Kilbeggan Racecourse is preparing for its biggest fixture of the season on Friday evening, July 10, with a capacity field assembled for the €100,000 Kilmurray Group Midlands National. The Listed handicap chase has become one of the standout contests of the Irish summer jumps programme, attracting a competitive mix of proven staying chasers and progressive contenders.
Kilbeggan Midlands National 2026.
Run over 3m1f, the prestigious contest has drawn the maximum field of 14 runners, ensuring another closely contested renewal of a race that continues to grow in stature. Now in its third year under the sponsorship of Kilmurray’s Homevalue Hardware in Mullingar, the feature promises to be the highlight of an evening that traditionally attracts strong local support.
Last year’s winner Amirite returns in search of another success for trainer Henry de Bromhead. Carrying top weight of 11st 12lb, the experienced chaser arrives with an excellent record in the race, having also finished runner-up in the previous edition. His proven ability around Kilbeggan makes him one of the principal contenders once again.
De Bromhead also relies on Native Speaker, who produced an emphatic front-running performance to win the McHale Mayo National at Ballinrobe by seven lengths in late May. Stable jockey Darragh O’Keeffe keeps the partnership intact, while Raglan Road, successful in two of his last three starts, completes a strong three-pronged challenge from the Waterford stable.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins will be hoping to secure a race that has remained absent from his distinguished record since the Midlands National was first staged in 1997. His leading hope is Uncle Pat, who arrives after a commanding 15-length victory at the Punchestown Festival and will again be partnered by Paul Townend. Stablemate Yoradreamer also takes his chance.
Another trainer expected to feature prominently is John Ryan, whose runners have enjoyed notable success at Kilbeggan in recent seasons. Ryan saddles four runners on Friday, with much of the attention focused on Drumgill, whose remarkable rise has made him one of the race’s most appealing stories.
Purchased for only €5,000 at auction, Drumgill has earned more than €120,000 during his career and added a Listed victory at Fairyhouse to his record last winter. Ryan expressed confidence in his preparation ahead of Friday’s assignment.
“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,” the trainer said.
Several other runners also bring strong credentials into the feature. Pride Of Place, trained by Enda Bolger, captured the Killarney National two starts ago and remains among the respected challengers.
Trainer Gordon Elliott, a two-time winner of the Midlands National since 2018, is represented by three runners, including Boston Rover, who returns after an absence stretching back to last October, when he completed a hat-trick of chase victories.
Beyond the feature race, Friday’s meeting is expected to attract a large crowd, with entertainment planned throughout the evening alongside a quality programme of National Hunt racing.
Kilbeggan Racecourse manager Stephen Heffernan welcomed the continued backing of the event and looked forward to another memorable edition.
“I would like to thank Conor and Dermot Kilmurray for their sponsorship of our biggest race. 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,” he said.
With established stars, returning winners and emerging staying chasers all set to line up, the Kilbeggan Midlands National 2026 looks set to provide another compelling chapter in one of Ireland’s leading summer jumps races.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz