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Irish Independent
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Punchestown punters soak up sunshine and dress to impress on day one of racing festival
'It's a cracking day for it,' one punter said. 'Couldn't get any better,' his friend added. The pair marched in a determined fashion through the turnstiles of Punchestown, race cards in hand. Festival fever was in the air for the start of five days of racing action at the Kildare venue. Glorious sunshine drew strong crowds as temperatures soared to 22C. Summer frocks were dusted off for the occasion, many accompanied by colourful wedges and intricate headpieces. With 12 Grade 1 races and over €3.5m in prize money over the course of the week, this year marks Punchestown's 175th anniversary. Veteran MC Brendan McArdle kicked off proceedings shortly after 2pm, helped by the Baldonnel Singers who belted out a rousing rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann. The bars and restaurants around the track were full of sun-drenched punters, drinking €10 pints and chomping down on €12 burgers. In the Bollinger tent, they were doing a roaring trade in Champagne, with people forking out €180 for a bottle of rosé. And just in case race-goers wanted to add some final touches to their outfits, there was no shortage of stalls in the Osprey Avenue shopping area, selling everything from trilby hats to equine-themed oil paintings. As usual, there was plenty of drama on the track to keep attendees engaged. ADVERTISEMENT It was a bumper day for the bookies, with none of the favourites coming in. The first race of the day set the tone, with a surprise win from 22/1 outsider Transprint, piloted by Anthony Doyle. Another upset came shortly afterwards in the second race when Buy Some Time was first past the post with astonishing odds of 50/1. Some losses were recouped for punters in the feature race of the day, the William Hill Champion Steeplechase, which went to the 2/1 second favourite Marine Nationale. Given the gorgeous weather allowed for all kinds of complicated ensembles, the competition was equally high in the style stakes. Comfort was forgotten as stylish ladies wearing delicate-looking jewellery and designer handbags walked around in high heels. Trying to pick a winner from attendees was the panel of judges, which included Jess Colivet, former Dancing with the Stars stylist Roxanne Parker and Lawson Mpame. As for what the judges were looking for, they cited sustainability and 'something that had been worn before.' The winner in the Bollinger Best Dressed was Roscommon civil servant Genevieve Ryan. Inspired by the film My Fair Lady, putting together her black-and-white polka dot ensemble was a bit of a family affair. It was also a case of beginner's luck for Ms Ryan, given that it was her first time at Punchestown. 'I actually got my skirt in Spain back in February,' she said. 'It's my second time to wear it. My shirt is old, but I changed the buttons to update it. 'And I made the hat myself. I'm not a milliner, but I gave it a go. 'The bow for my sinamay hat is actually from a teddy bear belonging to my daughter Lily-May and I got my bag from Depop. My shoes are Jimmy Choo, but I also got them from Depop – they were €180,' she added. Winning the opening day prize means Ms Ryan will return on Friday for the grand final. She said she was 'thrilled' her daughter played a part in her win. 'We do everything together and I think I'm going to bring her now on Friday just to see me up here with the teddy bear ribbon,' she said. Joining her in the final five line-up was her friend Lisa Walsh from Co Meath, who turned heads in her elegant cream outfit. Her dress was from the IQ Collection, but it was her headpiece that really crowned off the outfit. 'My headpiece is actually a table mat rented from Fiona Rafter in Co Meath, she's incredible,' Ms Walsh said.
South Wales Guardian
29-04-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Ascending Lark swoops for Punchestown prize
Placed in two of her three bumper starts in Ireland before switching stables, the seven-year-old made a winning debut for Harry Derham at Haydock in March of last year and has not looked back, adding further victories at Huntingdon, Newcastle, Exeter and Ludlow. She faced a far sterner test at Listed level in County Kildare and was priced up accordingly at 8-1, but powered home under a well-judged ride from Paul O'Brien to get up and beat Jonjo O'Neill's Wilful by three-quarters of a length. Derham said: 'There is not many that win six, never mind six in a row! We didn't plan on being that far back but she's a good horse. He said he was going to ride her to come home and come home she has. 'Will (Watt) gave John (Lalor) half of her as a wedding present, so it was quite the gift! 'A couple of times last year I was on the verge of retiring her. I couldn't get her right and she didn't run to her mark, but her owners were very patient and thank God they were as she's some mare.' Ascending Lark was a second British-trained winner on the card, with 50-1 shot Buy Some Time having earlier got the raiding party off the mark with a surprise victory in the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final Handicap Hurdle for the Scottish father-and-son team of Mike and Ben Smith. Mike Smith said: 'Is there anything better than a day like today at the Punchestown Festival and your son winning like that? It doesn't come any better than that. 'In the last seven or eight days I've had a National Hunt winner in Perth, a point-to-point winner, a Flat winner at Ayr and then flew over here. 'They all tell you that you can't beat the Irish and Willie (Mullins) comes over and beats us all, but it doesn't always happen that way. You have to be brave, to take the risk and throw the darts!' Having earlier landed the two Grade One novice events with Irancy (18-1) and Champ Kiely (22-1), Willie Mullins made it a big priced treble on the afternoon in the €100,000 Goffs Defender Bumper as the previously unraced 16-1 shot Wonderful Everyday made a winning debut in the hands of Ruth Dudfield. 'This filly had been doing everything right at home but I didn't know how good she was and Maith An Buachaill also ran well (finished fourth),' said Mullins. 'It's great when someone in the yard rides a winner at one of the big meetings and Ruth has ridden one or two winners for us before, so it's great for her.' Transprint (22-1) saw off his better fancied stablemate Turnupdevolume to give trainer Richie O'Keeffe a one-two in the Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup, while Bud Fox (16-5) won the closing Willie Coonan Memorial INH Flat Race for Gavin Cromwell and jockey Derek O'Connor.
RTÉ News
29-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Punchestown Festival round-up: Ascending Lark triumphs to extend unbeaten run
British raider Ascending Lark finished with a flourish to extend her unbeaten record over obstacles to six in the Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown. Placed in two of her three bumper starts in Ireland before switching stables, the seven-year-old made a winning debut for Harry Derham at Haydock in March of last year and has not looked back, adding further victories at Huntingdon, Newcastle, Exeter and Ludlow. She faced a far sterner test at Listed level at the Punchestown Festival and was priced up accordingly at 8-1, but powered home under a well-judged ride from Paul O'Brien to get up and beat Jonjo O'Neill's Wilful by three-quarters of a length. Ascending Lark romps home to make it six from six to secure the Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown. #rteracing 📺 Watch @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 29, 2025 Derham said: "There is not many that win six, never mind six in a row. We didn't plan on being that far back but she's a good horse. He said he was going to ride her to come home and come home she has. "Will (Watt) gave John (Lalor) half of her as a wedding present, so it was quite the gift! "A couple of times last year I was on the verge of retiring her. I couldn't get her right and she didn't run to her mark, but her owners were very patient and thank God they were as she's some mare." Paul O'Brien talks through his winning ride as Ascending Lark took the 3:40pm at Punchestown. #rteracing 📺 Watch @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 29, 2025 Ascending Lark was a second British-trained winner on the card, with 50-1 shot Buy Some Time having earlier got the raiding party off the mark with a surprise victory in the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final Handicap Hurdle for the Scottish father-and-son team of Mike and Ben Smith. Mike Smith said: "Is there anything better than a day like today at the Punchestown Festival and your son winning like that? It doesn't come any better than that. "In the last seven or eight days I've had a National Hunt winner in Perth, a point-to-point winner, a Flat winner at Ayr and then flew over here. "They all tell you that you can't beat the Irish and Willie (Mullins) comes over and beats us all, but it doesn't always happen that way. You have to be brave, to take the risk and throw the darts." Transprint (22-1) saw off his better fancied stablemate Turnupdevolume to give trainer Richie O'Keeffe a one-two in the Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup. Watch the Punchestown Festival from Tuesday to Saturday with RTÉ Sport. Coverage begins at 3.30pm for first three days and on Friday at 4pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Watch on Saturday from 3pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
