Bibby new sponsors of Punchestown Gold Cup
The newly titled Bibby Financial Services Gold Cup is Ireland’s most valuable and prestigious three-mile chase. Previous winners included subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes, Imperial Call and Kicking King, as well as Florida Pearl, Beef or Salmon, War Of Attrition, Neptune Collonges and Sir Des Champs.
Barry Geraghty and Ruby Walsh have won the race on four occasions and both are enthusiastic regarding their chances of gaining another success in April.
Walsh said: “The Punchestown Gold Cup has been a great race for me, as I was only 19 when I first won it on Imperial Call, then a year later on Commanche Court for my Dad (Ted) and most recently twice for Paul Nicholls, with Neptune Collonges.
“I’ve yet to win it for Willie Mullins, but ideally that would change this year.
It’s great to see a company like Bibby Financial Services giving such a vote of confidence to Punchestown and the Irish racing industry”.
Geraghty said: “I’ve been lucky enough to win for four different trainers on four different horses and, hopefully, come April, all going well, I’d love to have a shot at it on Bobs Worth for Nicky Henderson. All credit to everyone involved, it’s great to see such a dynamic sponsorship for this prestigious race.”
The Bibby Financial Services Punchestown Gold Cup will be run on Wednesday, April 30. Initial entries close on April 9. The festival takes place from Tuesday, April 29 to Saturday, May 3.
