Image © Healy Racing
Entries for the Ladies Cup on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival close on Thursday 25th April at 12 noon.
Declarations to run must be made by 10am on Sunday 28th April.
Entries for the Bishopscourt Cup and the Champion Hunters Chase at the Punchestown Festival close on Monday 29th April.
Declarations to run must be made by 10am Wednesday 1st May.
For more information please visit www.hri-ras.ie
Race conditions for all three races below.
A 2:30 PM The Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Steeplechase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup of €15,000 (Generously sponsored by the Kildare Hunt Club)
Winner will receive €9,000 (Penalty Value: €8,850) Second will receive €3,000 Third will receive €1,500 Fourth will receive €750 Fifth will receive €450 Sixth will receive €300
A steeplechase for † Certified Hunters five years old and upwards over a special Bank/Chase Course that at entry have run at least three times in steeplechases (including Point-To-Point steeplechases) and that have between 19th September, 2020 and 24th April, 2024 in Ireland or Great Britain, been placed first, second, third or fourth, in a steeplechase confined to Certified Hunters or in a Point-To-Point Steeplechase and have not won more than two steeplechases confined to Certified Hunters.
About 3 miles 1 furlong
€135 to enter, €15 extra if declared to run
Weights: 5-y-o......................................11st 5lbs
6-y-o and up.........................................11st 7lbs
Mares allowed............................................. 7lbs
Penalties - For each steeplechase won .................5lb extra
Note: Horses which have not run in a race at Punchestown over a special Bank/Chase Course must complete a schooling session over a selection of banks before the time of declaration.
Riders: Qualified Riders under I.N.H.S. Rules. (All Riders riding in this race must have ridden in at least 20 races (including INH Flat Races and Point-To-Point Races) Exclusions - Horses that have won a race under any N.H. Rules or Rules of Racing other than a Farmers Race or races confined to Certified Hunters.
† A Hunters Certificate valid in accordance with Rule 78 for the 2023/2024 season for each horse engaged must be registered at the Office of the I.N.H.S. Committee, The Curragh, Co. Kildare not later than 24th April, 2024, or the horse will not be qualified to start. In the case of horses from Great Britain, Hunters Certificates must have been duly registered at the Racing Calendar Office.
The IHRB have modified the relevant Rules to permit horses for which Hunters Certificates have been registered and which are eligible to run in Hunters Steeplechases in Great Britain to run in this race. However, horses with a Hunters Certificate that have run in any race other than a Hunters Steeplechase since 1st December, 2023 are excluded.
A person who is registered as a current Keeper with the British Horseracing Authority may enter and run a horse in this race. Not more than 16 runners will be permitted to run in this race.
A 3:40 PM The Stanley Asphalt Hunters Steeplechase for the Bishopscourt Cup of €15,000 (Generously sponsored by Stanley Asphalt)
Winner will receive €9,000 (Penalty Value: €8,850) Second will receive €3,000 Third will receive €1,500 Fourth will receive €750 Fifth will receive €450 Sixth will receive €300
Winner will receive €9,000 (Penalty Value: €8,850) Second will receive €3,000 Third will receive €1,500 Fourth will receive €750 Fifth will receive €450 Sixth will receive €300
A steeplechase for † Certified Hunters four years old and upwards that at entry have run at least three times in steeplechases (including Point-To-Point steeplechases) and that are the bona fide and unconditional property of farmers farming land in the Kildare Hunt District who have a herd number from the Department of Agriculture, whose ostensible income is from farming and that are in their possession since 1st January, 2024.
Sons and daughters of persons qualified to enter, working on their parents' farms and who have no other occupation, are eligible to enter horses, their bona fide property, in this race. Exclusions - The winner of a race other than a race for which a Hunters Certificate is required or an I.N.H. Flat Race. The holder of a public Trainers licence is not eligible to run a horse their own property in this race (over the Bush Fence Course).
About 2 miles 5 furlongs
€135 to enter, €15 extra if declared to run
Weights: 4-y-o....................................10st 10lbs
5-y-o and up ...................................... 11st 11lbs
Mares allowed ............................................ 7lbs Penalties - (to count from 1st January, 2022)
For each steeplechase won ................. 5lb extra
Riders: Qualified Riders under I.N.H.S. Rules. (All Riders riding in this race must have ridden in at least 10 races (including INH Flat Races and Point-To-Point Races)
† A Hunters Certificate valid in accordance with Rule 78 for the 2023/2024 season for each horse engaged, signed by a Master for one of the following Packs, Kildare Hunt, South County Dublin Harriers or Tara Harriers must be registered at the Office of the I.N.H.S. Committee, The Curragh, on or before 26th April, 2024 or the horse will not be qualified to start.
Immediately after the closing of entries a Committee of the Kildare Hunt will examine the entries as to their qualifications under these articles, after which no objection in this regard will be entertained. The Bishopscourt Cup will be presented to the winning owner in this race.
D 5:25 PM The Event Power Champion Hunters Steeplechase of €30,000 (Generously sponsored by Event Power)
Winner will receive €18,000 (Penalty Value: €17,700) Second will receive €6,000 Third will receive €3,000 Fourth will receive €1,500 Fifth will receive €900 Sixth will receive €600
Winner will receive €18,000 (Penalty Value: €17,700) Second will receive €6,000 Third will receive €3,000 Fourth will receive €1,500 Fifth will receive €900 Sixth will receive €600
A steeplechase for † Certified Hunters four years old and upwards that at entry have run at least three times in steeplechases (including Point-To-Point steeplechases) and that have between 19th September, 2020 and 28th April, 2024 in Ireland or Great Britain, been placed first, second, third or fourth in a steeplechase confined to Certified Hunters or in a Point-to-Point Steeplechase and which have not won a Race under any N.H. Rules or Rules of Racing after 1st March, 2023 other than a Certified Hunters Steeplechase or a Farmers Race.
About 3 miles
€270 to enter, €30 extra if declared to run
Weights: 4-y-o................................... 10st 12lbs
5-y-o and up................................................12st
Mares allowed.............................................7lbs
Riders: Qualified Riders under I.N.H.S. Rules (All Riders riding in this race must have ridden in at least 10 races (including INH Flat Races and Point-To-Point Races)
† A Hunters Certificate valid in accordance with Rule 78 for the 2023/2024 season for each horse engaged must be registered at the Office of the I.N.H.S. Committee, the Curragh, Co. Kildare not later than 26th April, 2024, or the horse will not be qualified to start. In the case of horses from Great Britain, Hunters Certificates must have been duly registered at the Racing Calendar Office.
The IHRB have modified the relevant Rules to permit horses for which Hunters Certificates have been registered and which are eligible to run in Hunters Steeplechases in Great Britain to run in this race. However, horses with a Hunters Certificate that have run in any race other than a Hunters Steeplechase since 1st December, 2023 are excluded.
A person who is registered as a current Keeper with the British Horseracing Authority may enter and run a horse in this race. The winning owner will receive a perpetual trophy presented by the family of the late Walter Tyrell.
HRI Directive 10 (vi) is suspended for the purpose of this race. Should it be necessary to reduce the number of declared runners to twenty two or to such a lesser number as may be required, elimination of the remaining runners will be at the discretion of the N.H. Handicapper.
The Handicapper's decision shall be final (International performances will be taken into account and the latest date for assessment by the Handicapper will be 10 a.m. on Monday, 29th April, 2024)
