Exciting eight-race card at Kilbeggan on Friday

Kilbeggan hosts its latest meeting of the summer on Friday, with a packed and competitive eight-race card on offer for punters heading to the track.

Racing gets underway at 4.25pm with a 15-runner mares maiden hurdle before coming to a close at 8pm with a beginners chase over the three-mile trip.

The Friday card kicks off at Kilbeggan with a big field maiden hurdle at 4.25, with 15 runners set to line up for the off. Eye Of The Tiger rates arguably as the pick of the field, having only found a runner trained by Gordon Elliott too good on both starts so far so is taken to make it third time lucky this time around for trainer John Ryan.

A two mile and two furlong maiden hurdle is up next (5.00) and 11 runners will be taking their place at the start. Half Past Tipsy hasn’t been seen since disappointing at this course back in April but given her previous form, is the selection to bounce back to winning ways this week. Sugar Cookie hails from the powerhouse Willie Mullins yard and has top jockey Paul Townened on board so has to be taken seriously despite arriving here off the back of a below-par sixth at Downpatrick last time out.

Eight runners will head to post for race three of the evening (5.35) which is an eight runner handicap hurdle. Trainer Ryan could pick up a second win on the card with Ad Caelum, a previous course winner and was also going well when unseating at this track last month, so is very much in the frame once again at a track he enjoys. The Gordon Elliott-trained Boston Rajj is the main danger , a winner at Sligo in June and a good second on his last spin at Downpatrick 26 days ago.

Minority Interest looks the way to go in race four on the Kilbeggan card (6.00) for the Philip Rothwell yard, much improved when finishing second 11 months ago when last seen at this track and has a lengthy absence to overcome. Race five (6.30) sees Telnobody get the nod, a good second of 13 at Wexford when last seen which backed up a solid effort prior to that as well so can go one better here.

A good field of 16 will tackle the three-mile handicap hurdle at 7.00 and of them, County Champs is the pick off the back of a very good second at Punchestown 34 days ago when running on for trainer Brian McMahon.

The penultimate race on the Friday card (7.30) is the big one, the Kilmurray’s Homevalue Hardware, Mullingar National Handicap Chase, over 3m 1f 80y. It can head the way of Tullybeg for the Gordon Elliott team, a previous course winner that was a close second when unseating his rider at Perth 33 days ago and has a big shout here 3lb lower in the weights.

This is the feature race on the day, a listed steeplechase race, over 3 miles 1 furlong and, sponsored by Dermot & Conor Kilmurray of Kilmurray’s Homevalue Hardware in Mullingar, is valued at a massive €100,000. It is one of the most valuable and prestigious steeplechase races of the summer racing calendar.

Finally, the card comes to a close at 8.00 with a three-mile and a furlong beginners chase. Preference in the finale goes to You Oughta Know, who shaped well when runner up at this track last time out for the Mullins team so should go one better here, stepping up in trip.

Kilbeggan selections - Friday

4.25 - Eye Of The Tiger

5.00 - Half Past Tipsy

5.35 - Ad Caelum

6.00 - Minority Interest

6.30 - Telnobody

7.00 - County Champs

7.30 - Tullybeg

8.00 - You Oughta Know

Preview of the Kilbeggan card and selections for each race courtesy of BoyleSports, who offer the latest Galway Festival odds at the following link: https://www.boylesports.com/sports/horse-racing