As the biggest multi-day meeting of the Irish National Hunt season, the Punchestown Festival attracts many of the same runners as the Cheltenham Festival. For the likes of Marine Nationale, Jasmine De Vaux, and Bambino Fever, the late April/early May fixture merely presented the opportunity to confirm their dominance in their respective divisions. For others, redemption was the order of the day.
Galopin Des Champs was the first of the vanquished Cheltenham favourites to re-enter the winners’ enclosure with a bludgeoning 22-length demolition of the Punchestown Gold Cup field. Those suggesting his time at the top is over may be having a rethink.
With the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner having set the tone, the theme of the meeting continued on Day 3. Not quite good enough to reward favourite backers at Prestbury Park, the following trio put matters right at Punchestown.
Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle: Henderson 1-2 as Jeriko Turns the Tables
| Pos. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jeriko Du Reponet | Nicky Henderson | James Bowen | 13/2 |
| 2nd | Doddiethegreat | Nicky Henderson | Brian Hughes | 14/1 |
| 3rd | One Big Bang | James Owen | Sean Bowen | 11/1 |
| 4th | Karl Des Tourelles | Philip Fenton | Brian Hayes | 12/1 |
Not everything went to plan for Nicky Henderson at the Cheltenham Festival – most notably the early departure of Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle. However, the Seven Barrows handler still returned home, having added an Arkle Chase and Pertemps Network Final to his Cheltenham haul. That latter success saw Henderson register a notable 1-2 in one of the most competitive handicaps of the season, as 25/1 outsider Doddiethegreat stormed home to break the heart of market leader Jeriko Du Reponet.
Held over the same trip as the Pertemps Network Final, the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle was a logical choice for those who lined up in the Cheltenham event. Henderson didn’t shirk the challenge in sending over both Doddiethegreat and Jeriko Du Reponet to take on the Irish in their own backyard. Just as at Cheltenham, Jeriko Du Reponet was the better fancied of the Henderson duo. This time, he didn’t disappoint. Enjoying a three-pound pull in the wights with his Cheltenham conqueror, the mount of James Bowen cruised into the lead around the outside, hit the front in the straight and stormed clear to score by more than four lengths, with the gallant Doddiethegreat back in second.
Barberstown Castle Novice Chase: Majborough Much Too Good
| Pos. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Majborough | Willie Mullins | Mark Walsh | 4/11 |
| 2nd | Only By Night | Gavin Cromwell | Keith Donoghue | 5/1 |
| 3rd | Jesse Evans | Noel Meade | Donagh Meyler | 40/1 |
Arriving at Cheltenham on a three-race winning streak, including an impressive victory in the 2024 Triumph Hurdle, the much-touted Majborough was banker material in the Arkle Chase. However, those who took the 1/2 odds received nothing but a losing slip and a hard luck story in return. Having looked set to reward supporters, Majborough appeared to lose all chance when sinking to his haunches, having jumped the second last. The fact that he still managed to rally and lose out by only three-quarters of a length must have been all the more galling for connections and punters.
We will never know if Majborough would have claimed the Arkle but for that error. However, the result of the Punchestown equivalent suggests he would have been very tough to beat. Whilst far from fluent in the jumping department, Majborough avoided the juddering errors of his Cheltenham misadventure. Having remained on his feet, his considerable engine was allowed to find overdrive. Three lengths clear around the home turn, he continued to pour it on for a 14-length verdict over narrow Arkle runner-up Only By Night.
Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle: Two For Tea
| Pos. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Teahupoo | Gordon Elliott | Sam Ewing | 5/4 |
| 2nd | Asterion Forlonge | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend | 18/1 |
| 3rd | Jetara | Jessica Harrington | James Bowen | 6/1 |
Despite the ground possibly riding a little quicker than ideal, Teahupoo was still the horse to beat in the 2025 Stayers’ Hurdle. Much too good for his rivals in 2024, and with the latest edition looking a little weaker, the Gordon Elliott star started as the 7/4f to defend his crown. Teahupoo ran pretty well at Cheltenham to see off 12 of his 13 rivals. Unfortunately, he had no answers for owner-mate Bob Ollinger, who chose this moment to rediscover his very best form and register a first career three-mile success.
With one title lost. Teahupoo headed to Punchestown to defend another in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle. There was no Bob Ollinger to worry about this time, but 2024 runner-up Asterion Forlonge and dual Grade 1 winner Home By The Lee appeared well placed to take advantage if Teahupoo performed below expectations. Those hoping for a subpar display from the 5/4f were out of luck. Travelling well throughout, Teahupoo briefly looked to have a fight on his hands around the home bend. However, once his abundant stamina kicked in, the race was all over. A winning margin of more than four lengths at the line, with Asterion Forlonge once again chasing him home.
