Horse Racing: New Cheltenham Festival sponsor announced

Pertemps Group have been announced as sponsors of the long-distance handicap hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, 24 hours ahead of the first qualifier.

Chepstow stages the initial heat for the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Series Final, which will also have qualifiers at Market Rasen, Cheltenham, Wincanton, Leopardstown, Warwick and Haydock Park.

Pertemps has signed a three-year deal with Cheltenham and their chairman Tim Watts said: "Pertemps is excited at having secured not only a race at such a prestigious meeting as Cheltenham's National Hunt Festival but also a series of qualifiers at racecourses around Britain and in Ireland."

The 25½-furlong final was first run at the Festival in 1974 and has been run as the Coral Golden Hurdle and the Gold Card Hurdle in the past.