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Major players Elliott and Gigginstown mob-handed in Midlands National

Gordon Elliott: leading trainer
Gordon Elliott: strongly represented in the Midlands National at KilbegganCredit: Patrick McCann

AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National Handicap Chase | 3m1f | RTV & RTE2

This is the big summer highlight at Kilbeggan and all of the usual suspects are represented. Gigginstown House Stud, based just 20 minutes from the track, have supplied two of the past five winners and are suitably represented with four runners, including the top-rated Cap York.

Gordon Elliott trains one of the Gigginstown runners, the likely outsider Woods Well, but like the powerful owners, he is strongly represented in the €75,000 handicap chase.

Three Musketeers: ten-year-old hasn't run for 435 days but runs well fresh
Three Musketeers: ten-year-old hasn't run for 435 days but runs well freshCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Having won the race for the first time in 2018, Elliott throws seven at the Midlands National – including two reserves – and according to the man himself, Three Musketeers and The Big Lense are best placed to score.

Noel Meade traditionally does well at Kilbeggan and has sent out Tulsa Jack and Patton to take this race in recent times. Represented by Cap York and The Red Menace, Meade will be bidding to bolster his good record at the County Westmeath venue. The race will be shown for the first time on RTE2.


What they say

Eddie O'Leary, racing manager for Gigginstown House Stud, owners of Cap York, Judgement Day, Woods Well and Megalomaniac
Cap York is carrying a lot of weight and it's a similar story with Judgement Day. We are claiming off the two of them and they will probably need the run. It's tough off those top weights but we need to get them started off. Woods Well is getting weight but he's only a hopeful shout. Megalomaniac is not getting a lot of weight against these older horses for one with such little experience but he has a chance. It's a very low weight range. They all have Galway on their agenda.

Yanworth: makes his first start over Cheltenham cross-country course on Friday
Yanworth: towards the head of the weightsCredit: Getty Images

Frank Berry, racing manager for JP McManus, owner of Yanworth, Tesseract and Plinth
Yanworth ran well in a hurdle race at Tipperary last week but he has plenty of weight to give away to younger rivals in this. He's in good form though. The Big Lense hasn't run in a while but Gordon is happy with him and we're hoping for a good run. Tesseract is having his first run back after a good while and hopefully he gives a good account and Plinth is only a reserve.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Moonshine Bay
He'll like the trip but whether he'll cope with those sharp bends I'm not so sure. He's a big galloping horse.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Three Musketeers, The Big Lense, Woods Well, Creadan Grae, Swingbridge, From Eden and Get Out The Gate
Three Musketeers runs well fresh and we’re happy with him. The Big Lense looks to have a decent chance as well. They are the pick of mine and the rest have only place chances.


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