Punchestown Festival Review 2026

The 2025/26 National Hunt season came to a close, as always, at the Punchestown Festival and what a fitting finale it proved to be. Over five days, members were treated to a superb spectacle of racing, with top-class performances, memorable milestones and a fitting celebration of the season just gone.
 
Once again, JP McManus was crowned Champion Owner following another outstanding campaign, while Willie Mullins capped a remarkable week by retaining his Champion Trainer title, fresh from an incredible haul of thirteen winners across the festival.
 
AIRO were delighted to once again host members in the Owners & Trainers facility throughout the week. It proved to be a hugely enjoyable and successful few days, with members experiencing a number of winners and sharing in the unique atmosphere that Punchestown consistently delivers.
 
Festival by the Numbers

• 39 races and 1 charity race staged 
• 34 individual winning owners represented 
• 21 different trainers among the winners 

These figures underline the competitive nature of the festival, with success shared across a wide cross-section of the industry.
 
Mullins Masterclass
Willie Mullins once again dominated proceedings, saddling 13 winners for 12 different owners, highlighting both the depth of his yard and the spread of success among his ownership base.
His tally included 6 x Grade 1 victories, 1 x Grade 2, 1 x Grade 3 and 2 x Listed wins
A remarkable achievement and a key factor in securing yet another Champion Trainer title.
 
Local Success Stories
The Punchestown Festival always turns up a host of winners and the local trainers and owners were, as ever, to the fore.  Ian McCarthy enjoyed a standout week as Fountain House struck twice at the festival.  Ross O’Sullivan trained both the first and second in the lucrative Connolly’s RED MILLS Hurdle while his father-in-law, Ted Walsh, also made a welcome appearance in the winner’s enclosure when Adrienne won in the colours of his wife Helen.  Sean & Bernadine Mulryan’s charge Abbeyglen won on the opening day for Martin Brassil and Jessica Harrington saddled two winners during the festival, Powerful for JP McManus and Quinto Do Lago for the QDL Partnership.  Peter Fahey saddled Avalo to win for local owners Seamus Perry, Brian Larkin and Bernadette Leigh while another local Padraig Roche took the 4YO grade 1 hurdle with Saratoga.
 
Notable Milestones
Jockey Mark Walsh recorded his 900th career winner aboard Dinoblue and he also signed off his retainer with JP McManus in style, partnering Saratoga to victory in a Grade 1 on the final day.
Owner/trainer Bill Durkan was deservedly inducted into the Punchestown Hall of Fame, recognising his long-standing contribution to the sport and his sponsorship and commitment to Punchestown racecourse.  His son, Neil Durkan, provided a fitting family moment by winning the charity race, bringing the festival to a memorable close.  Another fact worth noting was the 21 UK based trainers who made the trip to partake in this years’ Punchestown festival, Harry Derham won the grade 1 novice hurdle with Le Firmeur for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede on the second day.
 
A Festival to Remember
While the racing itself was exceptional, the true highlight of the week was the seamless execution of the event by the team at Punchestown Racecourse.  With bumper crowds in attendance, high-quality racing and outstanding entertainment throughout, the festival once again set the benchmark for National Hunt racing.  It was a fitting conclusion to a superb National Hunt season and one that will live long in the memory for all involved.
 
Take a bow, Team Punchestown!