PUNCHESTOWN:THE PUNCHESTOWN authorities have pushed back the start of the first race on four of the five festival days later this month to help accommodate RTÉ's television coverage of the famous meeting.
Instead of racing beginning at 2.45pm as originally scheduled, the first race will now be off 3.45pm on the first four days (Tuesday to Friday).
On the Saturday, which is not shown on RTÉ, the time of the first race remains 2.45pm.
It means the last race on the first three festival days will be off at 7.15pm, and on the Friday the final event will start at 7.45pm.
This will put the Punchestown festival into more of a prime-time television slot.
Viewing figures from the first two days of the Galway summer festival, which are evening fixtures, suggest a likely increase in viewing figures.
“The change means the major races of the festival are now to be shown live on prime-time, which significantly increases the potential viewership,” a Punchestown statement said yesterday.
The move could also help racegoers in the middle of the current economic unrest, and the Punchestown general manager Dick O’Sullivan said: “The business world has changed more in the last eight months than it has in the last 10 years, so it is a case of adapting to new circumstances.”
Punchestown reported yesterday that all their major sponsors, including Kerrygold, Guinness, Rabobank and Ladbrokes, are behind the move, as it brings increased brand exposure and allows them to cater to the needs of their corporate guests.
** Injured jockey Matt O’Connor remains in a “stable” condition at Cork University Hospital following the fall at Thurles a week ago that has left him with serious head injuries.
O’Connor has been in a medically induced coma for much of the last week, although he is being gradually taken off sedation.
The former Turf Club medical officer, and family relative, Dr Walter Halley said yesterday: “There has been no significant change in Matthew’s condition. He remains stable.”
O’Connor was knocked unconscious when Walkin Aisy fell at the fifth-last fence in the Templemore Beginners Chase last Thursday.
He was initially taken to Clonmel hospital before being transferred to Cork.
