Anticipation mounts in Kilbeggan ahead of Midlands National
Excitement is building at Kilbeggan Racecourse which hosts its biggest meeting of the year this Friday evening, July 10, featuring the €100,000 Kilmurray Group Midlands National.
This Listed handicap chase, run over 3m1f, is one of the most valuable races of the summer jumps calendar. This will be its third year sponsored by Kilmurray’s Homevalue Hardware in Mullingar.
The maximum permitted number of 14 horses declared for the race on Wednesday morning. One of three runners for the Henry de Bromhead team, last year’s winner Amirite will carry top weight of 11-12. He also finished runner-up in this race in 2024 and will command respect again.
From the same stable, Native Speaker made all for a dominant success by seven lengths in the McHale Mayo National at Ballinrobe at the end of May and is the mount of stable jockey Darragh O’Keeffe. Raglan Road, winner of two of his last three starts, completes a strong hand for the in-form Waterford yard.
This is one of the few feature races that champion trainer Willie Mullins has not won since it was inaugurated in 1997. Seeking to right this anomaly is the consistent Uncle Pat, a winner by 15 lengths at the Punchestown Festival last time out. He will be ridden by Paul Townend. Mullins also saddles Yoradreamer.
North Tipperary trainer John Ryan has a very good record with his runners at Kilbeggan. At the track’s most recent fixture in June, he left with two winners and two seconds from six runners.
His stable at the foot of the Devil’s Bit, near Templemore, is sending four runners to the Westmeath track on Friday and hopes are high that Drumgill can perform well in the big race.
Acquired for just €5,000 at auction, Drumgill has already amassed earnings beyond €120,000, including a Listed success at Fairyhouse last winter.
“He is a seven-time winner. His preparation has been very good. He has been trained with nothing else in mind and he is best on good ground. I think he has a massive chance,” Ryan said.
There are others with good form claims. Pride Of Place won the Tote Killarney National on his penultimate outing for Enda Bolger.
Meanwhile, Gordon Elliott, successful in this race twice since 2018, fields three runners, including Boston Rover, not seen out since last October after a hat-trick of chase wins.
"It looks like the weather will be fabulous and we have plenty of family entertainment and music lined up. We are very much looking forward to what should be a great evening’s racing at Kilbeggan,” Kilbeggan Racecourse manager Stephen Heffernan, also thanking Conor and Dermot Kilmurray for their sponsorship of the biggest race at the course.
The first of seven races will start at 4.50pm. The Kilmurray Group Midlands National is set for 6.32pm.