Aintree motors to new deal

CITROËN have signed a two-year-deal to become an official partner to the John Smith’s Grand National meeting at Aintree.

The agreement, which covers the fixtures in 2006 and 2007, means two races will now carry the Citroën name - the Citroën C4 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle on April 4 and the Grade One Citroën C6 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle on April 7.

Meanwhile, jockeys in Britain are set to have more scope for sponsorship with the removal of the owners’ veto in the near future.

Since 1999, the British Horseracing Board has operated the veto as part of the jockeys’ sponsorship code of conduct.

Now, however, there is broad industry agreement that a new system should be brought into place to allow owners to come to individual commercial agreements with jockeys regarding sponsorship. A trial of the new arrangements is about to start.

Wide consultation has taken place and owners who had exercised the veto were contacted for their views on the current system and their feedback will be taken into account.

New software for the online and telephone booking of jockeys has been specifically developed to enable trainers to see at-a-glance whether a jockey is sponsored.

A test of this new software, with National Trainers’ Federation and Jockeys’ Association of Great Britain representation, will take place shortly.