Upgrade for Kilbeggan’s AXA Midlands National race
The AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National will become Kilbeggan Racecourse’s first Pattern race after being awarded Grade B status as Horse Racing Ireland announced the enhancement of three races in the Irish National Hunt Pattern race programme.
The race is the highlight of the summer season at Kilbeggan and the racecourse’s Managing Director Paddy Dunican said: “We are delighted that our AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National of €75,000 has been upgraded to Grade B status.
“The massive investment over the years in developing our racetrack has improved the quality of horse racing which has now resulted in Horse Racing Ireland granting us a graded race for the first time in our history.
“The upgrading of our AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National will further develop Kilbeggan Races and highlights the huge importance of the breeding and racing industry in the Midlands region.”
Christy Doherty, Head of Agriculture at AXA Ireland, added: “This is great recognition for the hard work by Paddy and his team in continuously developing Kilbeggan Races.
“The AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National at Kilbeggan allows us to be part of the farming community who are the backbone of the racing community across rural Ireland.
“It’s great news to be announcing as Kilbeggan wraps up another wonderful season of racing.”
A further enhancement to the Irish National Hunt race programme for mares sees the Glencarraig Lady Handicap Chase at the Punchestown festival being converted from a Grade B Handicap to a Grade 2 weight-for-age chase.
Jason Morris, HRI’s Director of Racing, said: “We have worked closely with our colleagues at the BHA to improve the chasing programme for mares in recent years and this race will tie in well calendar wise with the equivalent Grade 2 contest at the Cheltenham Festival.
{Our hope is that it will attract a high quality, international field, and that in time the race will prove sufficiently strong to become the first Grade 1 mares’ chase in Ireland. We will still retain a high value but slightly lower rated handicap chase for mares below the top tier at Punchestown.”
The Grade 3 Kerry Group Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase at Cork Racecourse in early December becomes a Grade 2 race. Registered as the Lombardstown Mares Novice Chase, it was won by subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Mount Ida last year and previous winners of the race include Vroum Vroum Mag, Shattered Love and Elimay.
Andrew Hogan, General Manager of Cork Racecourse said: “It’s terrific news and it adds to what is already a great day’s racing in early December. The upgrade is fully deserved given the calibre of winners and runners the race has attracted in recent years.”