Saturday, April 19, 2025

Punchestown Tips & Odds

Check out the latest Punchestown Tips, Odds, and Racecards for all the action coming from Punchestown racecourse throughout the year.

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There is no racing at this course today. View today’s racecards for races at other courses instead.

Punchestown Racing Guide

Punchestown Racecourse, situated near Naas in County Kildare, specialises in National Hunt racing.

The racecourse is famous for its annual Festival in April, a five-day event featuring top-tier jumps racing including top class races, such as the Punchestown Champion Chase, Gold Cup, and Champion Hurdle among others.

The Punchestown Festival is widely considered the Irish equivalent of Cheltenham, because it attracts some of the largest crowds in the sport and the similar way it’s run.

Additionally, Punchestown Racecourse hosts Ireland’s sole cross-country course.

Location: Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, County Kildare.

Major Punchestown Fixtures

Punchestown Racing History

The history of Punchestown extends back to 1824, but it was not until 1854 that the course hosted its inaugural two-day meeting.

Famous Wins

Dawn Run vs Buck House

In what was only a match race between two horses in 1986, Dawn Run and Buck House lined up against each other in what truly was a battle of the titans. It was a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner against a Queen Mother Champion Chase winner.

The duo met on level terms, and what a race it was. The pair were engaged in a duel some way from the finish line and Buck House looked as though he was about to show his class and briefly threatened to take charge.

Dawn Run was no mug, though and the Gold Cup heroine came swinging back onto the bridle when she saw her opponent trying to pull away.

She asserted her authority jumping the final fence and left Buck House in shock and trailing two and a half lengths behind in her wake. If you can, you should watch the race on YouTube.

For the race to only involve two horses, it is one of the best races ever run on any track and makes your blood pump just watching it.

In an unbelievable twist of fate, both horses lost their lives separately within three months of this race having taken place.

Buck House died from Colic whilst on his holidays and Dawn Run fell whilst competing in a race over in France.

On The Fringe

Enda Bolger is renowned for getting his horses to compete in Cross-country Chases and has enjoyed some massive successes over the years.

He has a replica of all the fences run in the race laid out at his training facilities near Limerick.

In 2015/16, he trained On The Fringe to win a double hat-trick of races at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown.

On The Fringe scored his successes in the Foxhunters Chases at Cheltenham and Aintree.

He also went on to win the Racing Post Champion Hunters Chase twice.

The horse and trainer cemented their respective places in racing history with those famous wins.

Punchestown Top Trainers and Jockeys

Punchestown Races FAQ

Where is Punchestown Racecourse?

Punchestown Racecourse is located near Naas in County Kildare in Ireland. It is around 35kms from Dublin City and just over 200kms from Belfast. It is set in the picturesque countryside in between Walshestown and Swordlestown.

What is the dress code for Punchestown?

There is no formal dress code for Punchestown. If you are making the most of your trip and enjoying some hospitality, you may wish to dress more smart than casual. For regular racegoers, it is just smart casual.

Is Punchestown similar to Cheltenham?

Punchestown is altogether different. At Cheltenham, the fences and hurdles are spaced out on a left-handed track. At Punchestown, it is the opposite way around. It is undulating in nature and has a fair climb up a hill coming into the final five furlongs.

How can I bet on the Punchestown Festival?

You can bet on any race at the Punchestown Festival by opening an account with any of our recommended bookmakers for horse racing. Just click on the link to register or log in if you have already signed up to a bookmaker.

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The Team Behind This Page

The horse racing experts who maintain and update this page:

  • Karl Hedley is a horse racing content writer and tipster for Punters Lounge. He received his break when he entered the Racing Post Search for A Tipster competition in 2006, and beat 6000 others to win the title in 2007.Since then he has been written countless articles for The Irish Field, The Irish Post and several online websites. He was until recently the Irish racing tipster for The Times (Ireland edition).His favourite racing memory to date includes being present to see the brilliant Kauto Star win the Champion Chase at Down Royal.
  • Steve Day is the Content Manager for Punters Lounge. Steve brings a wealth of experience in the online gambling and sports betting content creation. Since 2010, Steve has successfully written for well-known gambling publications, such as casino.org, cardschat.com, gamingslots.com, and footballleagueworld.co.uk.In 2015, Steve took on the role of Football Forums Content Manager at Punters Lounge where he has fostered a knowledgeable and supportive community that share betting insights and tips.Steve transitioned into a full-time content manager in 2022 where he leverages his deep industry expertise to develop high-quality, reliable, and engaging content across casino and sports betting.
  • Steve Simmons is the Head of Racing at Punters Lounge and has a wealth of racing knowledge. He started out his career at Ladbrokes' head office as a board marker progressing through to settler, odds compiler, and finally trader. He also spent time as PR/ante post manager for start up company before becoming a self employed odds compiler and horse racing consultant. Steve has an incredible passion for the sport and a knack for picking winners.
  • Tom Schurch is the Head of Publishing at Punters Lounge. An Economics graduate, Tom has refined critical thinking and analytical skills that he has applied effectively in the gambling industry since 2019. At Punters Lounge, Tom ensures his team consistently delivers on the platform’s mission to empower bettors to win more and enjoy betting by fostering a community where punters share their experiences, knowledge, and skills.Tom maintains strong relationships with leading casinos and sportsbooks, allowing Punters Lounge members to stay informed about the latest industry news, insights, and promotions. As a keen bettor himself, Tom combines firsthand betting experience with his extensive industry connections to produce high-quality, authoritative content.

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