The Punchestown Festival 2025 day 1 card has an epic battle between Cheltenham winners Fact To File and Marine Nationale headlining it in the extended 2m Champion Chase, the third of three Grade 1s on Tuesday, 29 April.
It starts hot with a Champion Novice Hurdle and Novice Chase acting as chief supporting races. Willie Mullins naturally dominates proceedings. Besides of a couple of bumpers for four-year-olds and an amateur jockeys only Cross Country Chase, there’s a Listed handicap hurdle for punters to puzzle out.
We asked our experts to look at the best of the action from the card and prices on horse racing betting sites, and come up with some selections for the big events. Check out their thoughts below on four notable races.
Punchestown Festival 2025 Day 1 Preview for Tuesday, 29 April
3:40 – Listed 2m 149y Killashee Handicap Hurdle
How easy was that for Daddy Long Legs!
From Ludlow to Punchestown in less than a week ✅pic.twitter.com/drjvcFo30l
— irishracing.com (@irishracing) April 30, 2024
Brentford Hope is back down to his last winning mark and reverts to handicaps after trying graded races this term. Bottom weight Serienmond catches the eye for Gavin Cromwell too, though, provided a short turnaround of a week isn’t an issue.
In front of that one the last day was Noel Meade’s Helvic Dream, who should sharpen up for that hurdling return. Behind Serienmond was American Money, now the mount of Rachael Blackmore. The Harty stable also run Irish Panther, however, and he wasn’t beaten far when 10th in the County Hurdle.
Dropped 3lb and back on home soil, he could go well if replicating his seven-length defeat by Kargese when finishing in front of Lark In The Morning. Cian Collins’ Impero has four wins in his last five outings, meanwhile, and will like the drying ground. Mullins pair Gaucher and Hunters Yarn looked handicapped up to their best.
4:15 – 2m 149y Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle
Mullins runs three others, but they all have plenty to find with Kopek Des Bordes. Both Irancy and Salvator Mundi, a course and distance winner, have scored since the Cheltenham clash. Neither could land a blow on their stable companion, however, and there’s no reason to think of a different result now.
Elliott and Jim Bolger run a rank outsider apiece, meanwhile. Whinney Hill and Fleetfoot are very difficult to make cases for against the Closutton quartet, completed by Karbau, on all known form. Salvator Mundi looks most likely to chase Kopek Des Bordes home here.
4:50 – 3m 213y Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase
Five of the nine represent Mullins with Ballyburn looking to bounce back from Cheltenham disappointment. He’s a real talent on his day and no stranger to success at this meeting. Ballyburn finished behind stable companion Lecky Watson, Stellar Story and Gorgeous Tom in the Brown Advisory, so must improve on that form and pick his head up.
Preferred from the Closutton quintet in this Punchestown Festival 2025 day 1 staying novice chase is IMPAIRE ET PASSE. Unbeaten in two starts here and unexposed over this longer trip, the multiple Grade 1 winner scored around Limerick and Aintree either side of a Dublin Racing Festival defeat by Ballyburn.
Cheekpieces made a difference to Impaire Et Passe, who reversed Leopardstown form with Croke Park on Merseyside last time. It’s evidence of improvement at a time when Ballyburn and Champ Kiely suffered defeats. Ile Atlantique is last of the Mullins mounts, but unseated in the Gold Cup at Fairyhouse just nine days before this.
Lecky Watson brings that Cheltenham form to the table and could well confirm it, especially if Ballyburn doesn’t fire. Long absent Slade Steel steps up in trip as Henry De Bromhead brings last year’s Supreme hero to this assignment fresh. Polly Gundry mare Don’t Rightly Know completes the field, but has a lot on her plate.
6:00 – 2m 98y Grade 1 Champion Chase
Barry Connell’s stable star earns the vote in this clash of steeplechasing titans after demolishing Jonbon in the Champion Chase during Cheltenham. Marine Nationale should peak in the spring, based on how his own-handler trained him.
Ryanair hero Fact To File commands respect, but this trip looks on the sharp side for him, based on how he’s shaped in his career so far. Mullins second string El Fabiolo must improve jumping wise or another fall beckons, meanwhile.
Joseph O’Brien improver Solness has had a fine season, but all his big wins came around Leopardstown. Henry De Bromhead veteran Captain Guinness hasn’t looked the force of old this term, however, and Senecia is in deep waters.
