Punchestown Grade 1 and other big race entries

So Aintree has been and gone for another year, but the top jumps racing is far from over. Punchestown beckons from 25 to 29 April and the Grade 1 and bumper entries (published today) are full of potentially great races. WP effectively swerved Aintree so we have some real stars likely to return with the benefit of a good break. Of course the declarations may not live up to the potential but I think that this year we’ll see some real progression from Cheltenham, particularly from those that have had a decent break. For those of us at work, the Punchestown race times give us a decent chance to get home and enjoy them in the early evening. (Click the race links for the entries.) I’ve also included the other big jumps races to look forward to in the next couple of months, including Auteuil.

httpv://youtu.be/3oqPczZ2G6w

Tuesday 25 April

4.20 2m Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (5yo+)

5.30 <strong”>2m BoyleSports Champion Steeplechase (Grade 1) (5yo+)

6.05 <strong”>2m Goffs Land Rover Bumper (4-5yo)

6.40 3m1f Growise Champion Novice Steeplechase (Grade 1) (5yo+)

Wednesday 26 April

4.55 3m Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+)

5.30 3m1f Coral Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) (5yo+)

Thursday 27 April

5.30 3m Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+)

6.40 2m Ryanair Novice Steeplechase (Grade 1) (5yo+)

Friday 28 April

5.30 2m Betdaq Punchestown Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+)

6.05 2m4f Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+)

Saturday 29 April

3.50 2m4f Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+)

4.25 2m AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo)

Other notable races:

16 April Fairyhouse

4.15 2m4f Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Steeplechase (Grade 1) (5yo+)

17 April Fairyhouse

5.00 3m5f BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase (Grade A) (5yo+)

17 April Auteuil

Prix Du Président De La République (Grade 3)

22 April Ayr

3.55 4m (3m7f176y) Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1) (5yo+)

29 April Sandown

3.30 3m5f (3m4f166y) bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1) (5yo+)

21 May Auteuil

Race 6 Prix Ferdinand Dufaure

httpv://youtu.be/SDnqQwBkP8o

Race 7 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (entries 12 May) (French Gold Cup)

httpv://youtu.be/_xj94COnZwg

11 June 2017

httpv://youtu.be/N5OCOeW9uCo
Race 3 Prix Alain du Breil – Course de Haies d’Été des Quatre Ans (French Triumph Hurdle)

httpv://youtu.be/7Mlq-z9XQO8
Race 4 Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle)

Here’s some more information about the iconic Temple of French Jumps Racing.

We are far from done and there’s lots to look forward to!