Festival packs a real Punch
THE Punchestown Festival could even surpass Cheltenham and Aintree as Ireland gears up for the finale to the jumping season starting tomorrow.
Never before have so many top class horses featured at the five-day jamboree.
It is shaping up to be the best National Hunt festival ever staged in Ireland
The superb cast list is headed by Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten Sprinter Sacre, but Hurricane Fly, Solwhit, Quevega, Briar Hill, Salsify, Benefficient , Champagne Fever, Holywell, Our Conor and Back In Focus are just eleven Cheltenham Festival winners that have already confirmed their participation.
And there at least another ten former Cheltenham Festival winners likely to be on display, including Long Run, Rock On Ruby, Sizing Europe, Sir Des Champs, Captain Chris, Riverside Theatre and Thousand Stars.
It is shaping up to be the best National Hunt festival ever staged in Ireland, where, of course, jump racing is in the DNA of most punters.