The Punchestown Gold Cup is one of the most important horse races of the year in Ireland. Most Irish horse racing fans are waiting for this race to come, because it’s the last major event before the summer break. Punchestown is a small town located in County Kildare.
It has been hosting a variety of horse racing events since the 19th century and now it’s considered as one of the most important and prestigious venues for this sport in Ireland. At the end of April, Punchestown hosts its biggest horse racing event, the Punchestown Gold Cup. In this Punchestown Gold Cup betting guide we will tell you all you need to know about this race.
What is the Punchestown Gold Cup?
The Punchestown Gold Cup is an annual horse race for thoroughbreds aged five and upwards. This is considered to be one of the top events of the Irish horse racing calendar and takes place every year at the end of April or in early May at Ireland’s premier racecourse, Punchestown Racecourse.
It is important that you know the Punchestown Gold Cup is the richest and most prestigious event of the Irish jumps season. In fact, it is one of the richest and most prestigious horse races in the world. Also, it is the most important event in the Irish jumps racing calendar.
The race has been run every year since 1999. It is usually held on the last Saturday towards the end of April, on the day which is also known as Irish National Hunt Horse Racing Day. It is run over an extended distance of 3 miles and 120 yards (4,900 meters), and is open to horses aged five years or older.
Brief history of the Punchestown Gold Cup
The current format for the Punchestown Gold Cup started in 1999. It was first won by Imperial Call. Prize money for the race today is around €250,000. Most successful horse in the race’s history is Great Endeavour, who has won it twice. There have been four horses who have won the race on two occasions, but none of them have managed to win it three times. It is the most valuable race run at Punchestown Racecourse.
Format of the race
The Punchestown Gold Cup is run over a distance of 3 miles and 120 yards. It is a Grade 1 National Hunt race, which is open to thoroughbreds aged 5 years or over. This race is run on the same card as the Punchestown Chase, which is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase over a distance of 3 miles and 2 furlongs.
Punchestown Gold Cup prize money is around €250,000. The winning horse receives around €160,000, which is by far the largest amount of prize money for any single horse race in Ireland. The second and third-place finishers receive around €55,000 and €27,000 respectively. There are also cash prizes for the horses that finish in 4th, 5th, and 6th places.
Important statistics about the Punchestown Gold Cup
The 2022 Punchestown Gold Cup was won by Allaho. It was the favorite for the race at fairly short odds of 6/5. This horse is trained by W Mullins and was ridden by jockey P Townend. In second place was Clan Des Obeaux from the training stables of P Nicholls, who won the race in 2021. Third place went to the unfancied Al Boum Photo which is again trained by W Mullins.
Willie Mullins is by far the most successful trainer for the Punchestown Gold Cup. He has trained the winning horse 6 rimes now. His winners were:
- Florida Pearl in 2002
- Sir Des Champs in 2013
- Boston Bob in 2014
- Bellshill in 2018
- Kemboy in 2019
- Allaho in 2022
Paul Nicholls is another trainer to look out for at the Punchestown Gold Cup as he has won the event three times with Neptune Colognes winning the race in both 2007 and 2008, and Clan Des Obeaux victorious in 2021.
Ruby Walsh is the most successful jockey in the Punchestown Gold Cup and has ridden the winning horse 6 times. His wins were:
- Imperial Call in 1999
- Commanche Court in 2000
- Neptune Collonges in 2007
- Neptune Collonges in 2008
- Boston Bob in 2014
- Kemboy in 2019
Another jockey, Barry Geraghty, has won the Punchestown Gold Cup 5 times in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2012, and 2016. We cannot recommend this jockey as one to watch for the Punchestown Gold Cup because he is now retired.
Best way to bet on the Punchestown Gold Cup
There are several online bookmakers that will provide odds and accept bets on the Punchestown Gold Cup. If you are a resident of the United Kingdom then you can register with a bookie like Bet365 who have a very good reputation.
Online bookmakers like Bet365 usually have a very strict “know your customer” (KYC) policy which means that you will have to prove your identity to verify your account. There are international bookies that do not operate a KYC process.
If you are considering using an international online bookmaker for your Punchestown Gold Cup betting then makes sure that they have a valid operating license. Do not take the risk of betting with an unlicensed online bookie.
There are international online bookmakers available where you can bet without having to go through a registration process. Again, be careful here and check that the online bookie has a license and a good reputation with online gamblers.
You will be able to make win and place (each way) bets on the Punchestown Gold Cup. The number of places available depends on how many runners there are in the race. In 2022, there were only 9 runners for the Punchestown Gold Cup so bookies only paid out on first, second, and third.
