Athlone jockey has three rides as Kilbeggan prepares for Midlands National

Photo: Christy Doherty (left), Head of Agriculture at AXA Insurance, and Paddy Dunican, Kilbeggan Races Managing Director, looking forward to the Midlands National.

Athlone jockey Eamonn Corbett will be aiming for success in three races at Kilbeggan Racecourse this evening (Friday), July 10.

The first race in Kilbeggan is due off at 4.25pm, in which Corbett will partner Raise The Tempo, trained by Mullingar woman Dot Love.

Corbett will be on board Kargs Post in the following race (4.55pm), and he will team up with Out By Six in the 5.25 race.

The centrepiece of the meeting is the AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National, worth €75,000.

Leading trainer Gordon Elliott has five horses in the Midlands National, including Three Musketeers, with Davy Russell on board.

A total of 14 horses are due to compete for the Midlands National, with Cap York seen as a likely contender for trainer Noel Meade. The Red Menace, owed by Denis Hannon and trained by Meade, is also listed to run.

This is the second year for AXA, one of Ireland’s largest insurance companies, to sponsor the historic race.

The race is one of the most significant steeplechases in the summer racing calendar. Normally horse racing fans from across the midlands would flock to this meeting but that won't be possible this year, with racing still being held behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions.

In that light, racing punters are surely pleased that RTÉ will feature live coverage of the Midlands National in their new one-hour evening programme on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

The new programme will run from 7pm to 8pm and will be presented by Hugh Cahill, with guest analysts joining regulars Jane Mangan, Ted Walsh and Ruby Walsh.

The Midlands National is set to get underway at 7.25pm.