Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival News

Cheltenham Festival Winners To The Fore In Anglo-Irish Jump Awards 15/05/06
The Cheltenham Festival's position as the pre-eminent arena for excellence in jump racing has been reinforced with the unveiling today, Monday, May 15, of the new and prestigious 2006 Anglo-Irish Jump Racing Awards, with Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdler Brave Inca named the Anglo-Irish Horse of the Year.

Macs Joy for Jessica Harrington
28/04/06
Macs Joy, who was beaten a length by Brave Inca in last month's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, turned the tables on his old rival under an enterprising ride from Barry Geraghty when landing the Grade 1 ACC Bank Champion Hurdle by four lengths.

Asian Maze out of this World
27/04/06
Asian Maze ran her rivals ragged to land a convincing win in the Whitewater Champion Stayers' Hurdle.

Double Gold for War Of Attrition
26/04/06
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition confirmed his brilliance on home turf when running out a facile two and a half length winner of Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup under Conor O'Dwyer.

Newmill lands rare Double
25/04/06
John Murphy’s stable star Newmill, winner of Cheltenham’s Queen Mother Champion Chase last time out, completed a rare double when the brilliant 15-length winner of the Kerrygold Champion Chase at Punchestown on the first day of the Irish National Hunt Festival.

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A far from foot perfect Moscow Flyer finally lost his unbeaten record when completing over fences after going down by a short-head to Rathgar Beau in a dramatic finish to the Grade 1 Kerrygold Champion Chase. Brave Inca, ridden for the first time by Tony McCoy, came out best in a brilliant finish to the Grade 1 Emo Oil Champion Hurdle on the final day of Punchestown's Irish National Hunt Festival, coming home a head in front of Harchibald. Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King was crowned a true champion on his home ground when effortlessly strolling home three lengths clear of Rule Supreme to land the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup on day two of the Irish National Hunt Festival.

Punchestown, founded in 1793, is Ireland’s premier National Hunt Racecourse and is regarded as the natural home of Irish National Hunt Racing. Recent development work has seen the racecourse transformed into one of the most modern and impressive racing facilities in the world.

The objectives of the Association include furthering the interests of Horseracing generally in Ireland and particularly the interests of Racecourse Owners and Executives.

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