THE resilience of Irish racing throughout this prolonged pandemic has been nothing short of remarkable. This has been displayed by all sectors, and it finally looks as though we are emerging from the shadows, slowly, and winter racing enthusiasts will be back in numbers as the momentum builds.

I have often written about the loyalty of owners, and praised their contribution throughout. Sponsors have also been remarkably steadfast. Keeping the value of many of our better races has enabled racecourse executives to continue to attract the best horses. This has paid off in a big way for our midlands track, Kilbeggan.

For the first time in the track’s history, the subject of a book by occasional The Irish Field contributor Stan McCormack, Kilbeggan will stage a graded race. Last night it held its final meeting of 2021, and it has nine months to anticipate the AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National, now a €75,000 Grade B chase.

News such as this provides a great fillip to the racecourse, the local area and to the wider, rural community. Grade 1 racecourses are always in the news, staging, as befits their status, the best races. Smaller courses around the country have a hill to climb when it comes to attracting big names, whether that is trainers, horses or sponsors.

For some years now, and in growing numbers, all the top trainers send runners to Kilbeggan, and with races such as the Midlands National the better horses come too. How wonderful it is to see a company such as AXA already committed to the race next year.

The announcement of this significant upgrading for Kilbeggan was accompanied by news of two further enhancements to the mares’ programme in Ireland. With recent winners such as Mount Ida, Vroum Vroum Mag, Shattered Love and Elimay, the only way was up for the Lombardstown Mares Novice Chase at Cork. It becomes a Grade 2 event.

Now the race is well and truly on to become the first Grade 1 mares’ chase, and the favourite at present is the restructured Grade 2 Glencaraig Lady Chase at the Punchestown Festival. The race is named in honour of the great Francis Flood-trained, Pat Doyle-owned and Frank Berry-ridden winner of the 1972 Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Carrying level weights with her 11 rivals, Glencaraig Lady beat the likes of Royal Toss, The Dikler, L’Escargot, Crisp, Leap Frog, Spanish Steps, Gay Trip and Titus Oates. For people of a certain age, that was a real case of chasing royalty.