Bal Kauto makes Kilbeggan return for Friday's meeting

Kilbeggan Racecourse is all set for a great evening of National Hunt racing this evening with a seven-race card giving racegoers plenty to mull over. The meeting features a combination of maiden, novice and handicap hurdles, together with two handicap chases and a bumper.

The feature event is the 7.25 MJS Building & Development Handicap Steeplechase, with a prize fund of €20,000.00, over an extended 3-mile trip. Seven runners go to post. and Declan Queally’s Bal Kauto seeks a hat-trick, having won his last two starts over hurdles, and is already two from two over fences as of his 2023 form.

Read on for a full preview of and tips from the Kilbeggan card, courtesy of Betano, who provide all the latest horse racing odds.

Kicking off this evening's action is a two-mile maiden hurdle (4.50). Dynamic Force, Matt Connor and Top Spin Lob all try their hand over obstacles for the first time, deviating from the Flat, while we have two previous winners in the mix; Beir Bua was last seen winning a bumper at Wexford, and Itsaworkinmaniam won a point-to-point at Ballingarry. The best of those with experience over hurdles, though, is Gavin Cromwell’s Kabylia, who has been knocking on the door of victory and could get there today, although may fall victim to Eye Of A Tiger’s lower weight.

Next is a novice hurdle over two miles and three furlongs (5.25). Andrew Slattery’s four-year-old Ebony King - a bumper winner in July - won his hurdle debut at Galway in a competitive maiden, so will attract plenty of attention, but may struggle against these older opponents. Henry De Bromhead’s Costacurta was so impressive over course and distance last time, winning by 17 lengths, that he is hard to look past.

Race three is a handicap hurdle over two miles and three furlongs (5.55). Ross O’Sullivan’s Smiling Bess made a good stable debut at Cork last time for third of 13, and should do well again from the same mark today. Hudson could be an option too, having last been seen running for fourth of 14 at Wexford and looks to benefit from the step up in trip on handicap debut.

The fourth race is a maiden hurdle run over three miles and a furlong (6.25). We’ve only six runners here, but this may still be a competitive race. Quantum Quest returns from a break having displayed some ability in the spring, while Reiki Revolution has placed on each of his last three runs and should find this easier company. Declan Queally’s Mighty Berkshire might be interesting up in trip here, while Krishna Bellevue could be a different horse stepping up in distance too.

A handicap chase follows over three miles and two furlongs (6.55). Hit The Frame was second of 16 last time out over a similar distance at Roscommon, while Movie King picked up a place here over two and a half miles last time. Staying on the same mark today and ridden by a seven-pound claiming jockey, he could have a live chance. Captain Kate could be underestimated here, down to a workable mark and given seven pounds by Paddy Hanlon.

Our penultimate race is another handicap chase over the same trip, but a higher grade (7.25). Bal Kauto will be tough to beat at the weights, but there are some class horses here and the likes of Henry De Bromhead’s Nouvotic may pose him a big question.

The finale is a bumper (7.55). Just one of the 10 runners has never been seen on a racecourse before; Shark Hanlon’s Dunbell Diva, who has some nice relatives, but the yard aren’t known for their bumper successes. Useful point-to-pointer Onlyforfrankie could be involved, graduating into bumpers today, while Mark Fahey’s Sellerna Bay is the best qualified having placed twice in mares’ bumpers previously.