Boylesports backs first day at Punchestown
The deal will see Boylesports take ownership of the centrepiece, the Champion Chase, on Tuesday, April 20.
The newly titled Boylesports.com Champion Chase has been won by Paul Nicholls-trained horses for the last two years and, welcoming the announcement, the British champion trainer said: “We have been lucky enough to have the last two winners of the Champion Chase at Punchestown.
“It is a great race to win and we are delighted to see Boylesports.com taking over the title sponsorship. We intend making it a hat-trick this year, when we will send over either Master Minded or Twist Magic.”
Commenting on the sponsorship, Mark Nunan, Head of Marketing at Boylesports, said: “We’re delighted to take the opportunity of sponsoring the Champion Chase. We saw it as a natural extension to our very successful involvement with the Champion Novice Chase last year.
“Punchestown racecourse has proven to be very progressive in their approach to sponsorship and we are convinced that the Festival involvement represents great value for our brand.”
Punchestown General Manager, Dick O’Sullivan, was pleased to welcome the increased involvement of the new title sponsor.
Commented O’Sullivan: “Boylesports have been great supporters of ours and we are delighted to announce that they will be taking their sponsorship to a new level as title sponsors on the opening day of the Festival.’
The Festival takes place from Tuesday, April 20 to Saturday, April 24. General Admission tickets €30, Admission with Reserved Enclosure €40, Student and Senior Citizen €18. Party Pack €29pp.
Thurles meanwhile have decided to cancel the three steeplechase races from their final jumps meeting of the season on March 25 because of the state of the track.
The fixture will now be made up of hurdle and bumper races.
“The steeplechase course is in bad shape after the winter. There is hardly a blade of grass on it and will be unfit for racing until they get a bit of growth,” said Turf Club press officer Cliff Noone.
“It is not going to improve in the short term. They are not going to take a chance so they have decided now to try to get it back to some kind of shape for the end of the year when they resume racing.
“They are going to leave it alone and let it grow.
“They want to give it a bit of time so that when they come back in the autumn hopefully it is in better shape.”
