Horse Racing Tips
Punchestown Festival 2026: Competitive Day Headed By ‘Machine’ For Willie Mullins
William Hill News tipster Steve Mullington casts his expert eye over the third day of the 2026 Punchestown Festival.
Punchestown Tips Thursday:
- 2.30 – Fort Dino (WIN)
- 3.05 – Adrienne (E/W)
- 3.40 – Busselton (E/W)
- 4.15 – Ballybow (E/W)
- 4.50 – Coral River (E/W)
- 5.25 – Kopek Des Bordes (WIN)
- 6.05 – Bob Olinger (WIN)
- 6.35 – Soul Asylum (E/W)
Our horse racing expert Steve Mullington will be guiding you through the Graded and Listed events this week, plus suggesting a WIN or EACH-WAY selection in all of the other supporting races.
Stamina is the name of the game on day three with runners and riders lining up for the €300,000 Punchestown Stayers’ Hurdle centrepiece.
3.05 – 2m½f Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed Race)
The Ted Walsh-trained ADRIENNE has shown consistent form in maiden hurdles and Graded affairs this season and comes into this race a filly in form.
We last saw the four-year-old finishing fourth of nine in a Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse on 6 April, when ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe, and the same jockey takes the ride again on Thursday.
Trading at around 7/1 in our market for the race, she’s an interesting looking bet.
4.15 – 3m Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race)
An astonishing 25 runners go to post in this wide open handicap hurdle and my tentative each-way vote goes the way of BALLYBOW for Gordon Elliott.
Owned by Gigginstown House Stud, he has taken to steeplechasing well after a successful hurdles career that included victory in the Grade 3 Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel in February 2025.
Yet to win a chase, he’s well in on the weights and can go well at an each-way price.
4.50 – 2m½f Handicap Chase (Listed Race)
CORAL RIVER recently won a Rated Novice Chase at Clonmel on 14 April, when ridden by Donagh Meyler, and can go well in this Listed Handicap Chase.
Trained by Ross O’Sullivan, the seven-year-old has been ultra-game this season and there’s every reason to believe the good run will continue.
Now on a rating of 133, the Ol’ Man River-gelding appears to be a solid each-way selection.
5.25 – 2m½f Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1)
The Willie Mullins-trained KOPEK DES BORDES made a successful debut over fences at Navan in November, with jockey Paul Townend describing his mount as a ‘machine’.
Despite a setback with a small knee chip, he returned to finish second in the Arkle Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, where he was narrowly beaten by stablemate Kargese after a mistake at the final fence.
On all known form the six-year-old should take all the beating in this Grade 1, and is understandably the short priced favourite in our sports betting.
6.05 – 3m Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)
If BOB OLINGER was to win this Grade 1, then I will confidently predict that he will be retired immediately afterwards.
The eleven-year-old enigma owes his connections nothing and he comes into this race on the back of two decent efforts at Leopardstown and Cheltenham.
Home By The Lee franked the form for the old boys at Aintree, which leads me to believe that going out at the top at this home Festival, is well within his scope.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
