Punchestown Champion Hurdle

{{short description|Hurdle horse race in Ireland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Use Irish English|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox horseraces

|class = Grade 1

|horse race = Punchestown Champion Hurdle

|image =

|caption =

|location = Punchestown
County Kildare, Ireland

|inaugurated =

|race type = Hurdle race

|sponsor = Boodles

|website = [http://www.punchestown.com/ Punchestown]

|distance = 2 miles (3,219 metres)

|surface = Turf

|track = Right-handed

|qualification = Four-years-old and up

|weight = 11 st 4 lb (4yo);
12 st 0 lb (5yo+)
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and mares

|purse = €250,000 (2021)
1st: €147,500

|bonuses =

}}

{{Jockey colours header

| name = Punchestown Champion Hurdle}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2024

| image1 = File:Owner Mrs J Donnelly.svg

| alt1 = Yellow and black check, yellow sleeves, black star on cap

| caption1 = State Man

| image2 = File:Owner Robcour.svg

| alt2 = Pink and white halved, black sleeves, black cap, pink star

| caption2 = Irish Point

| image3 = File:Owner First Of Many Partnership.svg

| alt3 = Red, white diamond, white sleeves, red spots, red cap

| caption3 = Colonel Mustard

}}

|}

{{Jockey colours collapsible header}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2023

| image1 = File:Owner Mrs J Donnelly.svg

| alt1 = Yellow and black check, yellow sleeves, black star on cap

| caption1 = State Man

| image2 = File:Owner Mrs S Ricci_green_cap.svg

| alt2 = Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves, light green cap

| caption2 = Vauban

| image3 = File:Owner First Of Many Partnership.svg

| alt3 = Red, white diamond, white sleeves, red spots, red cap

| caption3 = Colonel Mustard

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2022

| image1 = File:Owner Mr K Alexander.svg

| alt1 = Light blue, white spots, striped sleeves, light blue cap, white spots

| caption1 = Honeysuckle

| image2 = File:Owner Barnane Stud Ltd.svg

| alt2 = Emerald green and red halved, emerald green sleeves and cap

| caption2 = Echoes In Rain

| image3 = File:Owner Mr John P McManus_star_on_cap.svg

| alt3 = Emerald Green and Orange Hooped, emerald green cap, white star

| caption3 = Darasso

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2021

| image1 = File:Owner Mr K Alexander.svg

| alt1 = Light blue, white spots, striped sleeves, light blue cap, white spots

| caption1 = Honeysuckle

| image2 = File:Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg

| alt2 = Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap

| caption2 = Sharjah

| image3 = File:Owner Mr John P McManus.svg

| alt3 = Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap

| caption3 = Epatante

}}

{{Jockey colours no footer}}

{{Jockey colours named collapsible header

| name = 2020-2011 }}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2019

| image1 = File:Owner Mr John P McManus.svg

| alt1 = Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap

| caption1 = Buveur D'Air

| image2 = File:Owner A Potts.svg

| alt2 = Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap

| caption2 = Supasundae

| image3 = File:Owner Wicklow Bloodstock Limited.svg

| alt3 = Purple, orange seams, orange star on cap

| caption3 = Wicklow Brave

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2018

| image1 = File:Owner A Potts.svg

| alt1 = Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap

| caption1 = Supasundae

| image2 = File:Owner Wicklow Bloodstock Limited.svg

| alt2 = Purple, orange seams, orange star on cap

| caption2 = Wicklow Brave

| image3 = File:Owner Mrs M McMahon.svg

| alt3 = Purple, yellow chevron, yellow cap

| caption3 = Bleu Berry

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2017

| image1 = File:Owner Wicklow Bloodstock Limited_yellow_cap.svg

| alt1 = Purple, orange seams, yellow cap

| caption1 = Wicklow Brave

| image2 = File:Owner Mr John P McManus.svg

| alt2 = Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap

| caption2 = My Tent Or Yours

| image3 = File:Owner Wicklow Bloodstock Limited.svg

| alt3 = Purple, orange seams, orange star on cap

| caption3 = Arctic Fire

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2016

| image1 = File:Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg

| alt1 = Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap

| caption1 = Vroum Vroum Mag

| image2 = File:Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg

| alt2 = Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star

| caption2 = Identity Thief

| image3 = File:Owner Mr John P McManus.svg

| alt3 = Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap

| caption3 = My Tent Or Yours

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2015

| image1 = File:Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg

| alt1 = Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap

| caption1 = Faugheen

| image2 = File:Owner Wicklow Bloodstock Limited.svg

| alt2 = Purple, orange seams, orange star on cap

| caption2 = Arctic Fire

| image3 = File:Owner Prof Caroline Tisdall.svg

| alt3 = Not available

| caption3 = Dell' Arca

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2014

| image1 = File:Owner Mr John P McManus.svg

| alt1 = Emerald green and orange hooped, white cap

| caption1 = Jezki

| image2 = File:Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg

| alt2 = Royal blue, emerald green triple diamond,royal blue cap, emerald green diamonds

| caption2 = Hurricane Fly

| image3 = File:Owner Mrs Sean Hussey.svg

| alt3 = Emerald green, black sash and sleeves, green cap

| caption3 = Steps To Freedom

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2013

| image1 = File:Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg

| alt1 = Royal blue, emerald green triple diamond,royal blue cap, emerald green diamonds

| caption1 = Hurricane Fly

| image2 = File:Owner Hammer and Trowel Syndicate.svg

| alt2 = Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star

| caption2 = Thousand Stars

| image3 = File:Owner The Festival Goers.svg

| alt3 = Dark green, white cross sashes, light green sleeves, dark green and white hooped cap

| caption3 = Rock On Ruby

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2012

| image1 = File:Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg

| alt1 = Royal blue, emerald green triple diamond,royal blue cap, emerald green diamonds

| caption1 = Hurricane Fly

| image2 = File:Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg

| alt2 = Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap

| caption2 = Zaidpour

| image3 = File:Owner Hammer and Trowel Syndicate.svg

| alt3 = Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star

| caption3 = Thousand Stars

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2011

| image1 = File:Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg

| alt1 = Royal blue, emerald green triple diamond,royal blue cap, emerald green diamonds

| caption1 = Hurricane Fly

| image2 = File:Owner Hammer and Trowel Syndicate.svg

| alt2 = Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star

| caption2 = Thousand Stars

| image3 = File:Owner Mr John P McManus.svg

| alt3 = Emerald green and orange hoops, white cap

| caption3 = Binocular

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2010

| image1 = File:Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg

| alt1 = Royal blue, emerald green triple diamond,royal blue cap, emerald green diamonds

| caption1 = Hurricane Fly

| image2 = File:Owner Top Of The Hill Syndicate.svg

| alt2 = Mauve, white disc, white cap, mauve spots

| caption2 = Solwhit

| image3 = File:Owner Hammer and Trowel Syndicate.svg

| alt3 = Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star

| caption3 = Thousand Stars

}}

{{Jockey colours no footer}}

{{Jockey colours named collapsible header

| name = 2010-2003 }}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2009

| image1 = File:Owner Top Of The Hill Syndicate.svg

| alt1 = Mauve, white disc, white cap, mauve spots

| caption1 = Solwhit

| image2 = File:Owner Mr Raymond Tooth.svg

| alt2 = Grey, Pink Epaulettes, Grey Sleeves, Grey Cap and Pink Quartered

| caption2 = Punjabi

| image3 = File:Owner Hammer and Trowel Syndicate.svg

| alt3 = Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star

| caption3 = Quevega

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2008

| image1 = File:Owner Mr Raymond Tooth.svg

| alt1 = GREY, Pink epaulettes, Grey sleeves, Grey cap and Pink quartered

| caption1 = Punjabi

| image2 = File:Owner Mr W Hennessy.svg

| alt2 = LIGHT BLUE and MAROON HOOPS, blue sleeves, striped cap

| caption2 = Sublimity

| image3 = File:Owner Mr Peter Garvey.svg

| alt3 = EMERALD GREEN and YELLOW STRIPES, emerald green sleeves, yellow star on cap

| caption3 = Ebaziyan

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2007

| image1 = File:Owner Patrick Convery.svg

| alt1 = Emerald green and light green diamonds, light green sleeves, check cap

| caption1 = Silent Oscar

| image2 = File:Owner Mac's J Racing Syndicate.svg

| alt2 = Royal blue, dark green sleeves, royal blue cap

| caption2 = Macs Joy

| image3 = File:Owner Mr Laurence Byrne.svg

| alt3 = Light blue, yellow hoop, white sleeves, light blue and white striped cap

| caption3 = Hardy Eustace

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2006

| image1 = File:Owner Mac's J Racing Syndicate.svg

| alt1 = Royal blue, dark green sleeves, royal blue cap

| caption1 = Macs Joy

| image2 = File:Owner Novices Syndicate.svg

| alt2 = Purple, yellow disc, sleeves and cap

| caption2 = Brave Inca

| image3 = File:Owner Mr Laurence Byrne.svg

| alt3 = Light blue, yellow hoop, white sleeves, light blue and white striped cap

| caption3 = Hardy Eustace

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2005

| image1 = File:Owner Novices Syndicate.svg

| alt1 = Purple, yellow disc, sleeves and cap

| caption1 = Brave Inca

| image2 = File:Owner Mr D P Sharkey.svg

| alt2 = Purple, gold sleeves, hooped cap

| caption2 = Harchibald

| image3 = File:Owner Mac's J Racing Syndicate.svg

| alt3 = Royal blue, dark green sleeves, royal blue cap

| caption3 = Macs Joy

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2004

| image1 = File:Owner Mr Laurence Byrne.svg

| alt1 = Light blue, yellow hoop, white sleeves, light blue and white striped cap

| caption1 = Hardy Eustace

| image2 = File:Owner Mr Terry Warner.svg

| alt2 = Yellow, black chevron, check cap

| caption2 = Rooster Booster

| image3 = File:Owner Mr John P McManus.svg

| alt3 = Emerald green and yellow hooped, white cap

| caption3 = Fota Island

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2003

| image1 = File:Owner C D Carr.svg

| alt1 = Orange, dark blue chevron, dark blue sleeves, orange armlets, orange cap, dark blue star

| caption1 = Quazar

| image2 = File:Owner Mr D Cox.svg

| alt2 = Dark blue, emerald green seams, white cap

| caption2 = Back In Front

| image3 = File:Owner Mrs Margaret Gannon.svg

| alt3 = White, blue stars, halved sleeves, stars on cap

| caption3 = In The Forge

}}

{{Jockey colours footer}}

The Punchestown Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.

The present version of the race was introduced in 1999, and it was initially sponsored by Shell. Several different sponsors have followed, including Emo Oil, ACCBank, Rabobank, Racing Post, Betdaq and Paddy Power. Its current sponsor, Boodles, began supporting the race in 2024.

The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, and the last to win both events in the same year was State Man in 2024. For a period the race was restricted to horses aged five or older, but the minimum age was lowered to four in 2009.