Entries

Ladies Cup

A 2:30 PM The Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Steeplechase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup of €20,000
(Generously sponsored by the Kildare Hunt Club)
Winner will receive €12,000 (Penalty Value: €11,780), Second will receive €4,000, Third will receive €2,000, Fourth will receive €1,000, Fifth will receive €600, Sixth will receive €400

A steeplechase for † Certified Hunters five years old and upwards over a special Bank/Chase Course that at entry have run at least three times in steeplechases (including Point-To-Point steeplechases) and that have between 1st October, 2022 and 22nd April, 2026 in Ireland or Great Britain, been placed first, second, third or fourth, in a steeplechase confined to Certified Hunters or in a Point-To-Point Steeplechase and have not won more than two steeplechases confined to Certified Hunters

About 3 miles 90 yards

€200 to enter, €20 extra if declared to run
Weights: 5-y-o ..................................... 11st 5lbs
6-y-o and up ........................................ 11st 7lbs
Mares allowed ............................................. 7lbs
Penalties -For each steeplechase won.................. 5lb extra
(No penalty to increase a horse's weight beyond 12st 7lb).

HRI Directive 10 is suspended for the purpose of this race.

Should it be necessary to reduce the number of declared runners to the maximum runners or to such a lesser number as may be required the following balloting procedures shall be applied:
(i) Runners that have won a Cross Country Steeplechase between May 1st, 2022 and April 22nd, 2026 at Punchestown, Cheltenham or at an Irish Point-to-Point meeting will be first to be protected in the ballot.
(ii) In the event of (i) not achieving the recommended limit, runners that have been placed second, third or fourth in a Cross Country Steeplechase between May 1st, 2022 and April 22nd, 2026 at Punchestown or Cheltenham or runners that have been placed second or third in a Cross Country Steeplechase at an Irish Point-to-Point meeting will be next to be protected in the ballot.
(iii) In the event of (ii) not achieving the recommended limit, runners will then be balloted in adherence with HRI Directive 10.

Note: Horses which have not run in a race at Punchestown over a special Bank/Chase Course must complete a schooling session over a selection of banks before the time of declaration. The timing of this schooling session must be agreed with Punchestown Racecourse.

Riders: Qualified Riders under I.N.H.S. Rules.

(All Riders riding in this race must have ridden in at least 20 races (including INH Flat Races and Point-To-Point Races).

Exclusions - Horses that have won a race under any N.H. Rules or Rules of Racing other than a Farmers Race or races confined to Certified Hunters.

† A Hunters Certificate valid in accordance with Rule 78 for the 2025/2026 season for each horse engaged must be registered at the Office of the I.N.H.S. Committee, The Curragh, Co. Kildare not later than 22nd April, 2026, or the horse will not be qualified to start.

In the case of horses from Great Britain, Hunters Certificates must have been duly registered at the Racing Calendar Office.

The IHRB have modified the relevant Rules to permit horses for which Hunters Certificates have been registered and which are eligible to run in Hunters Steeplechases in Great Britain to run in this race. However, horses with a Hunters Certificate that have run in any race other than a Hunters Steeplechase since 1st December, 2025 are excluded.

A person who is registered as a current Keeper with the British Horseracing Authority may enter and run a horse in this race. Not more than 16 runners will be permitted to run in this race.