Punchestown Racecard: Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle

Adrienne secured victory in the Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) at Punchestown on April 30, 2026. Ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe and trained by T M Walsh, the four-year-old mare completed the 2m 90y course on yielding turf with a winning time of 4m 13.20s.

Adrienne disputed the lead early in the race before being headed in second. Despite not being fluent at the fourth hurdle and the third-to-last, the mare was pushed along entering the straight and made headway to lead before the final hurdle, staying on well inside the final furlong to win comfortably.

Race Results and Prize Money

The race featured a total of five runners, with €40,000 in added prize money. According to results provided by Sky Sports, the prize distribution was as follows:

• Winner: €24,000
• Second Place: €8,001
• Third Place: €4,000
• Fourth Place: €2,000

Alliteration, trained by J P Dempsey and ridden by Keith Donoghue, finished in second place. Alliteration disputed the lead and led from the second hurdle, but was headed before the last. The horse disputed second place at the final hurdle and maintained a steady pace to secure the runner-up spot.

Future Prospect, trained by W P Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, finished third. Held up in touch at the rear for much of the race, Future Prospect was briefly short of room entering the straight and was ridden in fourth at the last, keeping on to finish third close home.

Diamond Du Berlais, also trained by W P Mullins and ridden by Mr P W Mullins, finished fourth. Despite being described as the clear form pick by Sporting Life, the horse was not fluent at the first and fourth-to-last hurdles. Diamond Du Berlais disputed second place at the last but lacked further energy inside the final furlong.

Catchabird, ridden by Aidan Kelly and trained by Ms S J Connell, tracked the leaders and improved to dispute the lead on the inner two hurdles out. However, the horse was headed before the last and weakened during the run-in.

Runner Profiles and Form

Adrienne entered the race having scored at Fairyhouse in November and placing fourth in the Percy Maynard Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse on April 6, 2026.

Future Prospect, an Order Of St George mare, had previously won a maiden hurdle at Naas in January 2026. According to analysis from irishracing.com, the horse had failed to fire when pulled up at Cheltenham in a subsequent outing before finishing fourth in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse.

Diamond Du Berlais, an ex-French hurdler, had a winning start for the W P Mullins yard at Ludlow in February 2026 and had previously finished sixth of 22 in the Dawn Run at Cheltenham on March 12, 2026.

Alliteration had recently won a 2m Fairyhouse maiden after being fitted with cheekpieces and a tongue strap.

Catchabird entered the event following a victory in a 2m Wexford maiden and a subsequent win in a 12-runner handicap at Navan on April 1, 2026.