Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction & Median Hurdle Series Gets Underway
The Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction & Median Hurdle Series has got off to an exciting start this season, with three different trainers already celebrating winners as the enhanced series opens up opportunities to an even wider population of National Hunt horses.
Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction & Median Hurdle Series Expands for 2026/27
The series, which was conceived in 2018 by the Irish EBF, Horse Racing Ireland and sponsorship partner Connolly’s RED MILLS, has been expanded this season to include horses qualifying through both auction and median price criteria.
New Median Qualification Opens the Series to More National Hunt Horses
Auction Qualification Criteria Explained
Under the Auction qualification, horses must have been sold or bought in for €30,000 or less at a qualifying sale, while foals and yearlings must have been sold or bought in for €15,000 or less. Any horse sold at any time above the €30,000 threshold at any sale is excluded.
How the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Hurdle Series Works
All races are Maiden or Novice Hurdles run between September and May, culminating in the Final, a Novice Hurdle which continues to take place at the Punchestown Festival in April. Horses can be up to six years old at the time of the Final.
Three Trainers Already Celebrate Winners in the 2026/27 Series
Splendid Fellow wins at Kilbeggan to kick off 2026/27 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction & Median Hurdle Series
Splendid Fellow provided trainer Henry de Bromhead with the first winner of this season’s series with a convincing success at Kilbeggan. Robbie Power, representing winning trainer Henry De Bromhead, said “I’m delighted for the horse to get his head in front. He’s won his maiden hurdle now. The Red Mills & Irish EBF Series are great pots, so it’s nice to win one. I’m delighted for Peter Davies as well, he’s a good owner in the yard”.
Tell The Boys Lands Listowel Auction & Median Maiden Hurdle
The next leg at Listowel saw Tell The Boys land the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction & Median Maiden Hurdle.
Trained by Declan Queally, the €1,000 purchase made every yard count under Kevin Healy, jumping the final two flights strongly to fend off the late challenge of Coolishael and score by a length.
As Declan Queally Jnr put it afterwards: “These auction races are great.”
Myluckymaker Highlights Median Qualification Route at Fairyhouse
The latest success came at Fairyhouse on October 5th when Myluckymaker, trained by John McConnell, made a winning start over hurdles.
The five-year-old landed the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction & Median Maiden Hurdle in good style, with particular interest surrounding her qualification for the race through the median price route rather than her auction price.
The result underlines the value of the series’ enhanced qualification criteria and its ambition to provide opportunities for a broader range of horses, including those bred by their owners.
Irish EBF Welcomes Expansion of the Auction Hurdle Series
Irish EBF Chairman Joe Foley said:
“The Irish EBF board wholeheartedly welcome the enhancements to the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series. These changes will deliver an even bigger and better series for a wider population of auction-bought horses, plus the addition of home-bred horses.
“The series was conceived in 2018 with HRI and our sponsorship partner Connolly’s RED MILLS to mirror the popular 2yo Auction Series on the Flat and will continue to provide excellent prizemoney and opportunities for connections of NH horses in the €30,000 or less category.”
Connolly’s RED MILLS Continues Its Support of Irish National Hunt Racing
Gareth Connolly, CEO of Connolly’s RED MILLS, added:
“We are immensely proud to have supported the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series over the past eight seasons. It has been hugely rewarding to see the opportunities it has created for owners, trainers, and breeders, and to play a part in giving back to the industry that means so much to us.
“As the series expands next year, it feels like the perfect time to take it to the next level, building on its success and continuing to champion accessibility, opportunity, and growth within Irish racing.”
Road to the Punchestown Final Now Underway
With three winners already on the board, the early stages of the 2026/27 series are demonstrating exactly what the enhancements are designed to achieve — providing more pathways to valuable National Hunt opportunities and bringing a wider range of owners, breeders, trainers and horses into the series.
The road to the Punchestown Final is now underway, with further opportunities to come throughout the National Hunt season.
For Further Information:
Nessa Joyce, Manager, Irish European Breeders’ Fund
Greenhills, Kill, Naas, Co Kildare, W91 FY62
M: +353 85 7590970, E: [email protected] Twitter: @IrishEBF_
