2021 Punchestown festival: essential information for the Irish racing bonanza

When it comes to the Irish jumps season, the best is saved for last. The Punchestown festival provides five golden days of quality action and attracts many of the biggest names from Ireland and Britain.

The five-day meeting begins on Tuesday and features 40 races, including 12 Grade 1s, such as the William Hill Champion Chase.

When and where does the meeting take place?

The festival is staged at Punchestown, a racecourse near Dublin. In 2019, a crowd of 126,840 attended the meeting but this year it will be staged behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The festival begins on Tuesday with the first race off at 3.40pm and the last at 7.35pm. The same starting times continue for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with Saturday's action beginning at 2.15pm.

Punchestown: concludes the jumps season in IrelandCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

All races will be broadcast on Racing TV, while in Ireland fans can enjoy terrestrial coverage of the big races on RTE2 from 4pm.

Why is the meeting so important?

The Punchestown festival is one of the most important jumps meetings in Ireland and many of the leading horses in training will have had campaigns tailored towards big races at the fixture.

It provides British-trained runners the chance to take on the Irish on their home soil a month and a half on from the Cheltenham Festival and with just under €3 million in prize-money, it is not to be missed.

What are the big races?

Tuesday

William Hill Champion Chase (5.25)

The opening day is headlined by the William Hill Champion Chase, where Queen Mother Champion Chase second and third Nube Negra and Chacun Pour Soi will be in action. Champion trainer Willie Mullins has also indicated Allaho, perhaps the most impressive winner at Cheltenham when beating a competitive Ryanair Chase field from the front, could drop in trip to run in a two-mile classic.

eCOMM Merchant Solutions Champion Novice Hurdle (4.15)

The first Grade 1 of the festival is for two-mile novice hurdlers. Appreciate It was a dominant winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and is trying to round off an unbeaten novice campaign. Blue Lord, his closest pursuer at Cheltenham before a late fall, and Echoes In Rain are also prominent in the betting for the contest.

Monkfish: set to take on Envoi Allen at PunchestownCredit: Edward Whitaker

Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (6.30)

The Champion Novice Chase could be the race of the week as outstanding novice chasers Monkfish and Envoi Allen, who steps up in trip after falling at Cheltenham, are set to line up.

Colreevy set to take on superstars Monkfish and Envoi Allen in Grade 1 farewell

Wednesday

Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55)

There are three Grade 1s on the second day but none carry more significance than the Punchestown Gold Cup, for which dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo is the favourite.

Kemboy, winner of this race in 2019, and impressive Betway Bowl victor Clan Des Obeaux, supplemented for the race by Paul Nicholls, add extra spice to the final major staying chase of the jumps season.

Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (5.20)

Albert Bartlett winner Vanillier heads the likely contenders for the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle, although it remains to be seen how far Martin Pipe winner Galopin Des Champs will climb up the ladder.

Champion Bumper first and second Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit (far side) are set to clash againCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

ITM - Supporting Irish Store Sales Champion INH Flat Race (6.30)

The third Grade 1 on the card is set to feature Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit, first and second in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. The Denise Foster-trained Ginto and Three Stripe Life also feature prominently in the market.

Henry de Bromhead: Jack Kennedy to ride Minella Indo at Punchestown

Thursday

Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (5.25)

The best staying hurdlers take centre stage on the third day. Flooring Porter will try and complete a memorable spring double for Gavin Cromwell, with Sire Du Berlais, Beacon Edge, Ronald Pump and Lisnagar Oscar among the possible opposition.

Ryanair Novice Chase (6.35)

Energumene missed arguably the most eagerly awaited showdown at Cheltenham when absent from his Arkle clash with Shishkin after Mullins revealed he was lame in the days before the festival. There is no Shishkin to contend with here and Energumene could star, with stablemate Janidil and Captain Guinness his biggest dangers.

Friday

Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (5.25)

Queen of the hurdling division Honeysuckle is set to try and extend her unbeaten record to 12 but is unlikely to have an easy time of it, with 2020 Champion Hurdle winner Epatante, Aintree Hurdle victor Abacadabras, Sharjah and Goshen all set to line up.

Honeysuckle: bids to extend her unbeaten record at the festivalCredit: Edward Whitaker

Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (6.00)

Ballymore winner Bob Olinger leads the entries for this 2m4f Grade 1. Ashdale Bob, Gaillard Du Mesnil and Gentlemansgame could also run.

Denise Foster relishing prospect of rematch between Abacadabras and Honeysuckle

Saturday

Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (3.20)

Concertista was second best to Black Tears at Cheltenham but the Foster-trained mare is not entered here. Instead, Concertista has stablemate Burning Victory, last seen winning last year's Triumph Hurdle, Mares' Novices' Hurdle victor Telmesomethinggirl and the remarkable Skyace, a Grade 1 winner at Fairyhouse this month, to worry about at Punchestown.

Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (4.00)

Triumph Hurdle winner Quilixios and fourth Zanahiyr, stablemates earlier in the season, are set to renew rivalry in the final Grade 1 of the season-ending festival. Triumph third Haut En Couleurs, Jeff Kidder and Saint Sam add notable depth to the race.

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