Punchestown is the finale of the Irish jump racing season, held in County Kildare after Cheltenham and Aintree. The 2027 Punchestown Festival runs from Tuesday 27 April to Saturday 1 May, with a Grade 1 feature on each of the first four days. This Punchestown Festival betting guide covers the days, the feature races, the markets, the trainers to follow and the betting terms that matter, with euro examples. It is not a tipping service.
- The 2027 festival runs from Tuesday 27 April to Saturday 1 May, with Grade 1 features on the first four days, each worth about €300,000.
- Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott dominate the festival, so prices on their runners are often short.
- Many horses arrive from Cheltenham and Aintree, so check how they came out of those races.
- Ante-post bets lose your stake if the horse does not run, and the going can change with spring rain.
What are the Punchestown Festival 2027 dates and feature races?
| Day | Feature race |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 27 April | Punchestown Champion Chase (Grade 1), with the Champion Novice Hurdle and Champion Novice Chase |
| Wednesday 28 April | Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1), with the Champion INH Flat Race |
| Thursday 29 April | Champion Stayers Hurdle, with the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1) |
| Friday 30 April | Punchestown Champion Hurdle, with the Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) |
| Saturday 1 May | The festival finale, including the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle and Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle |
Race names, days and prize money are as listed by the organisers and may change, and at least one preview source has the day headings out by a day, so check the official card before you bet. The feature races have been reported at about €300,000 each, and the Saturday finale races at €125,000.
A short history of Punchestown
Racing has taken place at Punchestown since 1824. The festival grew from two or three days to four in 1999 and to five in 2008, and in the 1960s the meeting was designated the National Hunt Meeting of Ireland. Punchestown describes its 2024 festival as 40 races, including 12 Grade 1 contests and €3.5 million in prize money, and says the event generates more than €60 million for the local economy.
What are the main Punchestown betting markets?
Race winner and each-way
You can bet ante-post or on the day. Check the number of places and the fraction. For example, €5 each-way on a 6/1 horse with a fifth of the odds for four places costs €10. If it wins, the win part pays €30 profit and the place part pays €6 profit (a fifth of 6/1 is 1.2/1), so you receive €46 including stakes. If it places only, the place part returns €11 and you lose the €5 win stake, so you are €1 up. Use the each-way calculator for your own numbers.
Leading trainer and jockey
Festival-long markets on which trainer or jockey will have the most winners. Willie Mullins has had around 138 winners over the last ten festivals according to one preview, and Paul Townend has ridden around 58 winners since 2016, all for Mullins. Gordon Elliott is the next most successful trainer. Prices on these markets reflect that, so there is little value in the obvious choice.
Irish v British
Markets on which country has more winners are less common than at Cheltenham, because Irish-trained horses dominate the week. One preview counted 87 Cheltenham runners at Punchestown in 2026 producing 11 winners, but only one winner from 49 English-trained runners.
Multiples
Doubles, trebles and accumulators across the card. Each extra leg lowers the chance of a winning bet. See bet types explained and the bet calculator.
What should you check before betting on Punchestown?
- The going. It can change through the week and after spring rain.
- Form at Punchestown and over the distance. Some horses relish the track and others do not.
- The Cheltenham and Aintree route. Horses that ran at Cheltenham or Aintree may be tired or may have been targeted at Punchestown all along. Look at how they came out of those races.
- Trainer and jockey form, including the yards that have been in good form in the spring.
- Bookmaker terms. Non-runner, Rule 4 and best odds guaranteed rules, and any extra places.
How to approach the novice races
Punchestown has a heavy programme of novice races, which are for horses that are in their first seasons over hurdles or fences. Novices have short form lines, so prices lean heavily on Irish form, on how a horse has performed at Cheltenham, and on the reputation of its stable. A short-priced novice from a top yard can look hard to oppose, but the combination of a big field, a new trip and a testing track is a classic setting for upsets. If you want to bet novices, consider smaller stakes and each-way cover rather than a big win bet on a short price.
National Hunt flat races explained
The Champion INH Flat Race is a National Hunt flat race, often called a bumper. INH stands for Irish National Hunt, and these races are run on the flat without obstacles for horses that have not yet jumped. They are used to gauge future jumpers, so form is limited and prices can be volatile. Treat them as a market with less information and a bigger margin for error.
The Cheltenham to Punchestown route
Many of the top Irish jumpers have a season that builds towards Cheltenham in March, followed by Aintree in April and Punchestown at the end of April. Trainers sometimes skip a race to freshen a horse, and some runners arrive here after a hard campaign. Ask three questions before you back a Cheltenham runner at Punchestown. How did it come out of the race? Has the ground changed in its favour? Is the trainer using this as a main target or a consolation? Horses with Cheltenham form can be well backed at Punchestown, so the value is not always where the form is strongest.
Setting a budget for a five-day festival
A five-day meeting makes it easy to lose track of how much you have staked. Decide your total budget and a daily limit before the first race, keep a note of each bet, and stop when you reach your limit. Avoid doubling up to recover losses from earlier in the week. Use our bet calculator to check what each bet costs and returns before you place it.
Ante-post and non-runners
Ante-post bets can offer bigger prices, but in most ante-post markets you lose your stake if your horse does not run. Spring ground can change plans and trainers often run horses at one festival or the other. Non-runner no bet may be offered closer to the day, usually at shorter prices. On the day, if a horse is withdrawn, a Rule 4 deduction may apply to winning bets. Our horse racing betting guide explains Rule 4 with a euro example.
Where can you bet on Punchestown in Ireland?
Use a bookmaker licensed for Irish customers. See betting sites in Ireland, betting apps, how to check a bookmaker is licensed and our free bets guide before you claim an offer.
Bet responsibly during the festival
Big race weeks encourage bigger stakes, more bets and longer sessions than a normal card. Set a budget before you start, decide your maximum loss for each day and stick to it. Do not chase losses, do not bet to unlock an offer, and never use money that you need for bills. Most bookmakers licensed for Irish customers offer deposit limits and time-outs, and you should set them before the first race. If betting stops being fun, GamblingCare.ie offers free, confidential help on 1800 936 725, 24 hours a day. Read more on our responsible gambling page. You must be 18 or over to bet in Ireland.
For the course itself, including the November Premiere Weekend and how to get there, see our Punchestown racecourse guide and the Irish horse racing hub.
Related guides
- Cheltenham Festival betting guide
- Grand National betting guide
- Galway Races betting guide
- Horse racing betting guide
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Punchestown Festival?
Tuesday 27 April to Saturday 1 May 2027, at Punchestown in County Kildare.
What are the feature races?
The Champion Chase, the Gold Cup, the Champion Stayers Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle on the first four days, plus the finale on Saturday.
Who are the leading trainers at Punchestown?
Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have been the most successful trainers in recent years, according to published trends.
What is each-way betting?
Two equal bets, one on the horse to win and one to place, with the place part paid at a fraction of the odds.
Are Punchestown tips reliable?
No. No tip is a guarantee, and favourites lose often.
Sources and further reading
- OLBG: essential guide to the Punchestown Festival – dates, feature races and recent trends
- Punchestown Racecourse – official festival information
- Horse Racing Ireland: bookmaker information – Rule 4 deductions
- GamblingCare.ie – free, confidential support
18+. Please play responsibly, gamblingcare.ie. This guide is independent editorial opinion; it is not a guarantee, endorsement or financial advice, and PunterIreland may earn a commission if you join an operator through our links.
Last updated 10 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.
