The Punchestown Festival Free Bets
The Punchestown Festival takes place every April and is the Irish equivalent of the Cheltenham NH Festival. It takes place over five days with a succession of Grade 1 races every day. Sadly, the 2020 Punchestown Festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Torino are 13/8 at Bet365 to win at Benvento in Serie A tonight. Odds correct on publication
Odds Correct at 01:01 on 04-01-2021 and are subject to change.
The format of the Punchestown Festival is fairly similar to that of its Cheltenham counterpart with the top race being the Punchestown Gold Cup. The festival attracts the very best horses with those successful at the Cheltenham Festival held a month beforehand looking to win more big prizes.
The Punchestown race course is close to Naas in County Kildare in Ireland. It's a right-handed course and has a cross country course too. They've also held rock concerts with AC/DC and U2 having played there.
2017 Punchestown Festival Free Bets
Winners Over The Last 10 Years
Year | Horse | Odds | Trainer | Jockey |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | God’s Own | 9/1 | TR George | Paddy Brennan |
2015 | Felx Younger | 5/1 | Willie Mullins | Danny Mullins |
2014 | Sizing Europe | 7/1 | Henry de Bromhead | Andrew Lynch |
2013 | Spinter Sacre | 1/9 Fav | Nicky Henderson | Barry Geraghty |
2012 | Sizing Europe | 8/1 Fav | Henry de Bromhead | Andrew Lynch |
2011 | Big Zeb | 9/4 | Colm Murphy | Barry Geraghty |
2010 | Golden Silver | 12/1 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
2009 | Master Minded | 30/100 Fav | Paul Nicholls | Ruby Walsh |
2008 | Twist Magic | 6/4 Fav | Paul Nicholls | Ruby Walsh |
2007 | Mansony | 13/2 | Arthur Moore | Davy Russell |
Number of winning favourites over the last 10 years: 3
Average price of the winner over the last 10 years: 5/1
Biggest priced winner over the last 10 years: 12/1
Shortest priced winner over the last 10 years: 1/9
Wednesday April 26
It's the Punchestown Gold Cup on the second day of the Punchestown FestivaL. Favourite will be Sizing John who recently won the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He'll be bidding to become the first horse to win the Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cups in the same season since War of Attrition in 2006.
Guide to the Gold Cup
2017 Punchestown Festival Day Two – Wednesday April 26th
Steeplechase (Three miles and one furlong)
Open to horses aged five-years-old and older
Winners Over The Last 10 Years
Year | Horse | Odds | Trainer | Jockey |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Carlingford Lough | 12/1 | John Kiely | Barry Geraghty |
2015 | Don Cossack | 5/2 | Gordon Elliott | Paul Carberry |
2014 | Boston Bob | 5/2 Fav | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2013 | Sir Des Champs | 2/1 Fav | Willie Mullins | Davy Russell |
2012 | China Rock | 20/1 | Mouse Morris | Barry Geraghty |
2011 | Follow The Plan | 20/1 | Oliver McKiernan | Tom Doyle |
2010 | Planet Of Sound | 14/1 | Philip Hobbs | Richard Johnson |
2009 | Notre Pere | 15/8 Fav | Jim Dreaper | Andrew Lynch |
2008 | Neptune Collonges | 9/10 Fav | Paul Nicholls | Ruby Walsh |
2007 | Neptune Collonges | 8/1 | Paul Nicholls | Ruby Walsh |
Number of winning favourites over the last 10 years: 4
Average price of the winner over the last 10 years: 7/1
Biggest priced winner over the last 10 years: 20/1
Shortest priced winner over the last 10 years: 9/10
Thursday April 27
The Champion Stayers Hurdle is Wednesday's main attraction and Nichols Canyon and Uknowwhatimeanharry will contest that one whilst there's also the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle.
Guide to the Stayer’s Hurdle
2017 Punchestown Festival Day Three – Thursday April 27th
Hurdle Race (Three miles)
Open to horses aged four-years-old and older
Winners Over The Last 10 Years
Year | Horse | Odds | Trainer | Jockey |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | One Track Mind | 10/1 | Warren Greatrex | Gavin Sheehan |
2015 | Jezki | 5/2 | Jessica Harrington | Mark Walsh |
2014 | Jetson | 20/1 | Jessica Harrington | Davy Russell |
2013 | Quevega | 6/4 Fav | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2012 | Quevega | 11/10 Fav | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2011 | Quevega | 8/11 Fav | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2010 | Quevega | 5/2 Fav | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2009 | Fiveforthree | 5/4 Fav | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2008 | Blazing Bailey | 10/3 Fav | Alan King | Robert Thornton |
2007 | Refinement | 16/1 | Jonjo O’Neill | Tony McCoy |
Number of winning favourites over the last 10 years: 6
Average price of the winner over the last 10 years: 6/1
Biggest priced winner over the last 10 years: 20/1
Shortest priced winner over the last 10 years: 8/11
Friday April 28
The Champion Hurdle is the feature race on the penultimate day of the festival. Annie Power will be raring to go after missing Cheltenham and she will be the favourite in this one, closely followed by Arctic Fire.
Guide to the Champion Hurdle
2017 Punchestown Festival Day Four – Friday April 28th
Hurdle Race (Two miles)
Open to horses four-years-old and older
Winners Over The Last 10 Years
Year | Horse | Odds | Trainer | Jockey |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Vroum Vroum Mag | 4/6 Fav | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2015 | Faugheen | 1/6 Fav | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2014 | Jezki | 4/5 Fav | Jessica Harrington | Tony McCoy |
2013 | Hurricane Fly | 1/4 Fav | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2012 | Hurricane Fly | 4/11 Fav | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2011 | Hurricane Fly | 1/2 Fav | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2010 | Hurricane Fly | 3/1 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
2009 | Solwhit | 2/1 Fav | Charles Byrne | Davy Russell |
2008 | Punjabi | 2/1 | Nicky Henderson | Barry Geraghty |
2007 | Silent Oscar | 20/1 | Harry Rogers | Robbie Power |
Number of winning favourites over the last 10 years: 7
Average price of the winner over the last 10 years: 3/1
Biggest priced winner over the last 10 years: 20/1
Shortest priced winner over the last 10 years: 1/6
Saturday April 29
The final day of the Punchestown Festival includes the Four Year Old Hurdle and also the EBF Mares Champion Hurdle.
Guide to the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle
2017 Punchestown Festival Day Five – Saturday April 29th
Hurdle Race (Two miles)
Open to horses aged four-years-old
Winners Over The Last 10 Years
Year | Horse | Odds | Trainer | Jockey |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Apple’s Jade | 8/13 Fav | Willie Mullins | Brian Cooper |
2015 | Petite Parisienne | 11/4 Fav | Willie Mullins | Brian Cooper |
2014 | Abbyssial | 15/2 | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2013 | Diakali | Evens Fav | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2012 | Hisaabaat | 4/1 | Dermot Weld | Andrew Lynch |
2011 | Grandouet | 5/2 | Nicky Henderson | Barry Geraghty |
2010 | Barizan | 4/1 | Evan Williams | Jason Maguire |
2009 | Jumbo Rio | 5/2 | Edward O’Grady | Andrew McNamara |
2008 | Won in the Dark | 4/1 | Sabrina Harty | Davy Russell |
2007 | Punjabi | 6/4 Fav | Nicky Henderson | Mick Fitzgerald |
Number of winning favourites over the last 10 years: 4
Average price of the winner over the last 10 years: 3/1
Biggest priced winner over the last 10 years: 15/2
Shortest priced winner over the last 10 years: 8/13
Using Your Punchestown Festival Free Bet
There are plenty of opportunities to use your free bets during the Punchestown Festival. These include betting on:
- The winner of each race
- Distance a horse wins its race by
- Match betting in each race
- Jockey with the most winning rides during the festival
- Trainer with the most winning rides during the festival
Facts and Figures about the 2017 Punchestown Festival
- The Punchestown Festival is Ireland’s version of the Cheltenham Festival.
- Punchestown is the home of Irish National Hunt racing.
- The meeting takes place from Tuesday April 25th to Saturday April 29th.
- There are seven races on the first two days from 3.40 until 7.15.
- There are eight races on the next two days from 3.40 to 7.45
- There are eight races on the final day from 2.35 to 6.45
- Therefore, there are 38 races in total.
- The meeting features 12 Grade 1 contests.
- On the first four days there is a feature race with a value of €250,000
- Punchestown is the finale of the Irish National Hunt season.
- The whole meeting is shown live on At The Races.
- Some bookmakers will be offering Best Odds Guaranteed on all 38 races.
Leading Trainers Over The Last 5 Years
2016 - Willie Mullins 12
2015 - Willie Mullins 16
2014 - Willie Mullins 9
2013 - Willie Mullins 14
2012 - Willie Mullins 10
Overall Leading Trainers
Trainer, Number of Winners, Strike Rate %:
Willie Mullins - 148 - 27.66
Gordon Elliott - 52 - 16.51
Jessica Harrington - 35 - 16.67
Noel Meade - 23 - 11.11
Henry de Bromhead -22 - 12.22
Leading Jockeys Over The Last 5 Years
Year, Jockey, Winners:
2016 - Barry Geraghty - 4
2015 - Ruby Walsh - 6
2014 - Ruby Walsh - 6
2013 - Ruby Walsh - 8
2012 - Ruby Walsh - 3
Overall Leading Jockeys
Trainer, Number of Winners, Strike Rate %:
Ruby Walsh - 87 - 32.71
Davy Russell - 37 - 17.21
Brian Cooper - 34 - 16.11
Mark Walsh - 26 - 12.44
Robbie Power - 24 - 15.69
History of the Punchestown Festival
Punchestown has been holding horse racing since 1850. 11 years later Punchestown Races were reorganised as 'Kildare and National Hunt Steeplechases.' They weren't always successful and the first day of the 1868 meeting only had one spectator turn up. The event has certainly grown over the years and is now a five-day festival and the best National Hunt meeting held in Ireland.