Punchestown Festival Guide 2025
4 minutes 2025 Punchestown Festival Review & Racaeday Information
The Punchestown Festival 2025: A Day-by-Day Guide
The Punchestown Festival, running from Tuesday 29 April to Saturday 3 May 2025, marks the grand finale of the Irish jump racing season. It’s a week steeped in top-class sport, electric atmosphere, live entertainment, and social buzz, with something for everyone – from hardcore racing fans to style enthusiasts. Here's your full guide to each day of the festival, including the headline races and where you can catch all the action from the UK and Ireland.
Day One – Tuesday 29 April: William Hill Champion Chase Day
The festival roars into life with a day for the racing purists. Three Grade 1 contests highlight Tuesday’s card, culminating in the William Hill Champion Chase, a thrilling two-mile test worth €300,000. Other key races include the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase and the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle, both showcasing the future stars of chasing and hurdling. The action kicks off at 2.30pm with the traditional Cross Country Chase.
Day Two – Wednesday 30 April: Ladbrokes Gold Cup Day
The jewel in Punchestown’s crown, Wednesday features the prestigious Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup, a €300,000 Grade 1 chase over three miles. This race has produced unforgettable moments, including Ruby Walsh’s emotional final winner in 2019. Supporting highlights include the Race and Stay at Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race and the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle. Gates open at noon, with the first race again at 2.30pm.
Day Three – Thursday 1 May: Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle Day
Thursday is all about stamina and endurance, led by the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle, another €300,000 Grade 1 event, stretching runners over nearly three miles. It's a day rich in tradition, including the quirky La Touche Cupcross-country race. Racing begins at 2.30pm, and after the last race, the Goffs Punchestown Sale takes place in the winner’s enclosure, attracting plenty of interest from owners and trainers.
Day Four – Friday 2 May: Boodles Champion Hurdle Day
The social highlight of the week arrives on Friday, pairing serious racing with high-end style, as the Boodles Champion Hurdle headlines proceedings. This €300,000 Grade 1 race attracts the best current and former champion hurdlers. Meanwhile, the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition will crown its fashion winners in the Bollinger Garden. Racing starts later, with the first race off at 3.40pm and the feature races filling an exciting twilight card.
Day Five – Saturday 3 May: SBK Festival Finale Day
The festival concludes with a family-friendly celebration of the Irish jumps season. Saturday’s card features the SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle, a Grade 1 contest worth €125,000. There’s a real party atmosphere, with junior fans catered for in the Junior Jockey Club Fun Zone and season-long championships awarded throughout the afternoon. Racing starts at 2.30pm, making it an ideal day out for everyone.
How to Watch the Punchestown Festival 2025
For those unable to attend the festival in person, there are plenty of options to catch the action live:
- In Ireland, full live coverage will be provided by RTÉ Racing, which airs across RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player.
- In the UK, fans can tune into Racing TV, the home of Irish and British jump racing, for wall-to-wall live broadcasts and expert analysis.
- Many bookmakers’ apps and websites also stream live races if you have a funded account or have placed a bet on the day.
Whether you’re heading to Punchestown for the vibrant festival atmosphere or tuning in from home, the 2025 Festival promises another unforgettable celebration of Irish jump racing at its very best.
A Brief History of the Punchestown Festival
The Punchestown Festival has long been regarded as the pinnacle of the Irish National Hunt racing season. Its origins date back to the early 19th century, when the first recorded race meeting took place at Punchestown in 1827. Initially a local affair, it quickly grew in stature, and by the mid-1800s, the Punchestown Races were already attracting crowds from across Ireland and beyond. In fact, Punchestown became so renowned that it earned the nickname "the home of Irish jump racing," a title it still proudly holds today.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the festival had firmly established itself as a major social and sporting occasion. The involvement of British and Irish aristocracy helped to raise its profile, and Punchestown’s unique blend of high-quality racing, hospitality, and tradition made it a highlight of the spring calendar. The festival’s Cross Country Chase, run over a specially designed banks course, became a defining feature that set it apart from other major meetings.
Over time, the Punchestown Festival expanded into the five-day celebration we know today, featuring multiple Grade 1 contests and showcasing the very best of Irish and British-trained talent. It remains a fitting finale to the jump season, not only as a battleground for the sport’s greatest names but also as a cherished cultural event, blending racing excellence with style, entertainment, and Irish hospitality.
