RTE star, Virgin Media beauty & ex-Irish footie ace enjoy scorcher at Punchestown Festival for ‘showstopper' Gold Cup
PUNCHESTOWN punters basked in glorious weather as a number of star names visited the festival today.
Well-known sporting greats and personalities gathered for the Ladbrokes Gold Cup, one of the highlights of the week.
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Racegoers pose on day two of the Punchestown Festival
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Irish footballer legend Shane Long made sure not to miss the Gold Cup
Credit: Brian McEvoy
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Elaine Crowley stunned as she attended the races
Credit: Brian McEvoy
Ireland football legend Shane Long enjoyed a day sampling the action where he was seen posing for snaps with fans.
Other celebs at the track included
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: 'The Punchestown Racing Festival is always a must-attend event in the Irish racing calendar, with fantastic energy all-round.
"The Ladbrokes Gold Cup is no doubt the showstopper to top off an exhilarating day at the racecourse.'
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And in the big race of the day, jockey Paul Townend helped Galopin Des Champs past the post first in a dominant Gold Cup display.
Denied a hat-trick of Gold Cup's at Cheltenham last month, the Willie Mullins-trained horse galloped home with a 22-lengths victory.
Galopin Des Champs prevented an unwanted hat-trick in the race, having been second to Fastorslow for the past two years.
The nine-year-old horse, which was the 5-6 favourite left no doubt about it's star quality as it received rapturous applause from punters watching the big race.
Most read in The Irish Sun
'We are very, very fortunate to have him,' said the winning jockey. 'Obviously we were very disappointed coming away from Cheltenham.
Speaking after the big win, Townend said: 'We are very, very fortunate to have him.
"Obviously we were very disappointed coming away from Cheltenham.
Kathryn Thomas enjoys day out at Punchestown Festival
'The reception he gets his special and we are just lucky to be a part of it. He's a unique horse.'
Galopin Des Champs gave his rider a scare by producing a scruffy jump at the last, but it didn't impact the end result.
Townend continued: 'It wouldn't be like him at all but the fact he done it meant he was doing things easy enough.
'In fairness he gave me plenty of warning. After that he got in a good rhythm and enjoyed it.
'He was taking me today whereas I was trying to hang in there in Cheltenham. He wasn't right in Cheltenham and thankfully it didn't leave a huge mark on him which it could have with the effort he put in.
'ALL CLASS'
'He got me out of trouble at the last, there's no lying about it. He's all class."
The Punchestown Festival has long been billed as the grand finale of the National Hunt season.
And the famous five-day spectacle in Kildare attracts Ireland's best jumps horses, jockeys, and trainers.
On Thursday, it'll run from 4pm to 7pm on Friday with RTE One then showcasing the final day from 3pm until 5:45pm.
So anyone looking for a way to stream it can do so freely via the RTE Player.
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Marty Morrissy and Avril Kelly Carter were among the stars to attend
Credit: Brian McEvoy
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Raymond and Gillian Gilmourne looking glam at the festival
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Ellie McNamee, Samantha Tansey, Ellie Doherty, Nicola Kirwan and Sophie Kirwan react to the 'showstopping' racing
Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription
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The Punchestown Festival has long been billed as the grand finale of the National Hunt season
Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription
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