Christy Doherty and Lauren Gavigan of AXA Insurance, and Paddy Dunican, Kilbeggan Races Managing Director, with Freewheelin Dylan (Midlands National winner in 2020) at the launch of this year’s AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National.

Upgrade for Midlands National at Kilbeggan

The AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National at Kilbeggan Racecourse’s has 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,” Mr Dunican added.

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.”