You know how punters get lost in too much data or bet blindly? I break down the stats and trends so you can feel confident you’re betting with more than just gut instinct.
2026 Punchestown Grand National Trial Preview
Scheduled to take place in February of each year at the Punchestown racecourse is the Punchestown Grand National Trial, as a trial for the Grand National. This can be a stamina-testing experience; it is run over a trip of three miles and four furlongs, and because of the time of the year, the ground can be very testing.
For sponsorship purposes, the 2026 renewal of the Punchestown Grand National Trial will hold the title of '1xbet.ie Grand National Trial Handicap Chase'.
Punchestown Grand National Trial Information:
- Punchestown Grand National Trial Past Winners
- Punchestown Grand National Trial Trainer Statistics
- Punchestown Grand National Trial Jockey Statistics
To see which runners the OLBG racing tipsters are tipping throughout the card that includes this race, head over to the Punchestown tips on the day of the race. Do they agree with the runners on the trend shortlist, or are they predicting other runners? You may also be interested in other preview blogs that we have packed full of information. Head down to the Other Principal Races at Punchestown Racecourse section for links to these.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2026
How competitive is the Punchestown Grand National Trial market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2016, when the race had an over-round of 114%. The race in 2010 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 158%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Punchestown Grand National Trial, the over-round has been 134%, which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £134 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2026 Punchestown Grand National Trial Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the Punchestown Grand National Trial Trend Analysis. With the field now finalised, we have the Punchestown Grand National Trial Trend Shortlist, which is created using the listed trends.
These are the top three quickest-run Punchestown Grand National Trial races over the last 20 renewals:
- Some Target (7:24.50) in 2011
- Inoma James (7:31.10) in 2010
- Fortunedefortunata (7:32.40) in 2025
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 20 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the Punchestown Grand National Trial next time out, then you would have backed a total of 2 winners. Backing all 19 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of -13.75. Remember to bookmark the racing tips page to access the OLBG racing picks easily daily.
Over the last 20 renewals, it was Some Target, trained by W P Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, who set the fastest winning time in the Punchestown Grand National Trial. That runner won the race in a time of 7:24.50 in 2011. At the other end of the scale, it was the combination of trainer Oliver McKiernan and jockey Robbie Colgan with Spot The Boss who set the slowest winning time; the race-winning time was 8:18.40 in the 2013 renewal.
Punchestown Grand National Trial Past Winners
Here are the Punchestown Grand National Trial past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the horse which won, along with the age & weight of the horse. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Punchestown Grand National Trial are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 7:32.40 | Fortunedefortunata (IRE) 8yo 9-11 14/1 | Jake Coen (3lbs) Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2024 7:44.90 | Where It All Began (IRE) 8yo 10-5 10/1 | Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2023 7:56.50 | Coko Beach (FR) 8yo 11-4 7/1 | Ben Harvey (5lbs) Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2022 8:16.10 | Death Duty (IRE) 11yo 11-4 6/1 | Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2021 8:09.40 | The Big Dog (IRE) 8yo 10-11 5/2F | Mr J J Codd Peter Fahey (IRE) |
| 2020 8:08.30 | Ifyoucatchmenow (IRE) 7yo 9-9 14/1 | Conor McNamara (5lbs) W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2019 7:35.60 | Dounikos (FR) 8yo 11-0 12/1 | Davy Russell Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2018 8:08.10 | Folsom Blue (IRE) 11yo 10-11 5/1F | Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2017 7:42.40 | Baie Des Iles (FR) 6yo 10-11 8/1 | Ms K Walsh Ross O'Sullivan (IRE) |
| 2016 7:50.50 | Bonny Kate (IRE) 6yo 10-1 4/1 | Sean Flanagan Noel Meade (IRE) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Punchestown Grand National Trial have been based:
- IRE: 20 winners with an additional 52 placings from 308 runners
- GB: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 1 runner
Punchestown Grand National Trial Trainer Statistics
The leading trainer in the Punchestown Grand National Trial over the last 20 renewals is Gordon Elliott, who has won the race six times, with those six winners coming from Folsom Blue (2018), Dounikos (2019), Death Duty (2022), Coko Beach (2023), Where It All Began (2024) and Fortunedefortunata (2025). The only other trainer to have recorded multiple wins in the Punchestown Grand National Trial is W P Mullins (2 wins).
Here are the Punchestown Grand National Trial trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals for trainers who have entries in the 2026 renewal; those not listed have not had a runner. (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Elliott | 43-6-16 | +17.00 | +19.96 |
| W P Mullins | 23-2-10 | -2.50 | +1.40 |
| Peter Fahey | 2-1-1 | +1.50 | +0.56 |
| Gavin Cromwell | 5-0-0 | -5.00 | -5.00 |
| Barry Connell | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
Punchestown Grand National Trial Jockey Statistics
The leading jockey in the Punchestown Grand National Trial over the last 20 renewals is Jack Kennedy, who has won the race three times, with those three winners coming from Folsom Blue (2018), Death Duty (2022) and Where It All Began (2024). There is one jockey who has not had the best of times in the Punchestown Grand National Trial; Mark Walsh has ridden 10 runners in the race without recording any wins.
Here are the Punchestown Grand National Trial jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals for jockeys who have rides in the 2026 renewal; those not listed have not had a runner. (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Kennedy (Lucky Lyreen) | 7-3-4 | +17.00 | +10.88 |
| Paul Townend (Uncle Pat) | 10-1-3 | -4.50 | -4.15 |
| Mark Walsh (Koori Star) | 10-0-4 | -10.00 | -2.37 |
| Keith Donoghue (Born Braver) | 4-0-0 | -4.00 | -4.00 |
| Danny Gilligan (Binge Worthy) | 2-0-0 | -2.00 | -2.00 |
| Sean O'Keeffe (Positive Thinker) | 2-0-0 | -2.00 | -2.00 |
| Brian Hayes (May Call You Back) | 2-0-0 | -2.00 | -2.00 |
| Mr J H Williamson (Patter Merchant) | 1-0-1 | -1.00 | +0.56 |
| Jordan Gainford (Beaufort Scale) | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
| Patrick M O'Brien (Evies Vladimir) | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
| Kieren Buckley (Ney) | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
2026 Punchestown Grand National Trial Trends
Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 7, 4, 2, 8, UR, 9, 6, 3, 7, 1, 2, 3, 1, 6, (3, 5), 1, 5, UR, 2, PU
The percentage shown is the proportion of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well.
- 20 / 20 (70%) - No bigger than 16/1
- 20 / 20 (74%) - Achieved an RPR of 80+ (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (75%) - Not in a G2/Cl2/Cl5 (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (82%) - Ran in 2 - 6 races (Season)
- 20 / 20 (83%) - Achieved a TS of 96+ (Career)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Achieved an RPR of 106+ (Season)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Fewer than 7 placings (Hcps)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Had 4 - 15 placings (Career)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Ran in 2 - 6 races (90 Days)
- 20 / 20 (85%) - No bigger than 25/1 (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (86%) - Furthest Placed 2m5½f - 3m5f
- 20 / 20 (86%) - In a field of 9 - 25 (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Ran in 2 - 7 races (180 Days)
- 20 / 20 (89%) - Achieved a TS of 60+ (Last 5)
- 20 / 20 (89%) - In a field of 6 - 25 (LTO)
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the Punchestown racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the Punchestown Grand National Trial. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over £6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, it is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Punchestown Grand National Trial by adding a tip on the race here.
101 Ways to find Winners in Horse Racing
Punchestown Grand National Trial Trend Shortlist
Punchestown will host the 2026 renewal of the Punchestown Grand National Trial, which will be run at 2:30 pm on Sunday, 15th February 2026, and these are the runners who perform best based on the trends, along with the trainer and jockey and their record in the race (Runs-Wins-Places Win LSP / EW LSP):
- 15/15 Born Braver (6/1)
- Gavin Cromwell (5-0-0 -5.00 / -5.00)
- Keith Donoghue (4-0-0 -4.00 / -4.00)
- 15/15 Lucky Lyreen (11/2)
- Gordon Elliott (43-6-16 +17.00 / +19.96)
- Jack Kennedy (7-3-4 +17.00 / +10.88)
Others: Ney (14/15), The Lovely Man (14/15), Beaufort Scale (13/15), Koori Star (13/15), My Immortal (13/15), Patter Merchant (13/15), Prends Garde A Toi (13/15), Uncle Pat (13/15), Fortunedefortunata (12/15), Binge Worthy (11/15), Built By Ballymore (11/15), Evies Vladimir (11/15), May Call You Back (11/15) and Positive Thinker (11/15).
*Trainer & Jockey numbers are Runs-Wins-Places Win LSP / EW LSP, Runners, Odds and Trends Passed/Failed correct at the time of posting (11:48 am Friday 13th February 2026), if no odds were available at the time of posting, then forecasted odds are used.
Punchestown Grand National Trial Trend Analysis
✅ The trend factor, which has produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +10.50, is when runners had 1 career place in the class.
❌ The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners Pulled Up last time out, when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-46.
The course which has produced the most winners of the Punchestown Grand National Trial is Gowran Park; there have been a total of 5 winners of this race who ran at Gowran Park last time out. The next best course, which has produced the second most winners, is Fairyhouse; there have been a total of 4 winners of this race who ran at Fairyhouse last time out.
The race is open to both sexes, with male runners having produced a total of 17 winners from a total of 275 runners, while female runners have produced 3 winners from a total of 34 runners.
Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Punchestown Grand National Trial; that stallion, Old Vic, has produced 3 winners (2018,2014,2008).
These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the Punchestown Grand National Trial despite multiple attempts:
- Flemensfirth (0 Wins from 16 runners)
- Milan (0 Wins from 12 runners)
- Oscar (0 Wins from 12 runners)
- Saddlers Hall (0 Wins from 7 runners)
- Stowaway (0 Wins from 7 runners)
Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Kings Glen in 2006, winning for Thomas Carberry at odds of 16/1 under the guidance of P A Carberry. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals, there have been 3 winning favourites in the race. Ahead of the 2026 Punchestown Grand National Trial, why not head over to the best racing tipster page to see what the tipsters are backing today?
Route to the Punchestown Grand National Trial
Many trainers target races as preparation for the Punchestown Grand National Trial. These are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2025 - Fortunedefortunata Leopardstown - 11th of 25 (41/1) | Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle |
| 2024 - Where It All Began Fairyhouse - 2nd of 6 (10/1) | Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase |
| 2023 - Coko Beach Gowran Park - 4th of 18 (12/1) | Thyestes Chase |
| 2022 - Death Duty Gowran Park - 7th of 18 (12/1) | Thyestes Chase |
| 2021 - The Big Dog Navan - 3rd of 9 (11/8) | Wilkinstown Beginners Chase |
| 2020 - Ifyoucatchmenow Navan - 8th of 12 (20/1) | Eco Friendly Cups Beginners Chase |
| 2019 - Dounikos Gowran Park - F of 18 (12/1) | Thyestes Chase |
| 2018 - Folsom Blue Sandown - 4th of 17 (14/1) | Betfred Heroes Handicap Hurdle |
| 2017 - Baie Des Iles Chepstow - 5th of 20 (25/1) | Welsh Grand National |
| 2016 - Bonny Kate Fairyhouse - 1st of 18 (5/1) | Auld Stand Ratoath/Kellys Pub Ashbourne Beginners Chase |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Punchestown Grand National Trial Preview are Andy and Darren. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for National Hunt Racing.
Darren Brett
Expert Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
Other Principal races at Punchestown racecourse
Here are some other notable races at the Punchestown racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.
Races in April (the Festival)
- Champion Novice Hurdle
- Goffs Defender Bumper
- Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle
- Punchestown Champion Chase
- Punchestown Champion Novice Chase
- Champion INH Flat Race
- Channor Group Novice Hurdle
- Punchestown Gold Cup
- Punchestown Handicap Chase
- Barberstown Castle Novice Chase
- Champion Stayers Hurdle
- Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle
- Frontline Security Handicap Chase
- Punchestown Champion Hurdle
- Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle
- Punchestown Listed Novice Handicap Chase
- Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle
- Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle
- Punchestown Listed Handicap Hurdle
