Fans all have same complaint about Punchestown Festival taking ‘no prisoners’ as punters ‘learn their lesson’

THE Punchestown Festival has long been billed as the grand finale of the National Hunt season.

BUT the famous racing meet comes a reputation for unpredictability that few meetings can rival.

The famous this five-day spectacle in Kildare attracts Ireland’s best jumps horses, jockeys, and trainers.

But more often than not, it leaves punters scratching their heads as outsiders storm home and supposed bankers flop.

The festival is unlike Cheltenham or Aintree, which are often season-long targets for top horses as the pressure is off the trainers and jockeys.

Many runners have already peaked at the spring festivals in Britain and arrive at Punchestown tired or over the top.

Trainer motivation also plays a big role. Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, and Henry de Bromhead are known to run multiple horses in a single race – all with chances.

A Grade 1 could feature six Mullins runners, and while one might be odds-on, it’s often another from the same stable who swoops in at a price.

And some fans have agreed with that widely regarded sentiment as they took to social media to admit that races can be too tough to call.

One posted on X: “That Punchestown Festival is a waste of time. Horses have ran that much that they don’t want to run again.

“Form goes out the window.”

While another wrote: “Punchestown festival takes no prisoners, biggest winner is leaving it well alone.”

A third commented: “Learned my lesson last year with Punchestown thankfully.

“Basically avoid the festival.”