IT might be the middle of the Flat season with two major festivals still yet to come – but over in Ireland a gruelling National is about to be run.
Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead are readying some of their stable stars for Friday night’s big clash at Kilbeggan.
And while it doesn’t rival the Aintree feature for prestige, there’s still a very decent pot of €100,000 (£82,000) up for grabs with just under £50,000 going to the winner.
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Mullins’ No1 Paul Townend takes the ride on Ontheropes, a Cheveley Park Stud-owned horse who last won all the way back in October 2021.
After reaching a career-high mark of 153 he has plummeted right down to 137, suggesting this race could have been the target for a while.
Trailblazing rider Rachael Blackmore – who enjoyed a day out at Wimbledon earlier this week – partners De Bromhead’s Amirite.
Certain to be popular with punters, Amirite was last seen finishing a respectable fifth in the Bet365 Gold Cup on the final day of the season – officially, at least – at Sandown.
The 3m4½f trip with stiff finish probably proved a bit too much for the super-consistent eight-year-old on that occasion.
And a return to shorter could prove a wise move on a track where trainer De Bromhead is the top chase trainer over the past three years with six wins from 32 runners.
Elliott throws five arrows at this race, including Frontal Assault, who’s proved a bit of a specialist in these regional Nationals.
His last four finishes of 4-4-5-3 show he’s solid and, while nine now, could find a bit of improvement at this trip.
The Kilmurray’s Homevalue Hardware Mullingar Midlands National Handicap Chase will be run at 7.55pm.
No favourite has won since Elliott’s 4-1 joint-fav Rogue Angel in 2018 and the average winning SP since then has been a shade over 12-1.
So it gives punters the chance to build the bank ahead of Saturday’s awesome July Cup at Newmarket.
Market leader Inisherin is looking to double up on his recent Royal Ascot Commonwealth Cup win.
But second-fav Vandeek is reported to be in great form ahead of his second start of the season for Simon and Ed Crisford.
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