A whole Punch’ of changes
HORSE racing bosses have announced major changes to this year’s Punchestown Racing Festival.
The Co Kildare event kicks off on Tuesday, April 30 until Saturday May 4 and attracts over 100,000 punters to the race track every year.
But racing bosses said that after receiving feedback, they have decided to make four changes to the festival.
They include the first two days of show will start at 2.30pm, followed by a price reduction to €30 for the first three days and €40 for Friday and Saturday for advance purchased tickets.
There will be an additional €5 per ticket charge for on the day purchases excluding senior, student and family day concession tickets.
A Flexi ticket will be replaced by the new Choice Ticket that can be used on Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday.
The layout will undergo a refresh including the removal of the reserved enclosure divide and the introduction of new features around the parade ring enclosure.
A spokesman for the festival said: “Whilst costs have increased across the board for product and services every effort has been made to minimise the impact on the customer.”
Conor O’Neill, Punchestown CEO, added: “If it doesn’t work for the customer, it ultimately won’t work for Punchestown, so I hope we’ve got the balance right as we look ahead to welcoming friends old and new to the 2024 upcoming Punchestown Festival.”
PUNTERS are set to wager up to €100million on the Grand National this weekend.
Paddy Power has estimated this industry-wide figure for one of the most-watched horse races in the world.
And William Hill believe Willie Mullins-trained Meetingofthewaters now ranked 8/1 could be favourite on Saturday when it races at Aintree at 4pm.
The seven-year-old (pictured) finished third behind Chianti Classico and Twig in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival last month, shortly after being purchased by JP McManus from Paul Byrne.
Son
William Hill say money started to come for the Paddy Power Chase winner last week and that there is now a “massive gamble” on the son of Court
Cave.
It has seen Meetingofthewaters’ odds fall from 14/1 and the betting firm believe he could be favourite.
Lee Phelps of William Hill, said: “The money started coming in for Meetingofthewaters last week and it has not stopped.
“Make no mistake, this is a massive gamble, and we’ve been forced to take more preventative action, cutting Willie Mullins’ runner to 8/1 from 10/1, having been as big as 14/1 less than a week ago.”
She said by Saturday “there’s a good chance Meetingofthewaters could be favourite come Saturday race-time, and we’ve cut the JP McManusowned runner to 7/2 from 5/1”.