Racing tips for Punchestown as five day festival kicks off

The first day of the five-day Punchestown Festival gets underway with an eight-race card, beginning at 2.30pm and concluding with the final race at 6.35pm.

The ground at the track is currently yielding. We’ve previewed the opening day of the festival with a race-by-race guide below, and you can find more tips at Irishracing.com.

2.30pm Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase (3m½f)

Plenty of the runners have only featured in point-to-points. Knockiel Synge returns to defend the title he won in this same race at the 2024 Punchestown Festival at odds of 20/1.

Miss Georgie Benson is on board again for the Peter John Flood-trained runner, who also had a recent run here on February 3. Transprint finished third behind Knockiel Synge on that occasion and looks the main danger again.

Prediction: Knockiel Synge

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3.05pm Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final Handicap Hurdle (2m3½f)

A wide-open race with 25 runners going to post. There’s plenty of each-way value on offer, including Gordon Elliott’s Slanagaibhgoleir, who will be partnered by Mark Walsh and is priced around 20/1 to 25/1. Londonofficecallin has course-and-distance form, having won here in January, and could strike again at Punchestown.

Prediction: Londonofficecallin (Win) and Slanagaibhgoleir (E/W)

3.40pm Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (2m½f)

Lark In The Mornin heads the market for Danny Mullins and JP O’Brien and will be aiming to bounce back after a disappointing run in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Ascending Lark boasts a perfect record over hurdles with five wins from five in Britain, and is chasing a fourth win of 2024. Willie Mullins’ Gaucher is a former course winner and landed the Ladbrokes ‘2UP&Win’ Maiden Hurdle here in June 2024.

Prediction: Ascending Lark

4.15pm KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (2m½f)

The first Grade 1 of the day sees Kopek Des Bordes as the short-priced favourite for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, available at 2/7 or 3/10. Mullins trains four of the six runners, so a clean sweep of the podium for the Carlow trainer is on the cards.

Prediction: Irancy (E/W)

4.50pm Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) (3m1f)

The second Grade 1 of the day looks set to be a Mullins-dominated affair once again. Ballyburn (6/4) and Impaire Et Passe (3/1) head the market and renew rivalry from the Dublin Racing Festival, where Ballyburn beat Impaire Et Passe by over ten lengths. The latter’s jumping let him down that day, but if he sharpens up here, this could go to the wire.

Prediction: Impaire Et Passe

5.25pm Goffs Defender Bumper (2m½f)

With so many debutants lining up, this race represents a true step into the unknown, where potential, pedigree, and promise take centre stage over proven form. Favourite Leader Des Bordes is a half-brother to Kopek Des Bordes, who runs earlier in the day. O

ne horse with race experience is Gordon Elliott’s Santo Sospir, who made a winning debut at Punchestown in February and will be looking to go two from two under Harry Swan.

Prediction: Santo Sospir

6pm William Hill Champion Chase (Grade 1) (2m½f)

The feature race sees Fact To File bid for back-to-back Grade 1 wins after his success in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. Willie Mullins' runner, ridden by Mark Walsh, will face stiff competition from fellow Cheltenham Festival winner Marine Nationale, who stormed to victory in the Champion Chase by 18 lengths. For name-watchers, Captain Guinness, with Rachael Blackmore aboard, was runner-up in this race last year.

Prediction: Fact To File

6.35pm Willie Coonan Memorial INH Flat Race (2m½f)

The closing race on Day One features several debutants. Coutach, with champion amateur Paddy Mullins in the saddle, is likely to go off favourite. Starting Fifteen was second on debut in a listed bumper at Limerick and looks a strong contender here. Scariff Bridge, who finished fourth in that same race, has a few lengths to find.

Prediction: Starting Fifteen (Win), Danny The Champ (E/W)