PUNCHESTOWN Racecourse will shortly unveil details of a new two-day meeting in June which has been described as “a mini summer festival”.

The jumps-only track has traded in its two end-of-season Wednesdays for a Saturday and Sunday slot on June 6th and 7th. Racecourse boss Conor O’Neill said it made more sense to put the two days together and try to develop it as a new fixture.

“The two Wednesdays were too close to our National Hunt Festival to ignite the imagination of racegoers,” he explained. “We noticed there is a trend emerging that trainers are keeping some of their better horses in training during the early summer, often targeting big races in France. We saw an opportunity there to establish a high-profile two-day meeting which could attract those horses and possibly some from abroad.”

A significant sponsor has been secured and O’Neill says that already hospitality bookings have been made.

The meeting takes place on the eve of the Goffs Land Rover Sale, which could boost British involvement and attendance.

The full programme and timings have yet to be published but O’Neill said he expects the Saturday meeting will not have a late finish. Epsom’s Investec Derby also takes place on that day, June 6th.