Punchestown Festival 2025 Preview
Many of jump racing’s leading lights will bring the shutters down on their season at the 2025 Punchestown Festival. Here is a short guide to the famous five-day feast of racing where Fact To File, Constitution Hill and Galopin Des Champs are among the entries. 
There is nothing quite like the Punchestown Festival. Usually raced in exceptional spring-like conditions, described as Ireland’s premier jump racing event, and an outstanding social gathering, the meeting brings the curtain down on the Irish jump racing season.
Top-class action at the Punchestown Festival is guaranteed to attract huge crowds. ©GettyImage
The Punchestown Festival runs for five days, starting on Tuesday, 29 Apri, and concluding on Saturday, 3 May 2025. Each day features eight races. Action begins at 2.30 pm – apart from Friday, 2 May, when the fun starts at 3.40 pm.
What Are the Major Punchestown Festival Races?
An ever-popular Cross-Country race and a Charity Race for amateur riders (that have ridden less than three winners during the past 20 years!) bookends the Punchestown Festival’s 40 races. Amongst these are 12 Grade 1 contests. The meeting’s total prize money is over €3.5 million. Here are the feature races:
Day 1. William Hill Champion Chase Day
- KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
- William Hill Champion Chase (Grade 1)
- Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)
Day 2. Ladbrokes Gold Cup Day
- Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
- Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 1)
- Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Chase) (Grade 1)
Day 3. Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle Day
- Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1)
- Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)
Day 4.Boodles Champion Hurdle & Ladies Day
- Boodles Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
- Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
Day 5. SBK Festival Finale Day
- SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
- Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)
What Are the Festival Highlights?
Fact To File, an exceptional winner at the past two Cheltenham Festivals, could take a step back in trip to contest the William Hill Champion Chase during the first day of Punchestown 2025. That same afternoon, Cheltenham’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner, Kopek Des Bordes, has an engagement with the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle.
For us and many others, all roads now lead to the Punchestown Festival. We hope this guide helps you … pic.twitter.com/S6gGA6Sv5C
— Sports & Betting History by BestBettingSites (@BettingSitesCom) April 10, 2025
The jewel in Punchestown’s crown – and possibly the Irish jump racing calendar – the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup takes centre stage on day two. Defending champion Fastorslow is absent. This opens the door for the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs to take this title following second-placed efforts during the past two years.
Stamina is the name of the game on day three, with runners and brave riders lining up for the four-mile two-furlong La Touche Cup Cross-Country Chase. The centrepiece race is the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle, where Teahupoo could be back to defend his title, thus setting up a fascinating clash with the Cheltenham Festival’s Stayers Hurdle winner, Bob Olinger.
Day 4 Clash of the Hurdle Giants
The penultimate day of the Punchestown Festival, the social highlight of the week when Best Dressed awards are bestowed, has the mouthwatering prospect of a clash between generational greats, Constitution Hill, State Man and Lossiemouth in the Boodles Champion Hurdle.
Mares and four-year-old hurdlers get their chance to collect a Grade 1 prize on the final day during a racecard sprinkled with Handicaps and a Pro-Am Flat Race. Furthermore, the course’s big screen TVs will relay live action of the classic 2000 Guineas from Newmarket.
How to Watch the Punchestown Festival
Raceday tickets are available from Punchestown’s website. Stay-at-home punters can watch the action on the Irish state broadcaster, RTE. Punters with access to betting sites that offer free streaming can also view the action unfold live there.
