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The biggest day in Kilbeggan’s racing calendar takes place on Friday as the track hosts the Kilmurray’s Homevalue Hardware Midlands National.

The lucrative feature race on the card is worth €59,000 to the winner in a race which is often a useful build-up to the Galway Plate.

Ahead of this year’s renewal, here is all you need to know…

When is racing on?

Gates open at 3pm, and the Midlands National is the penultimate race on the card, going to post at 7.30pm.

Also on the card is the Writech Handicap Hurdle with a value of €30,000 and it will be run over 2m 3f. 

Last year’s winner, The Wallpark, ran in the stayers’ hurdle in Cheltenham for Gordon Elliott and JP McManus. This year’s renewal begins at 6pm.

Who is in action?

Buddy One carries top weight for Paul Gilligan as of three days out from the race. The eight-year-old won the Guinness Chase at Galway last October and has also appeared at the last three Cheltenham Festivals, finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle in March.

Gavin Cromwell’s Final Orders, a previous winner at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and Dublin Racing Festival, is also in the field while last year’s runner-up Amirite will look to go one better for Henry de Bromhead.

Tullybeg was third last year and runs again for Gordon Elliott while Willie Mullins is represented by Spanish Harlem.

Who has won it before?

Last year’s winner was a popular one as locally-owned Ida’s Boy took the honours for Noel Meade under Conor Stone-Walsh for Gigginstown House Stud, prevailing by three lengths.

The 2020 winner was Freewheelin Dylan, who went on to make history with victory at 150/1 in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse the following year. 

In 2023, the Mouse Morris-trained Foxy Jacks followed up a win in this race with victory in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting.

What else is on?

Kilbeggan will also host the Sustainable Style Ladies Competition, with entrants in with a chance of winning a prize worth €4,000 - including a €3,000 cash prize and a two-night stay and one evening meal in the Annebrook House Hotel in Mullingar.

The judges on the day are SJF Productions CEO and presenter Sarah Jane Foster along with digital creator and social media influencer Eileen Loughlin.

With bouncy castles, face painting, children’s games, stilt walking drummers and jugglers walking through the crowd, ice-cream, good food & drink, music in the Marquee provided by the brilliant Wrafter Family Band, DJ music outside The Pavilion Bar and, of course, excellent horse racing, it is going to be a jam-packed day.