The Kilmurray Group Midlands National takes center stage at Kilbeggan Racecourse this Friday, featuring a competitive 14-runner field vying for a €100,000 prize purse. As the track’s premier seasonal event, the race covers a distance of three miles and one furlong, with Waterford-based trainer Henry de Bromhead fielding a significant contingent of three entries as he seeks to claim the prestigious title.
Among the notable contenders is Native Speaker, a recent winner of the McHale Mayo National, who will be partnered by stable jockey Darragh O’Keeffe. The race, sponsored by Kilmurray’s Homevalue Hardware, is scheduled to go to post at 6:32 p.m., serving as the highlight of a seven-race card that begins at 4:50 p.m.
De Bromhead’s Strong Challenge at Kilbeggan
Henry de Bromhead’s involvement in the Midlands National is characterized by a mix of proven performers and rising talent. Leading the stable’s charge is Amirite, the 2025 winner of the Listed contest who also secured a runner-up finish in the 2024 edition of this race. Carrying a top weight of 11-12, the 10-year-old will be ridden by five-pound claimer Paddy O’Brien. The stable also enters Raglan Road, a horse that has demonstrated consistent form with two victories in his last three outings. Harry Cobden, the retained rider for J.P. McManus, has been booked to ride Raglan Road, signaling the stable’s serious intent for the evening.
Willie Mullins Targets Maiden Midlands National Win
Champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins continues his pursuit of a first victory in the Midlands National, a race inaugurated in 1997. The Closutton trainer has declared two runners for the event: Uncle Tom and Yoradreamer. Uncle Tom enters the fray following a win at the Punchestown Festival and will be ridden by Paul Townend. Meanwhile, Yoradreamer, who finished second in the Jim Ryan Memorial Novice Chase at Punchestown last month, will carry the Brookhouse colours with Seán O’Keeffe in the saddle.
The race remains a key fixture in the Irish summer jumps calendar, drawing interest from several of the country’s leading stables. John Ryan, based in Tipperary, brings a significant numerical advantage to the race with four entries. Among his representatives, Drumgill—a €5,000 purchase with seven career wins—is viewed as a primary contender. Ryan has enjoyed notable success at the venue, recording two winners and two seconds from only six runners during the June race meeting at Kilbeggan.
Contenders and Race Logistics
The field is rounded out by several other notable entries looking to disrupt the favored stables. Enda Bolger saddles Pride Of Place, who arrives at Kilbeggan following a victory in the Tote Killarney National. Additionally, Gordon Elliott brings a trio of runners to the event, with Boston Rover identified as the potential standout, despite the horse not having raced since October of last year.
As the racing community prepares for the evening, local focus remains on the track conditions and the impact of the weight distribution for the 3-mile-1-furlong test. Official race day updates, including any last-minute non-runners or adjustments to the going, are managed directly through the Kilbeggan Racecourse official website. Spectators and enthusiasts can expect further details on the results and post-race analysis through the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board’s portal following the conclusion of the event.