Punchestown Festival Betting 2023

Irishluck is here to help you make the most of your Punchestown betting experience. Known as the pinnacle of horse racing, the Punchestown Festival brings the Irish National Hunt horse racing season to a close in spectacular style. Run over five days, the Kildare venue hosts 12 Grade 1s in Ireland's biggest meeting of the jumps season. Hosted a month or so after the running of the Cheltenham Festival, Punchestown brings together the best horses, trainers, jockeys, breeders, and owners in the country. So you won't want to miss out on Punchestown.


So whether you are a seasoned horse racing devotee or a newcomer to the world of betting, we've got you covered. Read on to delve into all the ins and outs of Punchestown betting, tips, and tricks for the best strategies to make the most informed bets. 

Best Punchestown Betting Sites 2023

Our sports betting expert Siobhan has carefully compiled the best Punchestown betting sites you can find below, alongside Eamon Doggett, our horseracing expert, who has provided top tips and strategies. When it comes to Punchestown betting, punters at Irish casinos can use a combination of this knowledge to their advantage at this year's Festival.

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Recommended Punchestown Betting Sites and Offers

A major horse racing event like Punchestown will undoubtedly attract a wide range of markets and odds, especially at bookmakers, considering the potential earnings associated with the festival.  As we know, not all sports betting sites are equal in what they offer. In the list below, you'll find a rundown of some of these features at top sites for Punchestown betting.

🏇 Best Horse Racing Free Bet Offer Mr Green
✔️ Best Punchestown Odds Betting Site Betfair
💸 Best Punchestown Betting Site BoyleSports
🌟 Best Punchestown Betting User-Friendly Site  Unibet
📺 Best In-Play Betting Site Betway
🍀 Best Punchestown Betting Features William Hill

How to Place a Punchestown Festival Bet

We've prepared a quick step-by-step guide on how to bet on the Punchestown Festival:

  1. Choose a trustworthy online betting site or betting app. You can start with any of the bookmakers at the top of this page.
  2. Create an account and start by depositing funds using your preferred payment methods.
  3. Go to the Horse Racing section and select the Punchestown Festival betting market.
  4. Browse the races available and select your preferred race to bet on.
  5. Select the type of bet you would like to place, such as a win bet or place bet.
  6. Enter the amount you would like to stake.
  7. Ensure you confirm your bet and wait for the race to start.
  8. If you have a successful bet, any winnings will be credited in your account.

Remember to go through the terms & conditions when using promotions, gamble responsibly and always within your means. Best of luck!

Punchestown Betting

Punchestown Odds

If you are betting on the Punchestown Festival, you have many options. For a beginner, it can often be very confusing. To break down how betting on horse racing works, let's first consider what we mean by the odds.

Simply put: the odds are the expected probability of something happening. If a bookmaker prices a horse at 4/1, it means that they think that 1 in 5 times it will win the horse race. If the horse is 6/1, they think it will win 1 in 7 times.

The odds tell punters how much they will make if their horse wins the race. So, for example, let's say we stake a €10 bet on a horse with odds of 3/1. These odds tell the punter that for every €1 they stake on this horse, if it wins the race, they will win €3. So, if they put €10 on this winning horse, they will win €30 (€10 x 3) while they will also get their stake back.

If someone exclaims that they had a 25/1 winner, it means that for every €1 they put on the horse, they won €25!

Here are the three different scenarios for the bet:

Red Rum wins the race:

Red Rum wins the race:

 The €5 'win bet' you placed means your profit from this part of the bet is €40 (€5 @8/1). 


You also won the 'placed bet' of the bet as your horse finished in top three. However, there was a greater probability of Red Rum finishing in the top three than there is of him winning the race, so you get shorter odds for the place part of the bet. In this case, you get a quarter of 8/1 which is 2/1. Therefore, for the place part of the bet your profit is €10 (€5 @ 2/1). 


In total then, for the each-way bet, your profit is €50 (€40 from the 'win bet' and €10 from the 'place bet'). In addition, you are also given your stake back of €10, so the total return is €60. 

Red Rum finishes 2nd or 3rd:

Red Rum finishes 2nd or 3rd:

The bad news is that you lose the stake from your €5 'win bet' as the horse failed to win the race. The good news is that you won the €5 'place bet' as Red Rum was placed i.e. he finished in the top three. 


As above, you get a quarter of 8/1, which is 2/1. Therefore, for the place part of the bet your profit is €10 (€5 @ 2/1). It breaks down as follows:


Win Bet: - €5

Place Bet: +€10

Your total profit is €5.

Red Rum finishes outside the top three:

Red Rum finishes outside the top three:

This event is the worst result. You have lost both the 'win bet' and 'place bet'. You have lost the 'win bet' because Red Rum didn't win the race, and you have lost the 'place bet' because Red Rum did not finish in 1st, 2nd or 3rd. 


In total, you have lost €10 on the bet. 

Top Punchestown Betting Offers

Whether you're a new customer or a loyal punter, you can take advantage of some great Punchestown betting offers. Top betting apps and online sportsbooks we can recommend for punters to consider include:

Punchestown Festival Free Bets

Punters will find plenty of welcome offers that betting sites welcome new players with that they can take advantage of during the horse racing season; these include Punchestown free bets. Welcome offers such as these will require a minimum deposit to activate the promotion during registration, so ensure you check the t&cs.

For instance, to receive a €30 free bet, upon registering, you would first need to deposit a minimum of €10. You might be lucky enough to find casino bonuses that are bundled with these sign-up deals. We recommend Betfair for Punchestown free bets, a top betting site to punt on horse races in Ireland.


Best Odds Guaranteed

Most bookmakers frequently provide the most favourable and guaranteed odds for prominent horse racing events, such as the Punchestown Races. This means that if you choose to bet on a certain horse and that price varies if your bet wins, there will be a payout at a greater price.

This feature will typically only be available on that race day. While it might work in your favour if you take a risk with excellent odds weeks prior to the event, you might still be disappointed if you aren't covered if the odds increase.

We have found Boylesports to be one of the most dependable sources for best odds guaranteed offers, as well as many other Punchestown betting options.

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Extra Each-Way Places

As we explained above, an each-way bet covers all possible outcomes if a horse finishes in one of the top spots, be it first or typically second, third or fourth. The odds for an each-way bet is commonly set at 1/4, so only winning bets receive full compensation.

However, certain bookmakers will offer extra each-way places, where punters receive a payout for lower placings, sometimes up to eight placings or ten pacings.

BetVictor stands out as one of the top settings sites that offer a broad range of Punchestown markets and regularly provide additional extra each-way place offers.

Non-Runner No Bet

For keen punters who enjoy ante-post betting on major races, the non-runner no bet offer is great if your chosen horse cannot compete on race day; your initial stake is refunded as your bet will be considered null.

This acts as insurance for those placing bets up to a few weeks or months before the race, as the finalised start-up line might not be confirmed until a few days before the event starts.

A premier betting site for horse racing in Ireland that typically features non-runner no bet in Punchestown betting we can recommend is William Hill.

Faller Insurance

The faller insurance promotion acts as a safeguard if your chosen horse falls, unseats its jockey, or is brought down during the race; your initial stake is reimbursed. The refund is usually given in the form of a free bet and set to a predetermined limit. Since Punchestown is renowned for Irish jumps racing, the extra security faller insurance provides is invaluable despite the usual lower odds associated.

As with all promotions, we advise checking terms & conditions; however, we found that 888Sport is a reliable provider for faller insurance. 

Enhanced Odds

Bookmakers will frequently provide enhanced odds, which are increased odds for a particular horse to make it more appealing to bet on. This is typically done a few days or hours preceding a race to present an opportunity to back a runner at an excellent price point. 

Mr Green is among the bookies for the Punchestown festival, providing enhanced odds to give punters an added edge.

Punchestown Betting Markets

Below you'll find some popular horse racing betting types punters should be aware of:

  1. Match Bets: When two horses are pitted between each other, with the winner being the first to cross the finishing line.
  2. Placepots: Placepot betting require a selection of placed horses in six consecutive races, with the first six usually being on the card for a given meeting.
  3. Tricasts: A punter will predict the winner, second and third place for horses in a particular race.
  4. Special Markets: These are typically closer to the time of the event, offering punters some amusing options that include predictions such as 'Number of Finishers', 'Irish-Trained Winner', or 'Age of the Winner'.
  5. Forecasts: This is a type of wager for bettors to attempt the prediction of the winning horse and the runner-up correctly.

Punchestown Ante-Post Betting

The ante-post bet is a wager which is placed prior to the final declaration stage when runners are confirmed. Usually, an ante-post bet will come with higher odds since the initial stake would be forfeited if the horse fails to run.

Bookmakers will typically open Punchestown betting markets at the same same as Cheltenham and Aintree. Most of the best horses will be competing at all three horse racing festivals, which may secure double or treble, so top bookmakers will await the results of Cheltenham and Aintree before pricing these same horses for Punchestown. As we discussed, the Cheltenham factor is vital information when devising a Punchestown betting strategy.

Betting Advice

As one of Ireland's biggest horse racing events, the Punchestown Festival attracts top jockeys, trainers, and horses worldwide. Knowing which races to place your bets on can be confusing due to the number of races taking place. Getting the right advice can make all the difference, so we've prepared some tips and factors for punters to make better-informed decisions.

Cheltenham Festival factor

One of the key factors to note when betting on Punchestown is its proximity to the Cheltenham Festival. While Punchestown offers huge prize money and prestige, it can't be denied that Cheltenham has turned into the Olympics of national hunt racing

Trainers will try to have their horses primed for Cheltenham, which can sometimes mean that they don't perform to the best of their abilities at Punchestown, owing, among many reasons, to their exertions at Cheltenham or the toll of a long season. But is this a myth?

The below shows how Cheltenham Festival winners fared at the 2022 Punchestown Festival:

Horse Cheltenham  Punchestown 
Sir Gerhard 1/9 in Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (8/11) 3/5 in Bective Novices' Hurdle (4/7)
Energumene 1/7 in Champion Chase (5/2) 1/5 in the William Hill Champion S´chase (1/5)
Bob Olinger 1/4 in Turners Novices´ Chase Pulled up in Dooley Insurance Novice Chase (6/5)
The Nice Guy 1/16 in Albert Bartlett Novices´ (18/1) 1/11 in Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (15/8)
Allaho 1/7 in Ryanair Chase (4/7) 1/9 in Punchestown Gold Cup (6/5)
Facile Vega 1/20 in Champion Bumper (15/8) 1/9 in Race & Stay At Punchestown Flat Race (8/15)
Elimay 1/8 in Mrs Paddy Power Mares´ Chase (9/4) 2/4 in Hanlon Glencarraig Lady (M) S´chase (8/11)
Honeysuckle 1/10 in Unibet Champion Hurdle (8/11) 1/6 in Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (1/5)
State Man  1/26 in County Handicap Hurdle (11/4) 1/5 in the Alanna Homes Novice Hdle (11/10)
Billaway  1/19 in the Hunters´ Chase (13/8) 1/5 in the Irish Daily Star Hunters Chase (8/11)
Marie's Rock 1/12 in Mares´ Hurdle (18/1) 1/9 in Coolmore Mares' Champion H´dle (10/1)
Vauban 1/12 in the JCB Triumph Hurdle (6/4) 1/6 in Ballymore Four-Year-Old Hurdle (4/11)

What is evidently clear from the above is that Willie Mullins knows how to freshen up his Cheltenham champions. While Sir Gerhard and Elimay did disappoint at Punchestown, Mullins' other seven Cheltenham winners (Energumene, The Nice Guy, Allaho, Facile Vega, State Man, Billaway and Vauban) all obliged once again. 

It's an extraordinary 77% strike rate that shows you should always trust the Closutton handler to get a horse ready for Punchestown. Punters who took on the Mullins hotpots, thinking that Cheltenham might have left a mark, were left with burnt fingers. 

Punchestown Horse Racing Betting Advice

Right-Handed v Left-Handed

Take into account that Punchestown is a right-handed course, meaning the horses turn right when rounding the bends. This can be significant, as some horses prefer left-handed racecourses, such as Cheltenham. 

For example, trainer Henry de Bromhead has decided against running the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard at Punchestown in recent seasons because he seems to perform markedly better going left-handed. With this in mind, look out for those horses who seem to be hanging to their right at Cheltenham, as they may improve significantly for going the other way around at Punchestown. 

Course specialists

It has been the case with many horses over the years that they perform much better on a track like Punchestown than Cheltenham, for instance. Three-mile chaser Kemboy has a horrible record around Cheltenham but always seems to run with great credit at Punchestown. 

In this sense, be open to the possibility of Cheltenham's form being reversed. In 2022, Gordon Elliott's Mighty Potter was pulled up at the Cotswolds before winning impressively at the Kildare site. While many favorites do win at Punchestown, a host of them are beaten. 

Quick Facts About Punchestown Festival

  • A record crowd of over 100,000 people are expected to attend the 2023 Punchestown Festival.
  • A total of 28 races are run over the five-day festival, with a €4.5 million total prize fund.
  • €20 million were wagered on Punchestown in 2019, making this festival the second-largest betting event in Ireland.
  • The Champion Chase is the most popular race for Punchestown Betting, with over €1.5 million bets placed in 2019.
  • The Irish Turf Club set the rules and regulations for Punchestown betting at the racecourse.
  • Paul Townend is the most successful jockey appearing at Punchestown Festival, with 23 wins in the current season, 67 wins from 234 runs resulting in a win percentage of 29%.

Willie Mullins at Punchestown Festival

For many years, the meeting has been dominated by Willie Mullins making him one of the most successful trainers at Punchestown. In 2022, for example, he won 14 races at the Festival, including nine Grade 1 contests. It's not just about the racing at Punchestown, though, as tens of thousands of people will gather at the famous racecourse for one of the most hotly-anticipated festivals on the calendar. The 2023 renewal promises to be extra special as it will be the 200th staging of the famous event. Over the past five years, Willie Mullins has achieved an impressive win rate of 23% with 164 victories, his horses having also earned 341 place finishes. Remarkably, over the years 47% of his total runners have finished in the top four.

Trainer Willie Mullins after Klassical Dream wins the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle on day three of the Punchestown Festival at Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare, Ireland. Picture date: Thursday April 28, 2022.
Trainer Willie Mullins after Klassical Dream wins the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle on day three of the Punchestown Festival at Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare, Ireland. Picture date: Thursday April 28, 2022.

Punchestown Festival History

A highly major event in the National Hunt season, Punchestown is arguably one of the most significant in Ireland. Dating back to 1861, it was first known as the ''Kildare and National Hunt Steeplechase''. With the introduction of more challenging hurdles and fences, attendance increased, and crowds exceeded 40,000 by the mid-1860s.

Prince Albert Edward's presence at the 1868 festival boosted attendance by an extra 5,000 or more as enthusiasts from Dublin headed to the races to witness the action in person. Upon the official opening of the Punchestown Racecourse in Eadestown, County Kildare, in 1875, the five-day festival and 40 races have been hosted there ever since.

When and Where is the Punchestown Festival?

The 200th Punchestown Festival starts on Tuesday, 25th April, and finishes on Saturday, 29th April 2023. Punchestown Racecourse is in the parish of Eadestown, between the R410 and R411 regional roads near Naas, County Kildare. The racecourse itself is a right-handed track that is regarded as one of the best in the country.

Featured Races at Punchestown

Nestled in the heart of Kildare, the races at Punchestown Festival are a huge social gathering for both patrons and punters, which are not to be missed.

A total of 40 races take place at the festival over the course of five days, providing ample opportunities for bettors to potentially land some wins. Esteemed races include the Champion Hurdle, the Champion Stayers Hurdle, Punchestown Gold Cup, and the Champion Case among the 12 Grafe 1 contests.

What races are at Punchestown Festival?

The race events for the 2023 meeting can be found below:

Day 1 – William Hill Champion Chase Day

# Time Race & Grade Distance 
1 3.40 pm Howden Insurance Brokers Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) 2 Miles 100 Yards
2 4.15 pm Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2 Miles 100 Yards
3 4.50 pm Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) 2 Miles 100 Yards
4 5.25 pm William Hill Champion Steeplechase (Grade 1) 2 Miles
5 5.55 pm Goffs Defender Bumper 2 Miles 100 Yards
6 6.30 pm Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Steeplechase (Grade 1) 3 Miles 60 Yards
7 7.00 pm Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Steeplechase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup (Bank Course) 3 Miles 1 Furlong
7.35 pm Oak Lodge Landscapes Flat Race N/A

Day 2 – Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup Day

# Time Race & Grade Distance 
1 3.40 pm Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle (95-123) 2 Miles 3 Furlongs & 180 Yards
2 4.15 pm Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final 2 Miles 3 Furlongs & 180 Yards
3 4.50 pm Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle 2 Miles 3 Furlongs & 180 Yards
4 5.25 pm Irish Mirror (War of Attrition) Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2 Miles 7 Furlongs & 180 Yards
5 6.00 pm Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3 Miles 30 Yards
6 6.35 pm Race and Stay at Punchestown Champion I.N.H Flat Race (Grade 1) for The Conyngham Cup 2 Miles 70 Yards
7 7.05 pm HSS Hire (L’Escargot) Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A) 2 Miles 5 Furlongs & 50 Yards
7.35 pm Weatherbys GSB Irish EBF Mares Flat Race (Grade 3) 2 Miles 70 Yards

Day 3 – Ladbrokes Stayers Hurdle Day

# Time Race & Grade Distance 
1 3.40 pm Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle (Rated 88-123) 2 Miles 40 Yards
2 4.15 pm Pigsback.com Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B) 2 Miles
3 4.50 pm Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Steeplechase (Bank Course) 4 Miles 2 Furlongs
4 5.25 pm Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) 2 Miles 7 Furlongs & 130 Yards
5 6.00 pm Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) 2 Miles 7 Furlongs & 130 Yards
6 6.35 pm Barberstown Castle Novice Steeplechase (Grade 1) 2 Miles
7 7.05 pm Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Handicap Steeplechase 2 Miles 5 Furlongs & 50 Yards
7.35 pm JP&M Doyle (C&G) Flat Race 2 Miles 40 Yards

Day 4 – Paddy Power Champion Hurdle Day

# Time Race & Grade Distance 
1 3.40 pm Stanley Asphalt Hunters Steeplechase for the Bishopscourt Cup 2 Miles 5 Furlongs
2 4.15 pm EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A) 2 Miles 5 Furlongs
3 4.50 pm Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF (Registered the Glencarrig Lady Francis Flood) Mares Steeplechase (Grade 2) 2 Miles 5 Furlongs
4 5.25 pm Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2 Miles
5 6.00 pm Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2 Miles 3 Furlongs & 80 Yards
6 6.35 pm Irish Daily Star Champion Hunters Steeplechase 3 Miles
7 7.05 pm SalesSense International Novice Hurdle 2 Miles
7.35 pm Avison Young INH Flat Race 2 Miles 2 Furlongs

Day 5 – Ballymore Festival Family Day

# Time Race & Grade Distance 
1 2.35 pm Donohue Solutions Cross Country Steeplechase 3 Miles 1 Furlong
2 3.10 pm Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Steeplechase (Rated 0-145) 3 Miles 7 Furlong
3 3.50 pm Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2 Miles 3 Furlongs & 30 Yards
4 4.25 pm Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B) 3 Miles
5 5.00 pm Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) 2 Miles
6 5.30 pm Setanta Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) 2 Miles 3 Furlongs & 30 Yards
7 6.05 pm Lawlors Hotel (Pro Am) Flat Race 2 Miles
6.35 pm Carry an Organ Donor Card Punchestown Charity Race N/A

* All race times may be subjected to slight change

Punchestown Races Betting FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about the Punchestown Festival.

Can I make money betting on the Punchestown Festival?

Yes, but, as with all forms of gambling, there is risk involved. With nearly eight races a day for five days, it is wise to pick your battles and not feel compelled to have a bet on every race.  

Can I get tickets to the races?  

Tickets are not available for purchase at the time of writing, but they will become available on the racecourse website.

How can I get to the racecourse?  

By bus: During the Festival, Marathon Coaches operate buses from Aston Quay in Dublin City taking crowds to the racecourse. 

There is also a shuttle service run by Andy's Cab from outside Lawlors on Poplar Street and Ulster Bank South Main Street, both in Naas, each day of the Festival. 

Customers can also take a Dublin Coach from the airport to Naas via the Red Cow Hotel. 

By train: Irish Rail operate a service from Dublin's Heuston Station to Sallins, which is just outside of Naas. 

How can I watch it on TV?  

Live coverage of the race will be available to watch for Irish viewers on RTE 2 and for Sky TV viewers on Racing TV. You can also follow all the news, details, updates, information, content, highlights and results from the track on Punchestown's Racecourse's social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.

Eamon doggett

Eamon DoggettVerified

Featured Horse Racing & Rugby Specialist

Eamon combines his passion for writing, racing, & rugby, by proving horse racing betting & rugby betting insights for punters.

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