Day three of the Punchestown Festival sees the renewal of the Champion Stayers Hurdle, which looks set to be a tightly-fought contest.
It’s also a great day to make the most of some impressive sign-up offer. Sky Bet are giving new customers £30 in free bets when you bet as little as 5p, while you can get your hands on £60 in Spreadex free bets once your first £10 bet has been settled. The bets can be used across the remainder of the Punchestown Festival, so it’s a good time to give some new betting sites a first try.
| Online Betting Sites | Punchestown Festival Betting Offers |
| Spreadex | Bet £10 and get £60 in free bets |
| Betfred | Bet £10 and get £50 in free bets |
| BetMGM | Bet £10 and get £40 in free bets |
| bet365 | Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets |
| Paddy Power | Bet £5 and get £30 in free bets |
| Sky Bet | Bet 5p and get £30 in free bets |
Punchestown Festival betting offers – Key T&Cs
- Spreadex: Spread betting losses can exceed deposit. Place a qualifying £10 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater and get 3x £10 free fixed odds bets in consecutive days and 6x £5 free spread bets across consecutive days. Qualifying bet cannot be placed in-play or cashed out early. Free bets expire in 28 days if unused. T&Cs apply. 18+. GambleAware.org
- Betfred: New customers only. 18+. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
- BetMGM: New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
- bet365: 18+. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
- Paddy Power: New Customer offer – Use promo code YSKAST. Place a min £5 bet on the sportsbook at odds of min EVS (2.0) and get £30 in free bets. Free bet rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via Debit Cards & Apple Pay will qualify for this offer. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly
- Sky Bet: New customers only. First single &E/W bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 X £10 bet tokens. Free bet tokens not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 18+
Punchestown Festival Day 3 Betting Tips
Run over just shy of three miles, the Champion Stayers Hurdle has been dominated by Willie Mullins’ runners in recent years, but this year the Gordon Elliot-trained Teahupoo returns to defend his crown.
Punchestown Champion Stayers Hurdle Odds
- Teahupoo @ 7/4 with Sky Bet
- Hiddenvalley Lake @ 7/2 with Sky Bet
- Rocky’s Diamond @ 13/2 with Sky Bet
- Crambo @ 9/1 with Sky Bet
- Jetara @ 9/1 with Sky Bet
- Asterion Forlonge @ 11/1 with Sky Bet
- Home By The Lee @ 11/1 with Sky Bet
- Winter Fog @ 22/1 with Sky Bet
- Colonel Mustard @ 25/1 with Sky Bet
- Franciscan Rock @ 28/1 with Sky Bet
- Meet And Greet @ 50/1 with Sky Bet
Stayers’ Hurdle to be dominated by the power houses of Irish Racing
In what looks set to be a thrilling renewal of the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle, all the big names of Irish Racing are represented.
While top entries from Mullins, Elliott and Henry De Bromhead are almost expected for races like this, the field is enhanced by having runners from Joseph O’Brien and Mrs John Harrington’s stables, as well as a sole representative from the United Kingdom – the Fergal O’Brien trained Crambo – who will be looking to add another British-trained winner to this year’s list.
An opportunity to Teahupoo to bounce back
It has been a case of close, but not close enough for Teahupoo. After the highs of last season where he won the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham and then followed up by winning this race 12 months ago, this campaign has been one of frustration.
He made his reappearance in December in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, a race he had won the two years previously. He ran credibly in a race that panned out in a way that did not suit his abilities. They went off slowly and it turned into a sprint in the closing stages.
While Lossiemouth, the eventual winner, was able to go through the gears quickly, Teahupoo was unable to follow, clearly finding the two-and-a-half-mile trip too sharp. All in all it was a good start to the season and something to build upon.
However, more frustration followed when finishing second in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, he ran a solid race in defeat, the front two finishing well clear of the rest of the field, but it was not to be Teahupoo’s day.
He is lightly raced this season with only the two starts, so there should still be plenty more left in the tank and this does look an easier field than what he has faced in his previous two starts.
If they go at a more steady pace early, Teahupoo should be well placed to retain his title here.
Selection: Teahupoo @ 13/8 with Ladbrokes
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Winter Fog should not be overlooked here
One who has caught the eye at a larger price is the Willie Mullins-trained Winter Fog. The 11-year-old veteran has been the model of consistency all season, starting his run last summer with a win at Tipperary before he continued to impress. This including when second in the Neville Hotel hurdle at Leopardstown in December, and then back-to-back third places in the Irish Champion Hurdle and Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
He was handed a huge slice of luck in the latter contest in March with falls from Constitution Hill and State Man, who had the race at his mercy only to fall at the last, meaning he was able to finish a lot higher up then he maybe should have done.
That is not to say Winter Fog was given it all on a plate, he still had to work hard after being hampered by the fall of State Man and he showed his determination to stay on well.
Mullins’ charge is stepping back up to three miles for the first time since August 2023, but he has shown that he has the resilience and stamina for a race such as this and it could be exactly what he needs to pull off a surprise here.
Next Best: Winter Fog @ 22/1 with Sky Bet
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