Punchestown Festival Day 5 Tips (Saturday 2nd May 2026)

The 2026 Punchestown Festival comes to a close on Saturday and it’s always a really enjoyable final day with a mix of quality racing and competitive handicaps. It might not have the same star names as earlier in the week, but it’s a card that often throws up some solid betting opportunities.

The Grade 1 Mares Champion Hurdle and the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle are the standout races on the card, while the staying handicaps and Cross Country Chase should provide a proper test of stamina. It’s the sort of day where value can be found if you’re willing to dig a bit deeper, so here are my Punchestown Festival 2026 Day 5 tips and best bets.

Top horse racing offer

Punchestown Day 4 tips (Friday)

• 2.30 Fountain House – 5/2 with PaddyPower
• 3.05 Jasmin De Grugy- 9/2 with Sky Bet
• 3.45 Montregard – 11/2 with PaddyPower
• 4.15 Wodhooh – 8/11 each way with BoyleSports
• 4.55 Apolon De Charnie- 9/4 with bet365
• 5.30 Fierce Handay – 7/1 each-way with PaddyPower
• 6.05 Cotswold Blue – 9/4 with Sky Bet
• 6.35 Jungle Cove – 12/1 each-way with BoyleSports

Joe’s best horse racing betting tips for the Punchestown Festival (Saturday 2nd May 2026)

Find my top tips for Saturday 2nd May 2026 racing with odds from the best horse racing bookies below:

Punchestown 2.30 Howden Cross Country Chase (5YO plus) 3m1/2f

A tricky opener as we still don’t know exactly what is going to line-up. Obviously if Busselton gets in he will be a danger to all but as it stands FOUNTAIN HOUSE could be the way to go. He absolutely bolted up in The Ladies Perpetual Cup here on Tuesday and if he has come out the race well he could take some stopping again.

Vanillier is also a reserve at the time of writing but if getting in the race would have a big shout as he was last seen chasing home Final Orders at Cheltenham which is decent form. Fakir D’oudairies has plenty of back class and is another one in with a chance in an open race to kick things off.

Bet on FOUNTAIN HOUSE To Win at 5/2 with PaddyPower

Punchestown 3.05 DAR Golf Handicap Chase (0-145) (5YO plus) 3m71/2f

Huge field for this but JASMIN DE GRUGY was impressive winning eased down at Doncaster when last seen and would have been put away for this since. He obviously goes up in trip again but if his stamina lasts out he could run a massive race under Richie McLernon.

Uncle Pat has knocked on the door the last twice and should be there galloping on strongly at the finish. J’arrive De L’est was pulled up at Uttoxeter and is becoming quite expensive to follow but at the same time if bouncing back would have a shout here again.

Bet on JASMIN DE GRUGY Each Way at 9/2 with SkyBet

Punchestown 3.45 Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (0-150) (Listed) (5YO plus) 3m1/2f

It was obviously a shame to see MONTREGARD miss Sandown but that patience could pay dividends here as he looks to have a major shout. He was last seen winning well at Ascot and the ground looks perfect for him in Ireland. He has more to come as a stayer and is worth siding with.

JP has a strong hand as he also has Uhavemeinstitches who is a likeable mare. She showed a good attitude to win at Limerick and if building on that would get involved here too. Others to note include Your Darling and Dartmoor Pirate at a bigger price too.

Bet on MONTREGARD Each Way at 11/2 with PaddyPower

Punchestown 4.15 SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) (4YO plus) 2m41/2f

This looks a straight shootout between Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins and WODHOOH is taken to come out on top. She has only lost once over hurdles and that came at the hands of now reigning Champion Hurdler Lossiemouth.

She has won 10 from 11 and had main rival here Jade De Grugy trailing behind a length when last seen winning at Cheltenham. I fancy her to confirm that form here and come out on top again.

Jade De Grugy is still lightly raced and is building a nice profile herself so it should be a great race again. The other pair Place De La Nation and Ill Raise A Glass look massively up against it and I can’t see there being an upset.

Bet on WODHOOH To Win at 8/11 with BoyleSports

Punchestown 4.55 Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) (4YO only) 2m

There looked to be no fluke at all about the way APOLON DE CHARNIE won the Triumph despite the price he went off. He stayed on strongly to beat Maestro Conti and with lots more to come over hurdles he is a confident bet to follow up here. There should be plenty of pace on again so I think he’ll look to get settled early before picking his way through and it could pan out perfectly again.

Proactif was hugely disappointing at Cheltenham but did get back on track at Fairyhouse and showed a good attitude to fend off Macho Man. If he improves again he could be the one to ask the most questions here. Macho Man has more to come too and Saratoga is the dark horse in the race so it is a decent looking renewal.

Bet on APOLON DE CHARNIE To Win at 9/4 at bet365

Punchestown 5.30 Lawlor’s Of Naas Handicap Hurdle (Listed) (4YO plus) 2m41/2f

Another handicap and yet again owner JP McManus has a strong hand. FIERCE HANDAY was impressive beating Blue Mosque at Fairyhouse and that rival won here on Thursday so the form has been franked. Mark Walsh rides and he should have a great chance in this given the strength of that recent form.

Jump Allen obviously looked unlucky at Cheltenham and had won at Punchestown prior to that so will probably go off favourite and does look the main danger. Storm Heart still has more to come but would probably be better on softer ground.

Bet on FIERCE HANDAY Each Way at 7/1 with PaddyPower

Punchestown 6.05 Sebden Steel Celebrating 30 Years In Business (Pro/Am) Flat Race (4YO to 7YO) 2m

Punchestown 6.05 Sebden Steel Celebrating 30 Years In Business (Pro/Am) Flat Race (4YO to 7YO) 2m

Not a great deal to go on here so a tentative vote goes to COTSWOLD BLUE who is topping the betting at the time of writing. She is by Authorized and cost the best part of €70,000. She is bred to be pretty useful on paper and if forward enough could prove tough to beat under Patrick Mullins.

Found It has a bright future judging by her point to point form and could threaten most for Gordon Elliott. Crystasia is another one I can see running well and she might be worth a small each way saver.

Bet on COTSWOLD BLUE To Win at 9/4 with SkyBet

Punchestown 6.35 35th Running Of The ‘Have The Conversation- Say Yes To Organ Donation’ Punchestown Charity Race (4YO plus) 2m

A Charity race to conclude the Punchestown Festival and I can see JUNGLE COVE running well at double figures here. He has been largely out of form but back down the weights could bounce back to some sort of form. The ground looks perfect and in a race where it is worth taking something at an each way price he appeals most.

Mordor arrives in winning form off the back of that length victory over Galileo Dame and will likely prove popular. Lightkeeper has top-weight and is another one I can see going well but this race is a bit of a lottery.

Bet on JUNGLE COVE Each Way at 12/1 with BoyleSports

My top tip for the Punchestown Festival on Saturday

Another great days racing at Punchestown and I’ve decided to put the three shorties together to make a treble.

Great chance for WODHOOH to extend the winning sequence and APOLON DE CHARNIE looks a great bet to back up that Triumph performance. Hopefully we can end the week with a winning double!

Bet a Win Double on WODHOOH and APOLON DE CHARNIE at 4/1 with bet365

About the author

Joe Norris

I’m Joe Norris, co-founder and Director of GetYourTipsOut (GYTO), which I launched in 2009 to provide daily sports betting tips, with the main focus on horse racing. Over the years, I’ve earned a reputation for offering reliable and profitable tips, which led to being named “Best Sports Betting Tipster” in 2023. Alongside my work at GYTO, I also contribute predictions to platforms like Oddschecker, allowing me to share my insights with a wide community of sports enthusiasts and bettors.

Find Joe on X: @JoeNorrisGYTO

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.