At The Races

Punchestown Course Guide

The most prestigious racecourse in Ireland that only races under National Hunt rules, Punchestown host 17 high-quality fixtures every year. Located just outside Naas which is 30km south of Dublin, it has played host to racing at its current location since 1824.

While Punchestown hosts high-quality action throughout the National Hunt season, the highlight is unquestionably the Punchestown Festival which traditionally closes out the Irish National Hunt season and often showcases the stars of jump racing for the final time before their summer breaks. The meeting boasts no less than 12 Grade 1 races, with the traditional highlights being the Punchestown Gold Cup and the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.

Away from the Festival, Punchestown also hosts the Morgiana Hurdle in November and the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in December, which are well-established targets for many stars of National Hunt racing in the first half of the season.

Advance Going
No current information

Current Weather today at: Punchestown

Today
Cloudy

Forecast: Cloudy
Temp: 8.0° - 10.9°
Rainfall: 0.21mm
Wind: 11.6 mph S

Tomorrow
Sunny spells

Forecast: Sunny spells
Temp: -0.8° - 8.8°
Rainfall: 0.57mm
Wind: 11.2 mph NW

Last Update: 14/11/2026 07:00

A right-handed, galloping, undulating track with a steady climb through the last five furlongs. It is a very fair test of a jumper; there are eleven fences to a circuit which are not stiff by British standards and they pose few problems to sound jumpers. The cross-country course is a long and twisting one over a variety of banks and other obstacles, few of which are jumped more than once. The turns are both left- and right-handed and only the final brush fence is on the racecourse proper.


Punchestown is a story of two tracks really. The chase track is brilliant, a proper Grade 1 track. The fences are stiff, but very fair. However, I never really got on well with the hurdle track. It’s very undulating, the downhill section after the winning post can also make life difficult. The bends are very tight, especially the second-last bend, and in realty it is sharper than most people appreciate. Because of its nature, I’d much rather be handier than held up.

View from the saddle: Charlie Swan
Upcoming races

Results

12:00 Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Chase

0-100

3m ½f | 4YO plus | 12 ran
  • Winner: Western Model 9/2 JFav
  • Jockey: Sean O'Keeffe Trainer: A Kinirons
  • Owner: Espresso Martini Syndicate

12:30 Matchbook Betting Exchange Rated Novice Chase

2m ½f | 4YO plus | 7 ran
  • Winner: Rattledelatch 10/3 J2Fav
  • Jockey: Ian Power Trainer: J Queally
  • Owner: John Joseph Flynn & Conor Lannen & Mrs Miriam Queally

13:00 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Academy Hurdle

2m 2½f | 3YO only | 9 ran
  • Winner: Smokin Aces 9/4 Fav
  • Jockey: Brian Hayes Trainer: W P Mullins
  • Owner: Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd

13:30 Matchbook 50/50 Series 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle

2m | 3YO only | 10 ran
  • Winner: Coexist 11/8 Fav
  • Jockey: Darragh O'Keeffe Trainer: H De Bromhead
  • Owner: C Acheson

14:03 Matchbook 50/50 Series Maiden Hurdle

2m | 4YO plus | 10 ran
  • Winner: Bombay Pat 5/1
  • Jockey: Danny Gilligan Trainer: R O'Sullivan
  • Owner: Paul Garvey

14:38 Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Hurdle

2m | 3YO plus | 9 ran
  • Winner: Sea Eagle 5/1
  • Jockey: Thomas O'Connor Trainer: Gerard O'Leary
  • Owner: Lance Bloodstock Limited

15:13 Matchbook 50/50 Series Mares Maiden Hurdle

2m 4½f | 4YO plus | 11 ran
  • Winner: Dedudefromhouston 14/1
  • Jockey: Sean Flanagan Trainer: Colin Bowe
  • Owner: Leo McArdle

15:45 Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Hurdle

0-100

2m 4½f | 3YO plus | 22 ran
  • Winner: Westin Pimpernel 14/1
  • Jockey: Josh Williamson Trainer: G Elliott
  • Owner: VPW & MOS Partnership
Future Fixtures
Full Fixtures

Address & Contact

Punchestown Racecourse
Punchestown
Naas
Co. Kildare
Ireland
+353 (0)45 897704
Visit Website

Latest Results
Full Results