A sharp midweek spotlight will fall on Punchestown Racecourse on Wednesday, February 4, as the famous Kildare venue prepares to stage That Prize Guy Mid Week Racing, a seven-race National Hunt card running from 12:28pm to 3:58pm. With testing distances, deep fields, and a standout mares’ steeplechase carrying serious prize money, the afternoon is set to deliver competitive, workmanlike racing that rewards stamina, rhythm, and tactical judgement rather than raw speed alone.
The centrepiece of the card will arrive early in the programme with Race 2, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Steeplechase, a €26,000 contest over 2m6f35y for five-year-olds and upwards. As the richest race on the card, it is expected to draw sustained attention, not only for its prize fund but for the depth of its lineup.
Nine Graces, partnered by Mr Finian Maguire for Barry Connell, will look to assert consistency, while Gaoth Chuil under Darragh O’Keeffe represents the T M Walsh yard with strong staying credentials. Miss Pronunciation (Aidan Kelly, Padraig Roche) and Crecora Hills (Mark Walsh, Robert Tyner) add further intrigue, alongside Phils Choice for P J Rothwell, Sophia Rose from the Gavin Cromwell stable, and Hardy Diamond, who brings Gordon Elliott’s familiar midweek strength into the contest under Jordan Gainford. With seven runners and stamina at a premium, this race is likely to shape the narrative of the afternoon.
The card will open with the P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Steeplechase at 12:28pm, a demanding 3m193y test for eleven runners aged five and above. Cross-country races at Punchestown often reward course knowledge and patience, and this €10,000 contest is expected to set a gritty, no-nonsense tone for the day.
Attention will then turn to hurdles racing in Race 3, a Maiden Hurdle over 2 miles at 1:38pm, featuring a large field of 15 runners tackling nine hurdles. With €12,000 on offer, this race should provide early clues about emerging talent capable of progressing through the spring festivals.
Another Maiden Hurdle follows at 2:13pm in Race 4, stretching out to 2m3f17y. With seven runners declared, the contest is expected to be more tactical, placing emphasis on jumping accuracy and positioning rather than raw pace.
The middle of the card is anchored by Race 5, the Novice Handicap Hurdle at 2:48pm, again over 2m3f17y. Carrying a €16,000 purse, this race is likely to attract improving types still finding their ceiling, making it a key contest for trainers mapping out future handicap campaigns.
Stamina will again come to the fore in Race 6, a Maiden Hurdle at 3:23pm over 2m7f, with 13 hurdles standing between nine runners and the €12,000 prize. Long-distance maiden hurdles at Punchestown often demand resilience, and this race should prove no exception.
The afternoon will close at 3:58pm with the Mares Handicap Hurdle, another extended 2m7f contest featuring ten runners and 13 hurdles, with €14,500 at stake. As the final act, it is set to test tired legs and focused minds, bringing a demanding but rewarding card to its conclusion.
With variety, depth, and a strong feature race, Punchestown Racecards 4 February are shaping up as a proper midweek examination of National Hunt ability, blending experience, opportunity, and endurance across seven well-balanced races.
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