Punchestown sets all-time record for crowds

The 2017 Punchestown Festival, which concluded today with the AES Family Day, saw total attendance for the week to a record-breaking 122,557.

Dick O’Sullivan, General Manager at Punchestown Racecourse, said “I am over the moon with this result, the racing was absolutely superb and the new facilities were really well received.

"I was hoping for 120,000 and when I saw the rain this morning I thought 'oh my God' - but here we are with not one but two all-time records.

"We had the highest attendance on any one day at a Festival here and the greatest attendance we have ever had at the Festival and it is totally down to the best team you could have ever put together.”

Attendance Figures Saturday:

2017 – 34,370

2016 – 30,035

Up 4,335

Attendance Figures for Festival 2017:

2017 – 122,557

2016 – 114,438

Up 8,019

2016/17 National Hunt Champions:

Willie Mullins – Champion Trainer

Rachael Blackmore – Champion Conditional Rider

Ruby Walsh – Champion Jockey