PUNCHESTOWN RACES

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The Irish National Hunt Festival

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 25th(e), 26th(e), 27th(e), 28th(e) and 29th April 2023. Fourth day - Friday 28th April 2023 (E)

Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland. T 045 897704 F 045 897319

CEO: Mr. Conor O’Neill

E racing@punchestown.com W www.punchestown.com

Trustees: F. Heffernan Esq., Ms. C. Lawlor., N. Speirs Esq.

Directors: Mr D. Mongey (Chairman), Ms. L. Young, Mr. R. O’Sullivan, Mr L. Queally, Mr. J. Morris, Mr. D. Ashmore, Mr. C. O’Reilly and Mr. N. Speirs

President of the Kildare Hunt Club: Mr. N. MacDermott Esq.

OFFICIALS:

Receiver of Entries: Horse Racing Ireland, Ballymany, The Curragh, Co Kildare.

Stakeholder: Horse Racing Ireland

Veterinary Surgeons: Mr. K. McConnell (Stable Yard), Mr. H. Dillion (Track), Mr. M. McRedmond (Track), Mr. T. Burns (Track) & Mr. P. Traynor (Parade Ring/Track Pull Up)

Medical Officers: Dr. B. Healy & Dr. D. Nolan

Racecourse Farrier: Mr. Eamon Behan

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board is responsible for the integrity of Irish Racing. In fulfiling this role, they provide Stewards and professional Officials at all racemeetings to ensure that their rules are properly observed.

The following list of Stewards and Officials are officiating at today’s race meeting:

Acting Stewards: Mr. Justice T. Hunt, Mr. N. McCaffery, Mr. W. Flood, Mr. J.M. McGrath & Mr. L. Walsh

Clerk of the Course: Mr. B. Sheridan

Assistant Clerk of the Course: Mr. T.V. O’Connell

Clerk of the Scales: Mr. P.L. Malone

Starter: Mr. J.R. Banahan

Starter Assistant: Mr. D. Cullen

Judge: Mr. D. Maher

Handicapper: Mr. A. Shaw

Stewards Secretaries: Mr. P. Deegan & Mr. L. Aspell

Medical Officers: Dr. J. Pugh & Dr. R. Downey

Veterinary Officer: Ms. E. Costello MVB

Veterinary Assistants: Ms. C.S. Murphy & Mr. J. Casey

Security Officers: Mr. C. Gordon & Mr. D. Buckley

No card authentic unless signed

Dear Friends of Punchestown,

On behalf of the Kildare Hunt Club and the entire team here at Punchestown Racecourse I’m delighted to welcome you to the penultimate day of the 2023 Punchestown Festival. We say it time and time again, although it really is the people that make Punchestown, it simply would not be the same without you. We truly thank you for supporting us in these challenging times and for joining us today and we really hope you enjoy everything that the Punchestown experience has to offer.

Today’s feature race is of course the Grade 1 €300,000 Paddy Power Champion Hurdle which is one of the most eagerly anticipated contests of the week. This race is renowned for its illustrious roll of honour producing timeless champions such as our most recent winner Honeysuckle, Faugheen, Hurricane Fly, Jezki, Hardy Eustace and of course the legendary Istabraq. I would like to welcome all the team from Paddy Power to the Home of Irish Jump Racing and I would also like to acknowledge and thank all our sponsors today and indeed throughout the week for their continued support. It is their involvement that enables us to showcase the highest calibre of equine and sporting talent on both sides of the Irish Sea, for the grand finale of the Irish jump racing season. Whilst the season is nearing the end, with over €3.3 million in prizemoney and 12 Grade 1 contests on offer this week there is still plenty to play for and perhaps the best is yet to come!

It is not all just about the action on the racecourse today either as the social aspect of the Punchestown Festival really comes into its own. The overall winner of the Bollinger Best Dressed will be judged and announced shortly after the first race in the Bollinger Lounge and Garden located in the Style Quarter in the Reserved Enclosure, so make sure to soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the colour, style and elegance that it provides.

We’re thrilled to see such an array of notable entries from the U.K. throughout the week who are set to renew rivalries again on Irish soil. The U.K. involvement is such an integral part of our festival and we sincerely thank all trainers, owners, jockeys and racing enthusiasts for making the extra effort to travel to Punchestown. We really do hope you enjoy the experience and we wish you every success and a safe journey home.

The Punchestown Festival really is something to savour and we hope that you enjoy the action on and off the track with a host of entertainment lined up for all to enjoy. Don’t miss a moment of the magic, enjoy the Punchestown experience and we very much look forward to welcoming festival goers of all ages back tomorrow for the final day of the 2023 Punchestown Festival which is of course Ballymore Family Day as we sign off on the 2023 Punchestown Festival.

Kindest Regards, Conor

O’Neill, Punchestown CEO.