The weekend starts early in Punchestown for Day 4 of their Festival held on Friday with the Champion Hurdle the feature race of the day.
Supported by the Champion Novice Hurdle over the middle distance and the Grade 2 Mares’ Chase, the card kicks off with back to back hunter chases: first for the Bishopscourt Cup and then to crown the Punchestown Champion Hunter Chaser.
15:40 – Hunters Chase for the Bishopscourt Cup – 2m5f
- 8 of the last 10 winners were ridden by Jockeys claiming weight (7 received 7lbs)
- 8 of the last 10 winners were sent off single figures
- 8 of the last 10 winners last ran in a Point-to-point (all the last 8)
- 7 of the last 10 winners were no older than 8 (7 of the last 8)
- 7 of the last 10 winners had run at Punchestown (including PTP’s)
16:15 – Champion Hunters Chase – 3m1f
- 9 of the last 10 winners had won at 3m1f or further
- 9 of the last 10 winners last ran at Aintree (5) or Cheltenham (4)
- 8 of the last 10 winners came from the Top 2 in the market ((4) favs and (4) 2nd favs)
- 7 of the last 10 winners placed Top 2 last time out (5 won)
- 5 of the last 10 winners were aged 10 (all of the non-multiple winners were 10)
16:50 – Mares Chase (Grade 2) 2m5f
- ALL of the 4 winners were aged 7 or 8
- ALL of the 4 winners were priced 3/1 or shorter
- 3 of the 4 winners won last time out
- 3 of the 4 winners came from the Cheltenham Festival Mares’ Chase
17:25 – Novice Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m4f
- 8 of the last 10 winners were aged 6 or 7
- 8 of the last 10 winners held an OR of 140 or higher
- 7 of the last 10 winners had 4 or 5 runs that season
- 7 of the last 10 winners were trained by Willie Mullins (+£8.25 to £1 stakes)
- 7 of the last 10 winners placed Top 3 last time out (4 won last time out)
- 6 of the last 10 winners last ran at Fairyhouse (3) or Limerick (3)
- 6 of the last 10 winners carried 11-06 or more
- 5 of the last 10 winners were sent of favourite (+£7.5 to £1 stakes)
18:00 – Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m5f
- 8 of the last 10 winners last ran between 16 and 30 days ago (+£8.26 to £1 stakes)
- 8 of the last 10 winners had won at 2m4f or further before now (0 from 19 with exactly 2m as their highest distance win)
- 7 of the last 10 winners were trained by Willie Mullins (Not profitable to back blind)
- 7 of the last 10 winners last ran at Cheltenham (No winners from the Supreme)
- 7 of the last 10 winners were sent off 7/4 or shorter (6 favourites)
- 7 of the last 10 winners held an OR of 150 or higher
18:40 – Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m
- 9 of the last 10 winners were aged 7 or 8
- 9 of the last 10 winners had their furthest win at about 2m4f or further
- 8 of the last 10 winners placed Top 2 last time out (5 won)
- 8 of the last 10 winners held an OR of 164 or higher
- 8 of the last 10 winners last ran 16 to 30 days ago (all 8 from Cheltenham)
- 7 of the last 10 winners were the favourite
19:10 – The FRS Fencing Handicap Hurdle 2m
New Race for 2026
19:40 – INH Flat Race 2m3f
- ALL of the last 10 winners had not raced at Punchestown
- ALL of the last 10 winners were NOT trained by Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott
- 8 of the last 10 winners were sent off at 8/1 or shorter
- 8 of the last 10 winners were aged 5
- 5 of the last 10 winners were making their rules debut