Cathryn Fry is back with more Punchestown Festival Tips, bidding to follow-up the success of Busselton (7/2) for Enda Bolger on Thursday. Read her exclusive preview for kwiff below.
Punchestown Festival Tips 2026: Cath’s Exclusive Tips
Forty years after Dawn Run and Buck House had a match race at Punchestown, Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Gaelic Warrior and Irish Gold Cup winner Fact to File, yet again went head to head in the Kildare version of the Gold Cup on Wednesday evening. The result: Gaelic Warrior absolutely destroyed Fact to File by twenty-six lengths. Gaelic Warrior has it all, he jumps well and appears to be made of iron. I can’t wait to see him back in action next season. Both horses are going to lock horns again in the John Durkan Chase in November – roll on winter!
Friday’s Puchestown card sees reigning champion hurdler Lossiemouth back in action for the first time since her victory at Cheltenham. I can’t see her being beaten here. It looks a stone cold certainty that the Gaelic Warrior / Lossiemouth double will again be victorious. Therefore, it’s a race to watch and enjoy. Not many fancies left for the last two days of Punchestown, two tricky and highly competitive cards. However here are two to see the week out:
Punchestown Festival Tips: Cityofblindinlites (Friday, 7:40)
Cityofblindinlites was second in a decent bumper on Boxing Day. The stable has taken two of the last nine renewals of this race. A highly encouraging debut when runner-up, beaten 3¼ lengths, in a 4yo bumper at Leopardstown on his sole start. Returns from a break here; stays 2m well and handles yielding conditions. That form has been boosted by subsequent efforts of The Mourne Rambler in the Champion Bumper and he looks the type to get his head in front before long.
Punchestown Festival Tips: Uhavemeinstitches (Sat, 3:35)
Mark Walsh keeps the partnership with Uhavemeinstiches, who looks favourably weighted on current figures. Bred to stay well as a daughter of an Irish National winner, she landed a Grade 3 in March and had previously held her own against smart performers such as The Big Westerner, Jade De Grugy and Dinoblue. That body of form suggests her mark of 132 may underestimate her true ability. One would imagine that this has been the target as Mark Walsh bows out of the retained rider to JP role.
By Cathryn Fry
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