Kilbeggan is a National Hunt racecourse situated in the heart of Ireland in County Westmeath. Kilbeggan host 8 fixtures annually between April and September so it is considered a summer track. The majority of meetings are held at evening time and the racing can attract good crowds. The feature race of the year for Kilbeggan is the Midlands Grand National which is held every July.

Kilbeggan Course Characteristics 

Kilbeggan is a sharp, right-handed track with a circumference of just over  mile. The track is quite undulating throughout and the final 300 yards are uphill. The hurdle track is positioned inside the chase track. Kilbeggan is a bit of a course specialists track due to its undulations and sharp turns.  Naturally, the hurdle track has very sharp turns and the track is quite tight. It generally suits speedy horses rather than out and out gallopers.

IS THERE A PACE BIAS AT KILBEGGAN RACECOURSE?

The hurdle course at Kilbeggan is one of the worst tracks in the country for hold up runners (3.57% win rate) which is about the same as Cork. However, front runners at Kilbeggan (14.65% strike rate) do not perform as well as they do in Cork (17.42%). Front/prominent runners as one group have one of the better strike rates in the country, so generally it would pay to focus on runners that will be ridden handily, especially when the going is quick (see image below). This would be expected due to the sharp turns and tight nature of the track. An honest gallop in all races on the hurdle track would put hold up runners at a disadvantage as it is difficult to make up ground due to constant turning and lack of space. Prominent runners are in fact best off in handicap hurdle races with a 10.82% win rate and win P&L of 83.54.

The chase course is not as straightforward as the hurdle course in terms of a pace bias. Held up runners have more of a chance, according to previous results. Interestingly, front runners have one of the worst win rates in the Country (12.33%).  Front runners at Irish Courses are generally at an advantage (the average win rate figure is 19.27% for reference). Races really get going from the second last at Kilbeggan as there is generally a jostle for the lead due to the long run from the second last. There is a tight right-handed bend after the last on the chase course that is an advantage to inside, front runners.

Although hold up runners have a poor record on the hurdle track, Kilbeggan is more of a course specialist track that tends to suit a certain type of a horse. Galilieo is the most profitable sire at Kilbeggan with a win P&L of 102.38 (win rate of 20%). His progeny can only beat that win rate figure at a handful of other courses in Ireland such as Wexford, Tipperary and Listowel which are all sharp tracks. Galileo has a particularly good record on the hurdle course (24.32% and win P&L of 97.88) which is in fact his best performing hurdle course in Ireland. The progeny of Shantou also perform well here and similarly, Kilbeggan is his best performing track (hurdle and chase combined - 21.54% and win P&L of 94.76). His progeny have a 22.58% win rate on the hurdle track (win P&L of 58.56) and that figure can only be beaten on hurdle tracks at Killarney, Roscommon and Wexford which are all sharp tracks. He has similar figures at Downpatrick which is another quirky course full of undulations and turns.

WHO ARE THE TOP TRAINERS AT KILBEGGAN RACECOURSE?

Naturally, Willie Mullins is the top trainer at Kilbeggan (36.09% win rate and win P&L of 10.78). His strike rate at Kilbeggan is above his average for National Hunt racing at Irish Racecourse which is 28.22%. He is only better at Tipperary (36.3%), Tramore (37.69%), Clonmel (39.92%) and Sligo (48.84%).

Martin Brassil has had 15 runners in handicaps and has won 4 (26.67% win rate) producing a win P&L of +17.50.

WHO ARE THE TOP JOCKEYS AT KILBEGGAN RACECOURSE?

Patrick Mullins is the top jockey overall with a win rate of 37.31%. Of the jockeys with more than 20 runners, Paul Townend is next best at 25.37%. Both have also been profitable to follow (win P&L’s of +17.09 and +22.47 respectively).

In handicaps, David Mullins has the best win rate (23.53%) while Mark Walsh also has positive figures (win rate of 14.61% and win P&L of +43.83).