PUNCHESTOWN: What famous people say about the Kildare racing festival

Looked upon as the Home of National Hunt in Ireland, Punchestown has stirred up amazing emotions and scenes down the years.

Here are ten famous quotes from jockeys, trainers and commentators as they summed up the famous festival.

1: “Punchestown is where legends are crowned and careers remembered.”

– Ted Walsh, trainer and commentator

2: “There’s nowhere quite like Punchestown. The roar, the people, the pride— it’s our Cheltenham.”

– Ruby Walsh, legendary jockey

3: “To win here at Punchestown, in front of a home crowd, it means everything.”

– Rachael Blackmore, top jockey

4: “This is the festival where Irish racing comes home.”

– Willie Mullins, record-breaking trainer

5: “Faugheen the Machine is back—and what a place to do it”

– Live commentary, during Faugheen’s 2018 comeback

6: “You can feel the ground shake when a favourite hits the front at

Punchestown.”

– Barry Geraghty, former jockey

7: “The racing’s top-class, but it’s the crowd that makes it magic.”

– Nina Carberry, former jockey

8: “Every win at Punchestown is earned

the hard way—it’s pure Irish grit.”

– Davy Russell, jockey

9: “Punchestown is not just a festival. It’s a pilgrimage for racing fans.”

– Kevin Blake, racing analyst

10: “When you cross that line in front at Punchestown, there’s no better feeling in the sport.”

– Paul Townend, jockey