Kilbeggan, Friday 21 August 2026: Tips & Best Bets

Kilbeggan, Friday 21 August 2026: Tips & Best Bets

A seven-race card at Kilbeggan on good ground, and there are three races worth targeting across the evening. The track suits front-runners and horses that stay, and with Willie Mullins landing 30% of his runners here historically, anything from the Closuthen yard demands respect. Let’s get into it.

7:35 — Belvedere House & Gardens Handicap Steeplechase (3m2f, Chase)

Selection: Scalpnagoon Each-Way at 6/1 (Boyle Sports / Betfred), ridden by Jack Kennedy for Gordon Elliott.

This is a wide-open handicap and the form horse on recent evidence is Scalpnagoon. Five placed efforts from his last six starts tells you this is a horse that shows up and competes, and that matters in a field where several runners carry question marks around current form. His last two runs include a second and a third over today’s trip and going, so the conditions are proven. He arrives fit on a 13-day turnaround and Kennedy at 15% course strike rate is a useful booking.

Charlie Luciano is the obvious danger at 7/2, winning two starts back and competent over the trip. But the 166lb burden is a real concern in a staying chase, and the market has him level with Ira Hayes despite significantly stronger claims. Koori Star at 9/2 has going experience but ninth last time out is hard to overlook. At 6/1 with a horse that has consistency stamped through his recent form, Scalpnagoon is the value play. Three places at 1/5 odds gives you a comfortable safety net.

• Scalpnagoon Each-Way at 6/1 (Boyle Sports / Betfred)
• Each-way terms: 3 places at 1/5 odds

4:56 — Curragh To Curragh Charity Cycle Maiden Hurdle (2m, Hurdle)

Selection: First Ascent at 11/4 (Boyle Sports / Betfred), ridden by Jack Kennedy for Gordon Elliott.

Seventeen runners in a maiden hurdle is a lottery, but the form book narrows this considerably. Kimi De Mai is the 4/6 favourite for Willie Mullins and Danny Mullins but a form line of 5337-0 in a maiden tells its own story. She has had every chance to get off the mark and keeps finding reasons not to.

First Ascent is the each-way alternative at 11/4 for Gordon Elliott. A form line of P-542 shows progressive hurdles form, and the yard has been busy at Kilbeggan. Kennedy takes the ride, which is always significant in a big field. Puppet Master at 13/2 for Ciaran Murphy (3/13 last 14 days, a yard that has been ticking over) is another worth noting, but First Ascent’s improving profile and the Kennedy booking make him the play at a price that reflects genuine winning claims.

With 17 runners, three place positions and 1/5 odds, there is a case for going each-way on First Ascent too, particularly if you want to make Kimi De Mai’s odds-on price work for you in reverse.

• First Ascent at 11/4 (Boyle Sports / Betfred)

5:32 — Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Novice Hurdle (2m3f, Hurdle)

Selection: La Cote Fleurie at 2/1 (Boyle Sports / Betfred / LiveScore Bet), ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe for Henry De Bromhead.

Three runners have serious claims here and the market has them clustered tightly, which is usually a sign the race is genuinely open. But the one that stands out is La Cote Fleurie.

A form line of 1-31 is exactly what you want in a novice hurdle. She has won over hurdles, finished third most recently, and De Bromhead is running at 18% at this track historically. The yard has four winners from 38 runners over the past 14 days, so they are ticking over. She stays this 2m3f trip and good ground suits.

Mino Des Lottes at 11/4 for Elliott and Kennedy has a tidy form line (202-12) and will be popular, while Rosie’s Wings at 9/4 has placed form but three placed efforts in six starts raises the same conversion worry we noted about Kimi De Mai. La Cote Fleurie at 2/1 carries the cleanest recent winning profile and the De Bromhead angle at Kilbeggan is solid. She is the NAP of the card.

• La Cote Fleurie at 2/1 (Boyle Sports / Betfred / LiveScore Bet)

Today’s NAP

La Cote Fleurie — Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Novice Hurdle (5:32, Kilbeggan)
Odds: 2/1 — Boyle Sports (others: 2/1 Betfred, 2/1 LiveScore Bet)

A form line of 1-31 over hurdles is the most persuasive profile in this novice contest. La Cote Fleurie has already won over timber, handles good ground, and stays the 2m3f trip. Henry De Bromhead hits 18% at Kilbeggan historically and the yard has been in form over the past fortnight. At 2/1, she is not a generous price, but she is the most reliable jumper in the race with a genuine winning benchmark. She is the clear selection.