Punchestown Festival Saturday Preview & Trends

2024 Punchestown Festival Saturday Highlights

The final day of the Punchestown Festival features two Grade 1's with the ladies taking centre stage in the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle. The great mare Annie Power won this race worth 125,000 euros back to back in 2014 and 2015 when still tackling 18 furlongs, the race distance was raised to 20 furlongs in 2017 which saw Apples Jade add her name to the trophy before Benie Des Dieux did the double in 2018 & 2019.

The second Grade 1 on the card also worth 125,000 euros is the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle over two miles. Willie Mullins has won six of the last eight renewals, Apples Jade whilst still under his care took this in 2016 before moving to Gordon Elliott and taking the Mares Champion Hurdle the following year.

The third race included in our Punchestown Festival Trends Preview is the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle over 20 furlongs, this Grade B event has a 100,000 euro purse and has been won six times by Willie Mullins in the past ten years including each of the last four.

Hopefully, we have pinpointed a winner or two on the final day of the Punchestown Festival. Good Luck!

• 15:40 - Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle
• 16:50 - Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle
• 17:25 - Punchestown Handicap Hurdle

2024 Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle Preview, Trends & Analysis

A Grade 1 race is run at the Punchestown racecourse and is the Mares Champion Hurdle run on the fifth day of the Punchestown Festival. The race is run over two miles and four furlongs in which twelve hurdles are faced, the race is open to mares who are aged four or older.

The runner which holds the record over the past 19 renewals for the slowest time in the race was set in the 2018 renewal when Benie Des Dieux from W P Mullins under the guidance of Paul Townend, won in a time of 4:54.70, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Tarla, trained by W P Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend set the quickest time of 4:08.90 in the 2010 renewal.

These are the top three quickest-run Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle over the last 19 renewals:

• 2010 - Tarla (4:08.90)
• 2011 - Shop Dj (4:14.70)
• 2004 - Stashedaway (4:14.80)

How competitive is the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 19 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2023 when the race had an over-round of 111%. The race in 2006 was a race which was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 149%, whilst on average over the last 19 renewals of the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle, the over-round has been 126% which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £126 which is bet.

Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? From the past 19 if you had followed the winner of the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle next time out then you would have backed a total of 9 winners. Backing all 18 runners who have been out since to win at SP next time out, would have returned an LSP of +19.82.

Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle Past Winners

Here are the past five winners of the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle:

Leading Trainers in the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle

• W P Mullins - 9 wins and 9 places from 37 runners (+2.05)
• Gordon Elliott - 2 wins and 1 place from 7 runners (+29.00)
• Nicky Henderson - 1 win and 1 place from 7 runners (+4.00)

The leading trainer in the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle over the last 19 renewals is W P Mullins who has won the race 9 times. Those 9 winners came from Tarla (2010), Glens Melody (2013), Annie Power (2014), Annie Power (2015), Whiteout (2016), Benie Des Dieux (2018), Benie Des Dieux (2019), Stormy Ireland (2021) & Echoes In Rain (2023). The only other trainer to have recorded multiple wins in the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle is Gordon Elliott (2 wins). There is one trainer who has not had the best of times in the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle, Mrs John Harrington has sent a total of 12 runners to the race without recording any wins.

Leading Jockeys in the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle

• Paul Townend - 6 wins and 0 places from 9 rides (+23.16)
• Danny Mullins - 1 win and 2 places from 5 rides (-0.50)
• Nico de Boinville - 1 win and 0 places from 2 rides (+9.00)

The leading jockey in the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle over the last 19 renewals is Paul Townend who has won the race 6 times. Those 6 winners came from Tarla (2010), Glens Melody (2013), Whiteout (2016), Benie Des Dieux (2018), Benie Des Dieux (2019) & Echoes In Rain (2023).

Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle Trends

Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): ,(1,3),1,10,2,2,7,1,7,RR,4,1,1,2,1,3,1,3,3,(1,6)

• 19 / 19 (58%) - Achieved an RPR of 121+ (Last Win)
• 19 / 19 (59%) - Achieved an RPR of 125+ (Last 5)
• 19 / 19 (63%) - Had 2 - 11 wins (Non-Hcps)
• 19 / 19 (64%) - Beaten no more -12l (LTO)
• 19 / 19 (70%) - Carried 148 - 161lbs (Last Win)
• 19 / 19 (71%) - Not in a Handicap (Last Win)
• 19 / 19 (75%) - No bigger than 33/1 (Career)
• 19 / 19 (78%) - Within the first 11 of the market
• 19 / 19 (78%) - Ran over 1m7½f - 2m4f (Last Win)
• 19 / 19 (79%) - Had 2 - 11 wins (Career)
• 19 / 19 (79%) - No bigger than 18/1 (LTO)
• 19 / 19 (82%) - No bigger than 33/1
• 19 / 19 (83%) - No bigger than 25/1 (Career Place)
• 19 / 19 (83%) - Furthest Won 2m - 2m5½f
• 19 / 19 (87%) - Is not GB/USA bred

2024 Champion Four Year Old Hurdle Preview, Trends & Analysis

One of the feature races on the final day of the festival at the Punchestown racecourse is the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle, as the title suggests the race is open to four-year-olds only and is to determine the champion four-year-old! The race is run over a trip of two miles in which a total of nine hurdles are jumped.

The runner which holds the record over the past 20 renewals for the slowest time in the race was set in the 2015 renewal when Petite Parisienne from W P Mullins under the guidance of B J Cooper, won in a time of 4:09.30, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Barizan, trained by Evan Williams and ridden by Jason Maguire set the quickest time of 3:41.90 in the 2010 renewal.

These are the top three quickest-run Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle over the last 20 renewals:

• 2010 - Barizan (3:41.90)
• 2007 - Punjabi (3:42.80)
• 2011 - Grandouet (3:47.40)

How competitive is the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2006 when the race had an over-round of 110%. The race in 2012 was a race which was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 130%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle, the over-round has been 119% which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £119 which is bet.

Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? From the past 20 if you had followed the winner of the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle next time out then you would have backed a total of 3 winners. Backing all 20 runners who have been out since to win at SP next time out, would have returned an LSP of -15.53.

Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle Past Winners

Here are the past five winners of the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle:

Leading Trainers in the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle

• W P Mullins - 9 wins and 10 places from 41 runners (-2.77)
• Nicky Henderson - 3 wins and 0 places from 6 runners (+2.63)
• Noel Meade - 1 win and 1 place from 8 runners (+15.00)

The leading trainer in the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle over the last 20 renewals is W P Mullins who has won the race 9 times. Those 9 winners came from Quatre Heures (2006), Diakali (2013), Abbyssial (2014), Petite Parisienne (2015), Apples Jade (2016), Bapaume (2017), Saldier (2018), Vauban (2022) & Lossiemouth (2023). The only other trainer to have recorded multiple wins in the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle is Nicky Henderson (3 wins). There is one trainer who has not had the best of times in the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle, Gordon Elliott has sent a total of 14 runners to the race without recording any wins.

Leading Jockeys in the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle

• Paul Townend - 2 wins and 4 places from 12 rides (-9.14)
• Daryl Jacob - 1 win and 1 place from 2 rides (+0.63)
• Sean Flanagan - 1 win and 0 places from 1 ride (+22.00)

The leading jockey in the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle over the last 20 renewals is Paul Townend who has won the race 2 times. Those 2 winners came from Vauban (2022) & Lossiemouth (2023).

Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle Trends

Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): ,3,8,3,F,1,4,2,2,4,UR,1,7,1,1,1,UR,1,7,1,1

• 20 / 20 (60%) - Not in a G3/LST/Cl2/Cl4-5 (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (68%) - Break of 14 - 81 days (Last Place)
• 20 / 20 (73%) - Carried 147 - 156lbs (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (76%) - Achieved a TS of 98+ (Last 3)
• 20 / 20 (76%) - Not in a LST/Cl4-5 (Last Win)
• 20 / 20 (76%) - No bigger than 22/1
• 20 / 20 (76%) - Had 1 - 3 placings (90 Days)
• 20 / 20 (79%) - Within the first 7 of the market
• 20 / 20 (83%) - Made 3 - 12 starts (1 Year)
• 20 / 20 (87%) - Achieved an RPR of 119+ (Last 3)
• 20 / 20 (87%) - No bigger than 20/1 (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (87%) - Ran in a Non Handicap (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (88%) - In a field of 4 - 19 (Last Win)
• 20 / 20 (88%) - In a field of 4 - 20 (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Had 1 - 5 placings (180 Days)

2024 Punchestown Handicap Hurdle Preview, Trends & Analysis

Run on the final day of the festival at Punchestown racecourse, this Handicap Hurdle is a Grade B race that is run over a trip of two miles and four furlongs in which the runners will face a today of twelve hurdles, the race is open to runners who are aged four or older.

Over the last 20 renewals, it was the John Joseph Hanlon trained Truckers Delight ridden by Conor O'Farrell who set the fastest winning time in the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle, the runner won the race in a time of 4:45.60 which was set when winning the race in 2011. At the other end of the scale, it was the combination of trainer Edward P Harty and jockey Mark Walsh with Sort It Out who set the slowest winning time, the race-winning time was 5:10.30 in the 2015 renewal.

These are the top three quickest-run Punchestown Handicap Hurdle over the last 20 renewals:

• 2011 - Truckers Delight (4:45.60)
• 2008 - Brave Right (4:48.50)
• 2023 - Seddon (4:48.50)

How competitive is the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2023 when the race had an over-round of 135%. The race in 2005 was a race which was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 172%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle, the over-round has been 150% which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £150 which is bet.

Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? From the past 20 if you had followed the winner of the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle next time out then you would have backed a total of 5 winners. Backing all 20 runners who have been out since to win at SP next time out, would have returned an LSP of -7.35.

Punchestown Handicap Hurdle Past Winners

Here are the past five winners of the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle:

Leading Trainers in the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle

• W P Mullins - 9 wins and 19 places from 103 runners (+37.00)
• A J Martin - 1 win and 0 places from 10 runners (-3.00)
• A L T Moore - 1 win and 0 places from 9 runners (+2.00)

The leading trainer in the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle over the last 20 renewals is W P Mullins who has won the race 9 times. Those 9 winners came from Joueur DEstruval (2006), Sesenta (2009), Dorset Square (2010), Drive Time (2012), The Paparrazi Kid (2013), Open Eagle (2017), Meri Devie (2018), Mr Adjudicator (2019) & Koshari (2021). Multiple trainers have not had the best of times over the last 20 renewals in the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle, Noel Meade (0-24), Gordon Elliott (0-14) & Mrs John Harrington (0-14) have all failed to produce a single winner despite sending multiple runners to the race.

Leading Jockeys in the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle

• Mr P W Mullins - 2 wins and 0 places from 5 rides (+37.00)
• Mark Walsh - 1 win and 1 place from 12 rides (-5.00)
• Paul Townend - 1 win and 3 places from 11 rides (+0.00)

The leading jockey in the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle over the last 20 renewals is Mr P W Mullins who has won the race 2 times. Those 2 winners came from Open Eagle (2017) & Mr Adjudicator (2019). There is one jockey who has not had the best of times in the Punchestown Handicap Hurdle, Danny Mullins has sent a total of 12 rides to the race without recording any wins.

Punchestown Handicap Hurdle Trends

Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): ,PU,7,14,10,16,(6,15),5,5,(8,9),6,5,8,4,7,(19,20,PU,PU),10,(7,11),3,2,6

• 20 / 20 (87%) - Not on HY/FM/STD (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (88%) - Fewer than 6 starts (Jockey)
• 20 / 20 (88%) - In a field of 7 - 28 (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (88%) - Carried 136 - 164lbs (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Made 6 - 37 starts (Career)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - No bigger than 33/1
• 19 / 20 (77%) - No bigger than 7/1 (Last Win)
• 19 / 20 (87%) - Highest Won is not Cl4-5
• 19 / 20 (89%) - Not fallen (Season)
• 19 / 20 (89%) - No bigger than 50/1 (Debut)
• 18 / 20 (74%) - Placed within last 3 starts
• 18 / 20 (86%) - No more than -23lbs (Vs Max Weight)
• 18 / 20 (89%) - No more than 1 fall (Career)
• 17 / 20 (59%) - Achieved a TS of 110+ (Last 5)
• 17 / 20 (80%) - Held an OR of 119+