Punchestown Racing Today: Racecards, Results and Fixtures

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This page has today's Punchestown race card, live results, upcoming fixtures and our Punchestown racing tips, along with an in-depth guide to the home of Irish jump racing.

Set in the Kildare countryside near Naas, about 35 km from Dublin, Punchestown stages National Hunt racing from October to spring. The season builds towards the five-day Punchestown Festival in late April, one of the biggest jumps meetings in Europe, and the course also has Ireland's only cross-country banks course.

Punchestown Racecards for Today

The Punchestown race card today shows every runner and rider along with recent form, the latest odds and race times. It updates from final declarations right up to the off, so non-runners and going changes show as soon as they're announced. Punchestown race results are added as each race is settled, and tomorrow's Punchestown race card appears once declarations close.

Punchestown Racing Fixtures 2026

The new jumps season at Punchestown starts this week. Here are the remaining Punchestown race meetings for 2026:

The 2027 Punchestown Festival is scheduled from Tuesday 27 April to Saturday 1 May.

Punchestown Racing Tips

If you're looking for Punchestown racing tips for today, here are some general tips to keep in mind for the track:

• Race handily, especially over hurdles: Punchestown is right-handed and undulating, and its bends are tighter than they look, especially the second-last bend. Horses that race prominently find it much easier than those held up at the back.
• Respect the climb to the finish: The last five furlongs rise steadily all the way to the line. Horses that are only just getting the trip are often found out, particularly on soft ground in midwinter.
• Back solid jumpers in chases: The chase fences are stiff but fair, and the track is seen as a real Grade 1 test. Sound jumpers rarely have problems, but sloppy ones get found out on the climb to the finish.
• Follow Willie Mullins and Paul Townend: Willie Mullins has trained more than 600 National Hunt winners at Punchestown, more than double anyone else. Over the last three seasons, Paul Townend has won with 44% of his hurdle rides at the track.
• Trust the market in non-handicaps: Favourites have won about 45% of National Hunt non-handicap races at Punchestown, and 47% of non-handicap chases. That makes the market a strong guide in maidens and graded races.
• Look for horses coming from Cheltenham: Many runners at the Punchestown Festival in late April have already run at Cheltenham. Horses that ran well there and are still in form often come out on top again, but it pays to watch for any that look jaded after a long season.

Punchestown Race Track Guide

The Punchestown race track is a right-handed, galloping and undulating circuit. The chase course is about two miles round, and the hurdles course, at around a mile and six furlongs, is more undulating, with a downhill section after the winning post. There are 11 obstacles per circuit, and the final five furlongs rise steadily to the finish.

The Cross-Country Course

Punchestown has the only cross-country banks course in Ireland. It's long and twisting, with stone walls, grass banks, brush fences and other obstacles, and horses race both left- and right-handed. Only the final brush fence is on the main racecourse. The course hosts famous races such as the La Touche Cup and the Ladies Cup, and it suits experienced, clever jumpers.

Position and Going

There are no starting stalls in jump racing, so the draw doesn't apply at Punchestown. Position matters, though. The sharp bends and the steady climb to the finish mean horses that race handily and travel well usually have the advantage, while those held up need a clear run on the climb.

The going at Punchestown is usually yielding or soft from October to February, and heavy ground is common in midwinter. The Festival in late April is often run on good or good to yielding ground, which suits a different type of horse, so check the latest going report before backing a horse.

The Punchestown Festival

The Punchestown Festival is held over five days in late April and is the biggest jumps meeting of the Irish season. It features a series of Grade 1 races, including the Punchestown Gold Cup, the Champion Chase, the Champion Stayers Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle. Many of the stars from Cheltenham take each other on again here.

In 2026, Gaelic Warrior followed up his Cheltenham Gold Cup win by taking the Punchestown Gold Cup as the 5/6 favourite for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. On the Friday, Lossiemouth won the Champion Hurdle for the same team, her 11th Grade 1 success. Friday is also Ladies Day, and it drew a crowd of 43,572 in 2026, with the Bollinger Best Dressed competition one of the highlights.

History

Racing at Punchestown has a long history. The races were reorganised in 1861 as the Kildare and National Hunt Steeplechases, and by the mid-1860s, crowds of around 40,000 were attending. In 1868, the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, came to the races, and about 5,000 people travelled by train from Dublin that day alone.

Punchestown also hosts major equestrian events, including the Punchestown International Three Day Event. It held the European Eventing Championships in 1991 and 2003, and it has hosted big concerts, such as AC/DC in 2009, which drew a crowd of almost 70,000.

Top Trainers and Jockeys at Punchestown

Willie Mullins is by far the most successful trainer at Punchestown, with 612 National Hunt winners. Gordon Elliott (241), Noel Meade (160) and Jessica Harrington (139) are the next most successful.

Ruby Walsh is still the leading jockey at Punchestown with 232 winners, but Paul Townend is closing in on 193, with the same strike rate of 26%. Over the last three seasons, Townend has led both the chase and hurdle tables at Punchestown. Source: IrishRacing.com and At The Races.

Visiting Punchestown Racecourse

Punchestown Racecourse is near Naas, Co. Kildare, about 35 km from Dublin city centre via the N7 and R410, and around five minutes' drive from Naas town. The nearest train station is Sallins, and shuttle buses run from the station during the Festival. Chartered coaches also run directly from Dublin city centre for the Festival and some other feature meetings.

Punchestown races tickets can be booked online, and it's best to book early for the Festival, especially for Ladies Day on the Friday. There's no strict dress code for most meetings, but many racegoers dress up for the Festival. Hotels in Naas and the surrounding area fill up quickly during Festival week, so book accommodation well in advance.

What Channel Is Punchestown Racing On?

Every Punchestown meeting is shown live on Racing TV, which covers all Irish racing in the UK and Ireland. The Punchestown Festival is also shown on free-to-air TV in Ireland. Many bookmakers offer free live streams to customers who have a funded account or have placed a bet on the race.

Bookmakers for Punchestown Races

All the major UK and Irish bookmakers price up every Punchestown race. Look for Best Odds Guaranteed on Irish racing, extra places on the big Festival handicaps, and money-back specials, which are common during Festival week.

Punchestown Racing FAQs

Is Punchestown racing on today?

Check the fixtures table above. If there's racing at Punchestown today, the race card and race times appear at the top of this page.

What time is the first race at Punchestown today?

The race times are shown on the race card at the top of this page. Winter cards usually start in the early afternoon, and Festival cards start a little later.

Where can I find Punchestown racing results today?

Punchestown racing results are added to this page as each race is settled, including the winners and starting prices. Results from yesterday's racing and earlier meetings stay available afterwards.

When is the Punchestown Festival 2027?

The 2027 Punchestown Festival is scheduled from Tuesday 27 April to Saturday 1 May.

When is Ladies Day at Punchestown?

Ladies Day is on the Friday of the Punchestown Festival. In 2026, it drew a crowd of 43,572.

Is there flat racing at Punchestown?

Punchestown is mainly a jumps course, but it does stage a small number of Flat races.

What channel is Punchestown racing on?

Every Punchestown meeting is shown on Racing TV, and the Festival is also shown on free-to-air TV in Ireland.