Punchestown Festival 2026 - Course Guide, Betting Tips with Odds

🎲 Punchestown Festival Ante-Post Betting Odds

Punchestown festival betting is largely focused on win and each-way markets. Picking a race winner can unlock competitive odds and potentially high returns, while each-way betting increases your chances of banking at least some kind of return.

Below, you’ll find the ante-post Punchestown betting odds from the five highest profile races at the festival. These odds reveal your projected return and each runner’s implied win probability, while each-way bets usually pay out at a price of 1.20 or 1.25.

1️⃣ Champion Chase Day Odds

Horse

Il Etait Temps

2.20

N/A

N/A

2.25

Marine Nationale

2.20

N/A

N/A

2.75

Majborough

3.50

N/A

N/A

N/A

Solness

11.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

Energumene

13.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

Gidleigh Park

26.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

Blood Destiny

34.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

Captain Guiness

2.20

N/A

N/A

51.00

Horse

Il Etait Temps

2.20

N/A

N/A

2.25

Marine Nationale

2.20

N/A

N/A

2.75

Majborough

3.50

N/A

N/A

N/A

Solness

11.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

Energumene

13.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

Gidleigh Park

26.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

Blood Destiny

34.00

N/A

N/A

N/A

Captain Guiness

2.20

N/A

N/A

51.00

⚠️Odds are subject to change. Please check before placing your bets.

2️⃣ Punchestown Gold Cup Odds

Horse

Gaelic Warrior

N/A

TBA

N/A

2.25

Fact To File

N/A

TBA

N/A

2.38

Inothewayurthinkin

N/A

TBC

N/A

5.50

Grangeclare West

N/A

TBC

N/A

11.00

The Jukebox Man

N/A

TBC

N/A

11.00

Impaire Et Passe

N/A

TBC

N/A

15.00

Nick Rockett

N/A

17.00

N/A

N/A

Champ Kiely

N/A

26.00

N/A

N/A

Horse

Gaelic Warrior

N/A

TBA

N/A

2.25

Fact To File

N/A

TBA

N/A

2.38

Inothewayurthinkin

N/A

TBC

N/A

5.50

Grangeclare West

N/A

TBC

N/A

11.00

The Jukebox Man

N/A

TBC

N/A

11.00

Impaire Et Passe

N/A

TBC

N/A

15.00

Nick Rockett

N/A

17.00

N/A

N/A

Champ Kiely

N/A

26.00

N/A

N/A

⚠️Odds are subject to change. Please check before placing your bets.

3️⃣ Punchestown Champion Stayers Hurdle Odds

Horse

Teahupoo

N/A

TBC

N/A

3.00

Bob Olinger

N/A

TBC

N/A

4.00

Honesty policy

N/A

TBC

N/A

6.50

Home By The Lee

N/A

TBC

N/A

7.00

Kawaboomga

N/A

TBC

N/A

8.00

Jade De Grugy

N/A

TBC

N/A

13.00

Jimmy Du Seuil

N/A

TBC

N/A

13.00

Air Of Entitlement

N/A

TBC

N/A

17.00

Horse

Teahupoo

N/A

TBC

N/A

3.00

Bob Olinger

N/A

TBC

N/A

4.00

Honesty policy

N/A

TBC

N/A

6.50

Home By The Lee

N/A

TBC

N/A

7.00

Kawaboomga

N/A

TBC

N/A

8.00

Jade De Grugy

N/A

TBC

N/A

13.00

Jimmy Du Seuil

N/A

TBC

N/A

13.00

Air Of Entitlement

N/A

TBC

N/A

17.00

⚠️Odds are subject to change. Please check before placing your bets.

4️⃣ Punchestown Champion Hurdle Odds

Horse

Lossiemouth

N/A

TBC

N/A

1.40

William Munny

N/A

TBC

N/A

6.00

Golden Ace

N/A

TBC

N/A

7.00

Poniros

N/A

TBC

N/A

9.00

Anzadam

N/A

TBC

N/A

11.00

Wilful

N/A

TBC

N/A

13.00

El Fabiolo

N/A

TBC

N/A

15.00

Casheldale Lad

N/A

TBC

N/A

21.00

Horse

Lossiemouth

N/A

TBC

N/A

1.40

William Munny

N/A

TBC

N/A

6.00

Golden Ace

N/A

TBC

N/A

7.00

Poniros

N/A

TBC

N/A

9.00

Anzadam

N/A

TBC

N/A

11.00

Wilful

N/A

TBC

N/A

13.00

El Fabiolo

N/A

TBC

N/A

15.00

Casheldale Lad

N/A

TBC

N/A

21.00

⚠️Odds are subject to change. Please check before placing your bets.

5️⃣ Mares Champion Hurdle Day Odds

Horse

Wodhooh

N/A

TBC

N/A

2.00

Jade De Grugy

N/A

TBC

N/A

2.50

Golden Ace

N/A

TBC

N/A

4.00

Zanoosh

N/A

TBC

N/A

6.00

Lossiemouth

N/A

TBC

N/A

6.00

Brighterdaysahead

N/A

TBC

N/A

7.00

Air Of Entitlement

N/A

TBC

N/A

9.00

Place De La Nation

N/A

TBC

N/A

11.00

Horse

Wodhooh

N/A

TBC

N/A

2.00

Jade De Grugy

N/A

TBC

N/A

2.50

Golden Ace

N/A

TBC

N/A

4.00

Zanoosh

N/A

TBC

N/A

6.00

Lossiemouth

N/A

TBC

N/A

6.00

Brighterdaysahead

N/A

TBC

N/A

7.00

Air Of Entitlement

N/A

TBC

N/A

9.00

Place De La Nation

N/A

TBC

N/A

11.00

⚠️Odds are subject to change. Please check before placing your bets.

💡 Punchestown Festival Betting Tips

Before you wager at the current Punchestown Festival betting odds, it’s important to identify the best value lines and markets. To help in this regard, we’ve published some expert Punchestown betting tips below. These are focused on the festival’s most popular races.

Tip 1 - Back Il Etait Temps Each-Way in the Champion Chase

In the previous 20 renewals of the Punchestown Champion Chase, eight starting favourites have gone on to win (40.0%).

The SP favourite has also placed in the top two on 14 occasions during this period (70.0%), with this trend highlighting Il Etait Temps as a viable each-way pick. The runner also won superbly in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last time out, highlighting his ability in G1 company and good-to-soft going.

This eight-year-old gelding also belongs to the Willie Mullins stable, with the Irish trainer having fielded seven winners and 15 placed finishers from a total of runners since 2005.

Tip 2 - Pick Gaelic Warrior in the Gold Cup Each-Way Market

The Willie Mullins-trained pair of Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File are dominating Punchestown Gold Cup betting online, having engaged in three high-profile battles already this season.

Fact To File won the most recent meeting at the Irish Gold Cup in Leopardstown, prevailing by five lengths from his rival. However, Gaelic Warrior won the Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase impressively last month, timing his run superbly over a distance that’s slightly longer than the Punchestown alternative.

Gaelic Warrior has also placed in seven of his eight chase outings to date, so consider backing him each-way in the Punchestown Gold Cup at his current odds.

Tip 3 - Back Home By The Lee Each-Way in the Stayers Hurdle

While Joseph Patrick O'Brien’s Home By The Lee may now be 11 years old, he has won on all three of his outings in 2026 and offers significant each-way value at his current odds of 7.00.

This run includes an incredible victory in the G1 Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, when he stayed the near three-mile course superbly and overcame a number of fancied rivals.

Interestingly, the most telling trend factor in the Punchestown Stayers Hurdle is when runners had 1+ win in the previous 180 days.

This has produced 10+ winners and a positive LSP of +31.80 since 2005 and it favours Back Home By The Lee, especially as rival runners Teahupoo, Bob Olinger and Honesty Policy have failed to record a win during this period.

Tip 4 - Get on Lossiemouth to Win the Punchestown Champion Hurdle

Lossiemouth is priced at just 1.40 to win the Punchestown Champion Hurdle by BoyleSports, with these odds implying a 71.4% probability of success. These odds are noticeably short, and have been ever since the seven year old won superbly in the G1 Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy.

Here, Lossiemouth raced prominently before pulling clear down the stretch, as she dominated over the Champion Hurdle distance. Overall, she has won five of his previous six outings over the hurdles, while she ticks a number of historic trend factors at Punchestown.

Lossiemoth belongs to the Willie Mullins stable too, which has produced an incredible 10 Punchestown Champion Hurdle winners since 2005. So, although she’ll be pushed hard by Jeremy Scott’s Golden Ace, there’s value in backing Lossiemouth to win with a potentially increased bet unit.

Tip 5 - Back Wodhooh Each-Way in the Punchestown Mares Champion Hurdle

The Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham has produced seven of the last eight winners of the Punchestown equivalent, with four of these runners doing the double. This includes the aforementioned Lossiemouth, who was the last mare to achieve this feat in 2024.

While Lossiemouth may also compete in the 2026 Punchestown Mares Champion Hurdle, Wodhooh is our pick to prevail here. She also won the G1 Close Brothers Mares´ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, riding prominently throughout and easing down the straight to prevail by one length from rival Jade De Grugy.

Wodhooh has won on all four of her hurdles outings to date, and has 13 placed finishes in 15 total career races (86.6%). She also belongs to a Gordon Elliot stable that has produced two Mares Champion Hurdle winners in the previous 20 renewals, and offers tremendous value as an each pick here.

🔮 How Our Are Punchestown Tips Selected

When analysing our Punchestown betting tips today, it’s important to understand the key factors that inform our picks. We’ve explained each of these in more detail below, including age, runner form and the impact of class ratings.

• Age: It’s important to analyse age trends in specific races, as some events and distances tend to suit progressive runners as opposed to older horses. For example, nine of the previous 10 Punchestown Gold Cup winners have been aged between seven and nine (90.0%), with Carlingford Lough the only runner to buck this trend when aged 10 in 2016. Jump horses typically start to peak at the age of seven, with progressive runners of this type typically adept and capable of improving further in the near-term.


• Horse Form: Horse form is also an important factor, in terms of both recent outings and historic performances at Punchestown. Our methodology also involves identifying the most relevant form data, such as how a runner has performed in a particular class or over a specified distance. We’d also recommend that you consider form across specific race types. For example, the Mares Champion Hurdle contender Wodooh has a 66.6% career win-rate overall, but has prevailed in all four of his hurdle outings.


• Class Ratings: As we’ve touched on, there are 12 G1 races scheduled at Punchestown this year, including the Gold Cup. When analysing form and picking potential winners in such races, you should give additional weight to runners that have previously competed (and ideally won) within this class. Runners with G1 experience are used to performing in large and high-quality fields, potentially giving them an edge over younger or less travelled horses.


• Distance: Most races at Punchestown are contested over between two and three miles, and it’s important to appraise how runners have performed over relevant distances before backing them. For example, the Gold Cup covers a distance of just over three miles, which Gaelic Warrior traversed superbly when winning the Cheltenham equivalent back in March. This insight can be combined with the above factors to create more informed and well-rounded picks.

🏇 Punchestown Festival Predictions

Before betting on the Punchestown Festival, we’d also recommend that you check out our horse racing predictions below. This information will continue to be updated in the build-up to the event.

Past Events

	Punchestown Champion Stayers Hurdle - Outright Winner 01 May 2025 The 2025 Punchestown Champion Stayers Hurdle will be run at Punchestown on the 1st of May, and this is who we think will go on to win: Find out more
	Punchestown Gold Cup 2025 – Outright Winner 30 Apr 2025 The 2025 Punchestown Gold Cup will be run at Punchestown on the 30th of April, and this is who we think will go on to win: Find out more
	Punchestown Champion Chase – Outright Winner 29 Apr 2025 The 2025 Punchestown Champion Chase will be run at Punchestown on the 29th of April, and this is who we think will go on to win: Find out more

⚡Punchestown Betting Sites

We’ve identified Directionbet, Lunubet, Scored Sports and William Hill as the best Punchestown betting sites based on our comprehensive online bookmaker reviews. These operators all offer outstanding market coverage and a host of free bet offers, while brands like William Hill also deliver the best odds guaranteed on UK and Irish races.

Directionbet

DirectionBet Sports provides extensive coverage of horse racing in the UK and Ireland, in addition to meetings across the globe. It also publishes detailed and accessible runner data ahead of each race, including their age, recent odds history and any relevant weight allocations.

As a new customer, you’re eligible to receive a 100% first deposit match up to €100. We analysed this as part of our DirectionBet review, and found that wagering requirements of 16x the total bonus value must be fulfilled within 21 days of issuance.

You can also access a 50% reload bonus up to €50, which unlocks minimum odds of 1.80 and the overwhelming majority of Punchestown betting markets. You can even opt in and receive €50 in free bet tokens every single month at Directionbet.

Lunubet

Lunubet also offers extensive coverage of international races and domestic events like the Punchestown Festival. This site also offers excellent value when engaging in each-way betting, as it pays out such wagers at competitive odds of 1.25. The average payout for each-way bets is 1.20.

If you intend to pick multiple winners across the whole of the Punchestown Festival, Lunubet is also running an accumulator boost up to 100% and €100,000. Successful accas must include 21+ selections if you want to unlock the full 100% boost, while qualifying bets must have 3+ picks at minimum odds of 1.70 each.

During our Lunubet review, we also discovered that you can claim 10% of your weekly qualifying losses in the form of cashback, up to €500. The welcome bonus will also match your first deposit by 100% up to the value of €200.

Scored Sport

While Scored Sport may be a new and disruptive market force, it’s also one of the most innovative Punchestown betting sites. This operator even offers 0% margin odds on selected high-profile markets, including those associated with races like the Punchestown Gold Cup.

In terms of Punchestown betting offers, Scored rewards all new customers with a welcome package that’s worth up to €1,000. This includes a 100% first deposit match up to €250, which must be wagered 6x at relatively competitive minimum odds of 1.59.

When we carried out our Scored Sport review, we found that the site also offers instant cashback on qualifying losing bets, often up to 10%. The site also provides extensive livestreaming, covering 150,000+ events per year and numerous race meetings in Ireland.

William Hill

William Hill is renowned for offering the best Punchestown betting odds. This is because it provides the best odds guaranteed on all UK and Irish races, which ensures that your wagers are paid out at either the starting price or the odds you bet at (whichever is higher).

You can even access a daily race winning boost on qualifying markets. Simply pick your runners and opt into the bonus, and winning bets will be boosted up to the value of €20.

When we conducted our William Hill review, we uncovered a welcome bonus that lets you bet €10 and receive €40 in free bets. This requires a minimum deposit of €10, while your qualifying wager must be staked odds of 1.50 or greater.

📊 Punchestown Festival Course Guide

The Punchestown Festival is the standout horse racing meeting in Ireland, having been formerly established back in 1861. The festival started out life as a two-day event and evolved to incorporate four days of racing in 1999, before adopting its current five-day format in 2008.

The Punchestown Course is located on the outskirts of Naas in Co Kildare and some 35km southwest of Dublin. It’s home to a right-handed, galloping, undulating track with a steady climb through the last five furlongs to the winning post, while the straight is three furlongs in length. A high draw is favoured here, during all trips of seven furlongs and up.

The hurdles track is more undulating than the chase course, while a slight downhill section beyond the winning post can be challenging for runners. In total, the course has 11 fences that are considered to be fair but challenging, with Punchestown providing a genuine test for both hurdle and chase contenders.

📆 Punchestown Festival Race Schedule

Day 1 – William Hill Champions Chase Day (Tuesday, 28th April 2026)

Day 2 - Ladbrokes Gold Cup Day (Wednesday, 29th April 2026

Day 3 - Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle Day (Thursday, 30th April 2026

Day 4 - Boodles Champion Hurdle Day (Friday, 1st May 2026)

Day 5 - SKB Festival Finale (Saturday, 2nd May 2026

📈 Punchestown Jockey & Trainer Statistics

When informing your Punchestown betting picks, it’s important to also analyse and identify the most successful jockeys and trainers.

In particular, keep your eyes peeled for potent jockey and trainer combinations, especially those with a track record of success at Punchestown. Here’s a summary of the track’s best performing jockeys and trainers over the previous five seasons.

Top Jockeys and Trainers

Paul Townend is not only the most successful jockey at Punchestown over the last five seasons, but he’s also one of just two riders to win multiple Gold Cups at the track since 2005. Incredibly, Townend has also ridden 184 placed finishers at Punchestown since 2021, creating a success rate of 72.1%.

In terms of the Punchestown Festival alone, Willie Mullins is Ireland's champion trainer and tends to dominate here on an annual basis. He also has the most wins of any trainer at the Punchestown course over the last five National Hunt seasons, while his overall win-rate of 25.2% is unrivalled.

❓ PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL FAQ’s