This guide to Punchestown racecourse covers the main meetings, how to get there and what to check before you bet. Punchestown is in Naas, Co. Kildare, 35 km from Dublin city centre, and is billed by Horse Racing Ireland as the home of Irish jump racing. Its racing season runs from September to June.
- Punchestown in Naas, Co. Kildare, is described by Horse Racing Ireland as the home of Irish jump racing.
- Festival: five days in April with 12 Grade 1 races, including the Punchestown Gold Cup.
- Also: the Premiere Weekend in November, with the Morgiana Hurdle and the John Durkan Chase.
What is racing like at Punchestown?
It matters to punters twice a year. The November Premiere Weekend starts the top-level jumps season, and the April festival closes it.
Main meetings and races at Punchestown
- Punchestown Festival: April, five days with 12 Grade 1 races, including the Champion Novice Hurdle and the Punchestown Gold Cup.
- Premiere Weekend: November, with a Grade 1 double of the Morgiana Hurdle and the John Durkan Chase.
Our Punchestown Festival betting guide goes deeper on the April festival, including how ante-post markets work and what to check on the day.
How do you get to Punchestown?
By rail, Irish Rail runs from Dublin Heuston to Sallins station, just outside Naas. During the festival, buses run from Dublin city centre and Naas town.
By road, the course is 35 km from Dublin city centre and 48 km from Dublin Airport.
How do you bet at Punchestown?
With 12 Grade 1 races across the April festival, there is a lot to choose from, and Grade 1 fields can be small, so favourites can be short. Compare prices across several bookmakers and read the terms on any offers. Our betting sites comparison shows which are licensed for Irish customers.
For a day of racing, a Trixie or Patent on three selections is a common way to spread risk. Try the Patent calculator to see the numbers.
What should you check before betting at Punchestown?
- The going, which can change a lot between the first and last days of a five-day festival.
- Which races are Grade 1 and which are handicaps, because the betting behaves differently.
- Whether a horse has been entered in more than one race, which affects ante-post bets.
Our guide to assessing a race goes through the racecard, the going and the odds step by step, and the horse racing betting guide explains terms such as each-way, Rule 4 and non-runners.
Related guides
- Horse racing in Ireland: courses and festivals
- Horse racing tips: how to assess a race
- Horse racing betting guide for Irish punters
- Punchestown Festival betting guide
- The Curragh guide
- Leopardstown guide
- Fairyhouse guide
- Galway Racecourse guide
- Listowel Racecourse guide
- Navan Racecourse guide
- Dundalk Stadium guide
- Down Royal guide
- Best odds guaranteed and each-way explained
- Each way calculator
- Betting sites in Ireland
Frequently asked questions
When is the Punchestown Festival?
In April, over five days. Check Horse Racing Ireland for the dates each year.
How many Grade 1 races are there at the Punchestown Festival?
Horse Racing Ireland lists 12.
Where is Punchestown racecourse?
In Naas, Co. Kildare, 35 km from Dublin city centre.
Does Punchestown stage flat racing?
Punchestown is a jumps track. Its racing season runs from September to June.
Sources and further reading
- Horse Racing Ireland: Punchestown – official course information
- Punchestown official website – fixtures, tickets and race-day travel
- Horse Racing Ireland – the governing authority for the racing industry in Ireland, with fixtures and course information
- GamblingCare.ie – free, confidential gambling support in Ireland
18+. Please play responsibly, gamblingcare.ie. This guide is independent editorial opinion; it is not a guarantee, endorsement or financial advice, and does not imply any affiliate or commercial relationship with any operator named.
Last updated 27 October 2026. Written and checked by the Punter Ireland editorial team. Offers, odds and rules change, so always check the operator’s own terms and the official sources above.
