Say Yes To Organ Donation Punchestown Charity Race

Punchestown Festival Day One Racing

The first day of horse racing at the Punchestown Festival takes place on Tuesday, April 30th 2024.

Here are all the races taking place on the first day of the Punchestown Festival:

Punchestown Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed)

The first race takes place at 3:40 pm and is the Punchestown Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) race.

This opening race is run over the minimum 2-mile trip.

Willie Mullins is often strong in the mares division and the winner and places horses from the Cheltenham Mares Novices hurdle often lock horns again.

Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

The second race takes place at 4:15 pm and is the Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) race.

Another 2-mile novice event, this is also run over the trip of 2 miles. Often horses who contested the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham race against each other again.

Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

The third race takes place at 4:50 pm and is the Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) race.

A tricky handicap with a decent prize pot, the distance is 2 miles.

Champion Chase (Grade 1)

The 4th race takes place at 5:25 pm and is the Champion Chase (Grade 1) race.

The Punchestown Champion Chase race is the Irish equivalent to the Cheltenham Queen Mother Champion Chase. It is again a race over 2 miles.

Energumene who won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival is an odds on favourite for Willie Mullins to take this prize.

Goffs Land Rover Bumper

The 5th race takes place at 6:00 pm and is the Goffs Land Rover Bumper race. It is a National Hunt flat race over 2 miles.

Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)

The 6th race takes place at 6:35 pm and is the Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) race. It is a race over trip of 3 miles.

It is a stiff task for novices and winners in the past have proved high-class.

Cross Country Chase

The 7th race takes place at 7:10 pm and is the Cross Country Chase race.

Similar to the race Cross Country Cheltenham race, this is ran on the inside of the main track over a series of fences, banks and hurdles.

Punchestown Flat Race

The 8th race takes place at 7:45 pm and is the Punchestown Flat Race.

Punchestown Festival Day Two Racing

The second day of horse racing at the Punchestown Festival takes place on Wednesday, May 1st 2024.

Here are all the races taking place on the second day of the Punchestown Festival:

Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle

The 1st race takes place at 3:40 pm and is the Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle race.

A trappy handicap to open the second day, it is run over 2 miles and 5 furlongs.

Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final

The 2nd race takes place at 4:15 pm and is the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final race.

A hurdle race over 2 miles and 4 furlongs, the good prize money often attracts a high-quality field.

Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle

The 3rd race takes place at 4:45 pm and is the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle race.

Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

The 4th race takes place at 5:20 pm and is the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) race.

Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1)

The 5th race takes place at 5:55 pm and is the Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) race.

Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race

The 6th race takes place at 6:30 pm and is the Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race.

The prize money is actually being than the prestigious Cheltenham bumper, and many of the same horses will line up again. It is difficult to look past the brilliant Facile Vega.

OMC Claims Handicap Chase (Grade A)

The 7th race takes place at 7:05 pm and is the OMC Claims Handicap Chase (Grade A) race.

Irish EBF Mares Flat Race (Grade 3)

The 8th race takes place at 7:45 pm and is the Irish EBF Mares Flat Race (Grade 3) race.

Punchestown Festival Day Three Racing

The third day of horse racing at the Punchestown Festival takes place on Thursday, May 2nd 2024.

Here are all the races taking place on the third day of the Punchestown Festival.

Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle

The 1st race takes place at 3:40 pm and is the Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle race.

Pigsback.com Handicap Chase (Grade B)

The 2nd race takes place at 4:15 pm and is the Pigsback.com Handicap Chase (Grade B) race.

La Touche Cup Cross Country Race

The 3rd race takes place at 4:50 pm and is the La Touche Cup Cross Country Race.

Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)

The 4th race takes place at 5:25 pm and is the Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) race.

Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

The 5th race takes place at 6:00 pm and is the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) race.

Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1)

The 6th race takes place at 6:35 pm and is the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1) race.

Mares Irish EBF Handicap Chase

The 7th race takes place at 7:10 pm and is the Mares Irish EBF Handicap Chase race.

JP&M 70 Years In Business (C&G) Flat Race

The 8th race takes place at 7:45 pm and is the JP&M 70 Years In Business (C&G) Flat Race.

Punchestown Festival Day Four Racing

The 4th day of horse racing at the Punchestown Festival takes place on Friday, May 3rd 2024.

Here are all the races taking place on the 4th day of the Punchestown Festival.

Punchestown Chase For The Bishopscourt Cup

The 1st race takes place at 3:40 pm and is the Punchestown Chase For The Bishopscourt Cup race.

EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase (Grade A)

The 2nd race takes place at 4:15 pm and is the EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase (Grade A) race.

Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Mares Chase (Grade 2)

The 3rd race takes place at 4:50 pm and is the Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Mares Chase (Grade 2) race.

Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

The 4th race takes place at 5:25 pm and is the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) race.

Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

The 5th race takes place at 6:00 pm and is the Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) race.

Irish Daily Star Champion Hunters Chase

The 6th race takes place at 6:35 pm and is the Irish Daily Star Champion Hunters Chase race.

Salessense International Novice Hurdle

The 7th race takes place at 7:10 pm and is the Salessense International Novice Hurdle race.

Avison Young INH Flat Race

The 8th race takes place at 7:45 pm and is the Avison Young INH Flat Race.

Punchestown Festival Day Five Racing

The 5th day of horse racing at the Punchestown Festival takes place on Saturday, May 4th 2024.

Here are all the races taking place on the 5th day of the Punchestown Festival.

Dooley Insurance Group WFA Cross Country Chase

The 1st race takes place at 2:35 pm and is the Dooley Insurance Group WFA Cross Country Chase race.

Punchestown Handicap Chase

The 2nd race takes place at 3:10 pm and is the Punchestown Handicap Chase race.

Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

The 3rd race takes place at 3:50 pm and is the Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) race.

Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)

The 4th race takes place at 4:25 pm and is the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) race.

Pat Taffe Handicap Chase (Grade B)

The 5th race takes place at 5:00 pm and is the Pat Taffe Handicap Chase (Grade B) race.

Punchestown Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

The 6th race takes place at 5:35 pm and is the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) race.

Buggyman Flat Race

The 7th race takes place at 6:10 pm and is the Buggyman Flat Race.

Summary of The Punchestown Festival

The Punchestown is a relatively new jumps festival, but is quickly establishing itself as one of the best.

The major races at the Festival are the Punchestown Champion Chase, Punchestown Ryanair Novice Chase, Punchestown Champion Hurdle, Punchestown World Series Hurdle and the Punchestown Gold Cup.

The 5 day event is the pinnacle of Irish National Hunt racing and brings a close to the jumping season of 2024.

Find out more on the in-depth list of horse racing fixtures 2024 in Ireland.

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