BILLED as a unique celebration of Irish sport, live entertainment, style, food, drink and more, the five-day Punchestown Festival starts on Tuesday.

There are eight races each day and the action starts at 2.30pm each afternoon, with the exception of Friday which kicks off at 3.40pm. British-trained runners are an important aspect of the Festival. The Grade 1 races alone attracted 78 British entries and there are 21 for the supporting races on Tuesday, including 13 for the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final.

Before we take a look at the big races, the good news is that the weather is set to pick up from the start of the week. Met Eireann says “high pressure is looking likely to build and keep conditions overall calm and settled”.

Following the recent wet spell this should leave the ground in perfect condition for the week’s racing. Now let’s take a look at some of the expected highlights on the track.

TUESDAY

Marine Nationale was one of the easiest winners at Cheltenham and looked set for a victory lap at Punchestown in the e O’Sullivan, the 24-year-old who died in the William Hill Champion Chase next Tuesday until it was reported this week that Fact To File may be aimed at this race. So impressive over a longer trip at Cheltenham in the Ryanair Chase, Fact To File began his season with a Grade 1 win at Punchestown (defeating Galopin Des Champs) and he also has Grade 1 bumper form over two miles.

Bookmakers make Fact To File the 5/4 favourite with Marine Nationale at 2/1.

Another highlight on Tuesday will be the reappearance of Kopek Des Bordes in the Champion Novice Hurdle. So impressive at Cheltenham, the Willie Mullins-trained star should be too strong for stable companion Salvator Mundi, who himself was a very good winner at Aintree.

Mullins also has a stranglehold on Tuesday’s Champion Novice Chase, with Ballyburn, Lecky Watson, Dancing City and Impaire Et Passe at the top of the ante-post market. Which one will Paul Townend choose to ride?

WEDNESDAY

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin has been sent on his summer holidays, but his owner J.P. McManus has another strong contender for the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup in the shape of Spillane’s Tower.

A Grade 1 winner at this meeting last season, Spillane’s Tower loves Punchestown and can be forgiven for his below-par run around the tight Kempton circuit last Christmas. He avoided both Cheltenham and Aintree but his trainer Jimmy Mangan reports the horse to be ready for action.

Gold Cup runner-up Galopin Des Champs will rightly start favourite, but he was a beaten odds-on favourite in this race in 2023 and 2024.

THURSDAY

Bob Olinger and Teahupoo, both owned by Tipperary businessman Brian Acheson, are on target to renew their rivalry in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle. Don’t rule out Home By The Lee who comes here following two poor runs at Cheltenham and Aintree.

Majborough will be a banker for many on Thursday’s card. His jumping let him down at Cheltenham and yet he still almost won the Arkle.

FRIDAY

The last three Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winners are being aimed at the Boodles Champion Hurdle: current titleholder Golden Ace, her predecessor State Man and the 2023 victor, Constitution Hill. There is also the possibility of the mares Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead taking part.

SATURDAY

Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead are far more likely to run in Saturday’s SBK Irish EBF Mares’ Champion Hurdle. There’s also the Ballymore Champion 4YO Hurdle, which could feature a rematch between Cheltenham winner Poniros and runner-up Lulamba.

THE Punchestown team is making every effort to ensure that racehorse owners with a runner next week have an enjoyable and memorable experience. A number of enhancements for owners and trainers have been introduced ahead of the Festival.

Owners with runners are strongly advised to register their guests before raceday. A Punchestown spokesperson said: “To help us plan ahead and make your day as seamless as possible, please register the names of any attending guests or representatives when you receive your declaration email from Horse Racing Ireland.

“This HRI declaration stage email is important. It outlines ticket allocations and key owner information. Please read it for your own benefit on the day.”

Owners with a runner who have fully utilised their guest allocation via HRI can also avail of a 20% discount on additional tickets by calling Ciara before noon the day before racing on (045) 897704 or email info@punchestown.com.

There is ample free parking on site, including a designated owners and trainers car park (first come, first served). Owners must display your AIR card or AIRO sticker to gain access.

There is a dedicated owners and trainers entrance area, in association with Goffs. The entrance will remain at the same location as previous years - to the right of the main entrance building.

Owners with a declared runner are asked to check in here on the day by giving the name registered via the HRI declaration email. This will allow owners to collect their owner packs containing badges and passes.

Pre-registering guest names via the HRI declaration email greatly streamlines this process.

Each owner pack contains:

Wristband x 4pp max

Swing badge

All AIR card holders and pre-registered guests or representatives will receive a swing badge which grants access to:

Goffs Owners & Trainers Lounge

The Goffs Owners & Trainers Lounge located on the first floor of The Hunt Stand will serve buffet lunch for owners who have a runner on the day. There are four complimentary meal vouchers per owner/partnership/syndicate or club with a declared runner(s). Meal vouchers will be allocated to the AIR cardholders or their nominated representatives.

To access this venue please make your way through the arch at the winners enclosure end of the parade ring. Continue straight ahead and then use the side entrance into the Hunt stand.

Following trials during the season and discussions with colleagues at similar events, Punchestown has introduced a limited dining reservations for peak times. Upon arrival at The Goffs Owners & Trainers Lounge reception a Punchestown staff member will guide owners to their table where, during peak times, a 45-minute dining time allocation will be in place.

Festival Owners & Trainers Bar

In light of the large numbers of owners, syndicate members and guests Punchestown has introduced a new Festival Owners & Trainers Bar. This will be conveniently located on the ground floor of the Hunt Stand with access to the trackside viewing lawn and southern enclosure.

To access this venue owners should make their way through the arch at the winner’s enclosure end of the parade ring. Continue straight ahead past the Goffs Owners and Trainers Lounge entrance and the door will be on your left before the Hospitality Pavilions entrance. This venue is accessible with a wristband or swing badge.

Both the Goffs Owners & Trainers Lounge and Winners Room are fully wheelchair accessible

Parade Ring

Owners must display the appropriate badge to gain access to the pre-race parade ring. It is requested that small children are not brought into the parade ring if avoidable.

Winning and placed connections will be invited for a celebratory drink in the Bollinger winner’s room. They can enjoy a complimentary post-race drink and watch a replay of the race in the dedicated area of the new festival Owners & Trainers Bar in the Hunt Stand. Punchestown’s owner liaison team will be on hand to bring owners and their guests to the venue.

NICKY Henderson has confirmed Constitution Hill will run at Punchestown next Friday “barring any hiccups” in a planned schooling session in the coming days.

The Seven Barrows handler floated the idea of running in Ireland after Constitution Hill fell in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, but then opted to send him to the Aintree Hurdle earlier this month, where he again came to grief at the second last.

With regular partner Nico de Boinville currently sidelined, James Bowen rode Constitution Hill in a gallop yesteday morning and the eight-year-old is on course for the Boodles Champion Hurdle on Friday, pending a satisfactory schooling spin.

“The news is good, and I’m delighted to say that we will give the green light for Constitution Hill to run at Punchestown next Friday,” Henderson said.

“James Bowen rode him. They worked on the Jockey Club Estates All-Weather gallop, and everything went exactly as I’d wanted; it was super and he is in great form and I couldn’t have asked for more. They worked on the Jockey Club Estates All-Weather gallop, which we refer to as ‘the back of the hill’ and everything went exactly as I’d wanted; it was super and he is in great form and I couldn’t have asked for more.

“He will school either tomorrow [Saturday] or Sunday and barring any hiccups he’ll be heading off.”

ADMISSION tickets for each day can be bought online now for €35, a saving of €5 on the turnstile price. Students and seniors can go racing for €25 each day. Friday is Ladies Day and the general admission price is €45 online or €50 on the day. It’s €35 for students and seniors on that afternoon.

Friday is certain to attract a huge crowd. Racegoers are encouraged to make use of the Friday ‘drop and collect’ bus service which serves the Killashee House Hotel and Naas Racecourse. Running from noon, the service is free outbound and just €5 cash return.

On Saturday a family ticket priced at €50 will admit two adults with children.

Web: punchestown.com