Powerful new sponsor for Open meeting

BOOKMAKERS Paddy Power were yesterday revealed as the new title sponsor of The Open meeting at Cheltenham in November.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup, run on the middle day of the three-day meeting, Saturday, November 15, is the first jump ‘classic’ of the 2003/04 National Hunt season and is worth £110,000.

The valuable handicap chase over two miles and four and a half furlongs was previously backed by Thomas Pink.

In addition to the Paddy Power Gold Cup, Paddy Power’s title sponsorship of The Open will be supplemented by named races on both the Friday and Sunday which are yet to be confirmed.

Effective immediately, the sponsorship is a five-year agreement with Cheltenham, which makes the bookmaker the third-biggest sponsor at the home of National Hunt racing.

Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham’s managing director, commented: “We are thrilled to announce this exciting new sponsorship. Paddy Power is a dynamic firm with a strong Irish heritage which sits well with the core values of this meeting.”

“In Paddy Power we’ve found a forward-thinking partner who shares our desire to build the status of the meeting yet further and to continue the upward trend in attendances. Once again, The Open has attracted a new sponsor to Cheltenham and British National Hunt racing”

Paddy Power is Ireland’s biggest bookmaker established in 1988.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup is the bookmaker’s first racing sponsorship in the UK. Paddy Power is a major race sponsor in Ireland, with the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown being Ireland’s second most valuable National Hunt sponsorship.

John Riley, chief executive of Paddy Power Bookmaker, said: “We are delighted to commit to National Hunt racing in such a high profile partnership.”