Photo from Kilbeggan races pre-Covid regulations

See the stars first at Kilbeggan

Track manager Paddy Dunican has highlighted the quality of the winners at Kilbeggan racetrack following the recent Irish and English Grand Nationals.

"Last week the Kilbeggan Midlands National winner Freewheelin Dylan went on to win to win the Irish Grand National at odds of 150/1," said Paddy.

"Little did we know that the JP McManus-owned Minella Times would gallop to success in the Aintree Grand National with the unstoppable Rachael Blackmore on board and trained by Henry De Bromhead.

"It was a remarkable success breaking all records for achievements in racing that probably will never be beaten and it will make racing even more international.

"Minella Times also has a very strong connection with Kilbeggan races, having won the Irish Farmers Journal maiden hurdle on 11th May 2018 with Mark Walsh on board at odds of 9/2.

"On 19th July 2019 Minella Times was second in a Beginners Chase in Kilbeggan at odds of 16/1 to Gordon Elliott’s Westland Row.

"It was an amazing price but the reason why is that Henry De Bromhead trained the favourite Eamon High ridden by Rachael Blackmore, who was third.

"Even the best, get it wrong occasionally!

"Rachael rode Minella Times to success for the first time in Listowel on 25th September 2020 in a handicap chase,

There is another local connection to Minella Times in that the horse was bred by Cathal Ennis just down the road from the course at Quill Farm, Castletown- Geoghegan.

"John Nallen bought Minella Times from Cathal Ennis at the Tattersalls Ireland November Sales in 2013 for €31,000.

"Around the same time Nallen, bought Gold Cup winner Minella Indo for €24,000 at Rathenty Stud.

"A Gold Cup winner and an Aintree Grand National winner for €55,000!

"Aside from Minella Times, Cathal Ennis also bred good horses like Identity Thief and he bought a mare named Papoose, the last foal before the purchase was Ballabriggs which won the 2011 Grand National.

"Cathal famously reared the brilliant mare Annie Power on Quill Farm, before she became a champion. Congratulations to Cathal and the Ennis family on this deserved success," concluded Paddy Dunican.