Punchestown bid to attract foreign raiders
Free accommodation for owners and trainers plus travel allowances and what amounts to appearance money for unplaced runners in the major races are key elements of the package available throughout the meeting which runs from April 29 to May 2.
The Festival begins three days after the end of the British jump season at Sandown, and according to Janet Williamson, Punchestown’s marketing director, the allure of that fixture was something they had to address.
“Obviously we want people to bypass Sandown and come to us,” said Mrs Williamson, wife of jockey Norman.
“Also we have Pattern status for our main races which Sandown do not and we provide higher prize money. Sandown’s Queen Mother Memorial Two-Mile races is worth 112,000 while our BMW Chase is worth 120,000, and our stayers’ and championship races are more valuable. Also Sandown doesn’t have an equivalent to the Heineken Gold Cup which is worth 160,000.”
Owners and trainers of horses who finish in the first four of selected key races at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals will qualify for the full package. This includes travel expenses, four-star accommodation, VIP hospitality at the course and all badges and passes required throughout the entire meeting.
In addition, further invitational packages will be offered to horses who may have won other races, or had been unable for whatever reason to have been unable to run at one of the meetings. Horse Racing Ireland is endorsing the travel allowance scheme of providing 1,000 for unplaced runners in Grade One races.
Punchestown also announced that they are building “Cheltenham style” fences which will be introduced at this year’s Festival, and will provide ground that has not been raced over for 12 months.
Dick O’Sullivan, the racecourse manager, said: “We have worked very hard on devising an incentive that will attract a superior foreign contingent to the Festival and we are confident that our incentives and invitations will achieve this.”
To qualify for the full package horses have to win or be placed in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Tote Gold Cup and the Bonusprint Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham or on in the Grade One races at Aintree.
