The 2026 Punchestown Festival concludes with another cracking card on Saturday, and we’re focusing our attention on the Ballymore Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle.
Willie Mullins is mob-handed with nine entries as he seeks a record-extending 12th win in the race, but the betting odds suggest he might not have it all his own way.
Here is our guide to all 13 runners, ranked in reverse order. But first, the odds for the big race.
Odds
Punchestown Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle 2026 Odds
Horse | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Apolon De Charnie | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Proactif | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Saratoga | 11/2 | 15.4% |
Majolique | 7/1 | 12.5% |
Macho Man | 15/2 | 11.8% |
Matin Midi Et Soir | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Bartholomew | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Charme De Faust | 18/1 | 5.3% |
Madness D’Elle | 33/1 | 2.9% |
Moulin Labbe | 40/1 | 2.4% |
Bertutea | 50/1 | 2.0% |
Kai Lung | 50/1 | 2.0% |
One Horse Town | 50/1 | 2.0% |
*Prices are subject to fluctuation
Runner Rankings
Punchestown Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle Tips: All 13 Runners Ranked
13. Bertutea – 50/1
The outsider of the Mullins battalion made a nice stable debut when scoring by nine lengths at Limerick but was pulled up at the Dublin Racing Festival and again struggled in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham.
12. Kai Lung – 50/1
Another who prevailed on his first start for Mullins but then weakened late on when failing to complete the course in the Triumph Hurdle and at Fairyhouse over Easter.
11. One Horse Town – 50/1
Harry Derham secured a memorable first Grade One success when Le Frimeur sprang an 18/1 surprise here on Wednesday but it would be an even bigger upset if this British raider obliged after finishing 13th in the Triumph.
10. Moulin Labbe – 40/1
Boasts an encouraging 13-length win at Navan but may be one for the future judged on the way he found a step up to Grade Two company at Fairyhouse too taxing last time out.
9. Madness D’Elle – 33/1
Owner Rich Ricci has had another good week and this gelding showed a willing attitude to get back up at Gowran Park when a red-hot favourite, but he failed to land a blow when only 14th in the Fred Winter.
8. Charme De Faust – 18/1
Carries the same pink and green Ricci colours associated with so many top-notch performers and performed with credit in Grade Two mares’ events at Cheltenham and Fairyhouse, but did she show enough to suggest she can beat the boys here?
7. Bartholomew – 12/1
Martin Brassil unleashed a smart bumper winner earlier this week and will be hoping this son of Nathaniel can cope with a step up in class after comfortably accounting for Mullins-trained hotpot Mino Des Mottes by 10 lengths at Cork.
6. Matin Midi Et Soir – 8/1
Henry de Bromhead and Robcour enjoyed a dream win with the now-retired Bob Olinger on Thursday and will be hoping exciting youngsters like this two-time Auteuil scorer can help to fill the void.
5. Majolique – 7/1
Overcame a few jumping issues to win at Naas in February and didn’t quite get the run of the race when third behind Proactif at Fairyhouse, so there is scope for improvement from this Mullins-trained mare, who gets a handy 7lb allowance.
4. Saratoga – 11/2
Powered up the Cheltenham hill to land the Fred Winter for JP McManus and Padraig Roche despite having been a big market drifter, so certainly not one to rule out, even if the ground is again a concern.
3. Macho Man – 15/2
Failed to recover from an early mistake in the Triumph but bounced back in fine style when a fast-finishing neck second to Proactif at Fairyhouse, and the feeling is that there is more to come from this half-brother to staying chaser Invictus Machin.
2. Apolon De Charnie – 2/1
Paul Townend takes over from Patrick Mullins in the saddle following a 50/1 shock success in the Triumph and it has paid to follow the Cheltenham form so far during this festival, but we’re just drawn to the fact that Proactif beat him by six lengths in France last September.
1. Proactif – 9/2
Failed to show his true ability when a beaten favourite in ninth in the Triumph but redeemed his reputation with a battling Grade Two success at Fairyhouse and Harry Cobden will be determined to make his mark for new boss McManus.
Prediction
Punchestown Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle Prediction
1st. Proactif
2nd. Apolon De Charnie
3rd. Macho Man
Simply click/tap on the above betting tips to add to your betslip.
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*Prices are subject to fluctuation
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