Kildare heads to the races on Gold Cup Day

It was a day to remember at Punchestown as Gaelic Warrior stamped his class on a select but high-class field in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup, crossing the line 26 lengths ahead of stablemate Fact To File, who was another 28 lengths ahead of another Closutton inmate, Grangeclare West.

Meanwhile, Olivia Clayton from Worcester in the UK was deemed the Bollinger Best Dressed at the Punchestown Festival today.

An avid racegoer and regular at Cheltenham, it proved to be her lucky day on her first visit to Punchestown. Olivia embraced a green look, with her outfit inspired by a tree in her mother’s garden. Unable to find a hat she liked, she created her own headpiece, starting with a base and adding silk cream and green hydrangea flowers to reflect the garden theme.

Olivia Clayton commented on her win, “Amazing, honestly I feel so lucky not only just to be a finalist but just to be on the top ones it's such an honour. The Irish girls really bring their absolute best so it's a privilege. Thank you very much.” 

Hayley Nolan from In the Edit shared, “It was actually a standout look. As soon as we saw her, she was sitting down, her amazing hat just caught her eye. And it turns out she actually made it herself, which I think is amazing”. 

 Jess Colivet commented "Olivia brought a really fresh contemporary perspective and it was very fashion forward, she wasn't afraid to push the boundaries. There was a real sense of modern style from her look and I just love the fact that she made the headpiece herself. I love the tailoring. When I looked really closely at the tailoring of the print it just stood out and she wore her look with such great confidence and what a gracious winner.

The Bollinger Best Dressed competition will take place again tomorrow (Thursday) with the grand finale on Ladies Day, Friday 01 May. Today's daily winner, Olivia Clayton has been officially fast-tracked straight to Friday's final, when the overall Bollinger Best Dressed Winner for 2026 will be revealed. Rest assured the competition in the fashion stakes will be as competitive as the on track action! The winner will enjoy a ‘money can’t buy trip for 2 to the Bollinger Estate'. The overall prize includes flights to Paris, 5* Hotel, Michelin Star dining, private chauffeur, an exclusive Champagne Bollinger experience including an invitation only private tour of the cellars, vineyards, gardens, house and overnight stay in the beautiful capital of the champagne region Reims plus a year’s supply of Bollinger

x