See Andy Newton’s Punchestown Festival tips on Tuesday 28th April 2026, for day one of their five-day fixture.
With the opening day seeing three Grade One races that include the Punchestown Champion Chase at 6:05pm.
And a fascinating three-way clash between Il Etait Temps, Marine Nationale and Majborough.
Punchestown Festival Tips (Tuesday 28th April, 2026): Il Etait Temps To Continue Champion Chase Domination
ReadHorseRacing’s Andy Newton runs the rule over the three Grade One races at Punchestown on Tuesday.
Plus gives his Punchestown Festival tips ‘any other business’ thoughts on the rest of the card.
4:15 – PRL Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m½f
El Cairos will be popular here but after his 5th in the Supreme the jury is still out with him for me.
He’s clearly a talented horse, with bags of pace, but also not the most straight-forward looking.
Willie Mullins has a good record in this race – winning 7 of the last 8 – and so his Sober, Too Bossy For Us and Free Spirit will be looking to add to that record.
Sober will be the obvious call with Paul Townend riding, but Free Spirit could be the value – having finished ahead of him last time at Cheltenham and has only had four career runs so could have more to come.
Blake was in the process of running a big race at Fairyhouse last time until falling late on and providing that tumble hasn’t impacted him, I think he can go close too.
But SKYLIGHT HUSTLE is the main play, for Gordon Elliott.
He ran a bit with the choke out the last day at Cheltenham in the Turners and fell late on when beaten at the time.
But the drop back in trip here I think will help and it’s also interesting the first-time hood is on today.
He also may just have needed that last run (2 1/2 months off), while before that was a Grade One winner at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Jack Kennedy prefers the other Elliott runner El Carios, with Sam Ewing taking over here – but that should hopefully keep the price on the pick respectable.
🥇SKYLIGHT HUSTLE
🥈BLAKE
🥉FREE SPIRIT
4:50 – Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 3m1f
Cheltenham Festival Browns winner KITZBUHEL will be hard to beat here and is also 2-2 at Punchestown.
This Mullins chaser looks to be on the up and heads here 3-from-4 over fences with his only blot coming when falling at Sandown in January.
I’m not sure there’s been a Browns winner go onto land this race (and not sure how many have tried), so Kitzbuhel would be the first.
Another bold bid from the front looks on the cards and with a 48-day break after that hard Cheltenham race, he should be ready to rumble again.
Predators Gold was running a big race when falling last time at Fairyhouse, but the step up in trip is the unknown for him.
While course winner Kappa Jy Pike was running on well in that WillowWarm Gold Cup (won by Fleur In The Park) last time so suggest the longer distance may suit.
But the one that can give most to think about is OSCARS BROTHER, who was last seen unseating (Chair) in the National at Aintree.
He was in the race at the time though and having run on well to be 4th in the Browns before that doesn’t have much ground to make up on Kitzbuhel (5 1/2 lengths).
He’s still only had seven runs over fences, and has also beaten Kocktail Divin this season, which is form that’s been franked since.
So, if Kitzbuhel does feel the effects of that last Cheltenham win, I’ll take Oscars Brother to take advantage.
🥇KITZBUHEL
🥈OSCARS BROTHER
🥉KAPPA JY PIKE
6:05 – William Hill Champion Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m½f
The two-time winner of the Punchestown Champion Chase Energumene returned to winning ways last time at the age of 12.
But you feel the younger legs of Majborough, Marine Nationale and Il Etait Temps will be too much for him here.
Cases will be made for all three and it’s hard to put anyone off any of them – it really is one of those races that you’d not be shocked to see any one of this trio winning.
But, for me, Majborough just lets himself down a tad in the jumping department – shown again at Cheltenham last time.
While, despite winning this race last year, Marine Nationale has clearly had a few niggles this season.
So, the safer call has to be the Queen Mother Champion Chaser IL ETAIT TEMPS, who finally put to bed this Cheltenham hoo-doo last time out.
He’s always a strong traveller and powered away to win that race by 10 lengths in the end and is now 8-from-11 over fences.
Il Etait Temps has won over this CD too, so the track is fine and also won’t mind the yielding ground – winning on it twice before.
I’ll take Il Etait Temps to follow the likes of Marine Nationale, Energumene, Sprinter Sacre, Master Minded and Newmill as recent Queen Mother Champion Chase winners to follow up here.
🥇IL ETAIT TEMPS
🥈MARINE NATIONALE
🥉MAJBOROUGH
Punchestown Horse Racing Tips – Day One: Any Other Business Thoughts
Elsewhere on the Tuesday Punchestown Festival Tuesday card, the 3:40pm looks competitive handicap hurdle.
Willie Mullins has won 4 of the last 7 and has five runners in the race, with the Paul Townend-ridden Murcia likely to be popular.
However, the yard also run JP’s DAVY CROCKETT, who I think could return to form now back on better ground.
Yes, he’s been poor of late and was well behind some of these at Fairyhouse earlier this month.
But all his best runs have been on quicker ground and he’s down 2lbs for that last run. Plus, the first-time tongue tie is also an interesting addition.
Mark Walsh also prefers this JP runner over the other three in the race – Khrisma and Larzac.
Then at 5:25pm this bumper race is worth a mention too – only as it’s been the Elliott, Mullins show in recent years.
It’s been Elliott, Mullins, Elliott, Mullins, Elliott, Mullins since 2019 – so that mean Gordon Elliott has to win this time (ha).
No, joking aside, it’s also a race with NO winning favourite in the last 10, so don’t be afraid to look down the market.
The betting will be a good guide too, but if you do like the Elliott angle – he runs Huntin Boots, Dooks, Gili Island, Adifferentballowax and Strategic.
Of that lot Mr H C Swan rides the Gigginstown runner Huntin Boots and he rode the winner for Elliott in this race in 2024.
