The 2026 Punchestown Festival gives jumps fans in Britain and Ireland one last hurrah before the flat takes over attention. With so much firepower belonging to Willie Mullins‘ yard, a host of star names will end their seasons at the County Kildare track. The meeting provides an opportunity for some big names to achieve rare Cheltenham-Punchestown Grade 1 doubles.
Among the races most coveted are the Punchestown Gold Cup and Punchestown Champion Hurdle. They were won in 2025 by Galopin Des Champs and State Man respectively. However, both suffered injuries earlier in the campaign which will rule them out of defending their championships.
There will still be some titanic battles either way, with Gaelic Warrior, Il Etait Temps and Home By The Lee all in the reckoning to back up their Cheltenham victories with further glory at Punchestown. We run you through the key dates and times to remember for this year’s Punchestown Festival and highlight the horses to watch on each day of the meeting.
Day 1 – Tuesday 28 April
The opening day at Punchestown takes place on Tuesday 28 April. Its feature is the Grade 1 Champion Chase at 6.05pm in which Cheltenham absentee Marine Nationale may return to defend his title. Il Etait temps and Majborough lie in wait, the former having downed the latter in the Cheltenham equivalent.
Day 2 – Wednesday 29 April
The feature again occurs at 6.05pm on day two at Punchestown. Wednesday’s highlight is the headline race of the entire meeting as Gaelic Warrior goes in search of a Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cup double. His stablemate Fact To File, who won the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, could be in opposition.
Day 3 – Thursday 30 April
The Champion Stayers’ Hurdle, at 6.05pm once again, headlines Thursday’s action. Home By The Lee has already won two Grade 1 staying hurdle prizes this spring, at Cheltenham and Aintree. A memorable hat-trick could be on the cards for the veteran.
Day 4 – Friday 1 May
Slightly later on Friday is the Punchestown Champion Hurdle at 6.40pm. Lossiemouth skipped Aintree after landing her first Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Few may dare to take her on, though the long-absent William Munny is an intriguing entry in the race.
Day 5 – Saturday 2 May
The final day of Punchestown clashes with the 2000 Guineas meeting at Newmarket. Nevertheless, the Champion Mares’ Hurdle (4.15pm) and Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (4.55pm) are both Grade 1 prizes which should boat exciting line-ups for a top Saturday of punting.