Cheltenham announce new sponsor

Letheby & Christopher have been unveiled as the new sponsor of the race formerly known as the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham.

The Grade Two event is one of the main trials for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and both Master Oats in 1995 and Looks Like Trouble five years later won the contest en route to victory in the big race.

The £80,000 (€117,000) contest, to be run on January 28 this season, will now be known as the Letheby & Christopher Chase.

Bob Reeves, managing director of Letheby & Christopher, said: “We are very pleased to be able to give our support to this classy contest at Cheltenham which follows on from our sponsorship of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for the last two years.

“Our association with Cheltenham goes back many years and we are delighted to cement it in this way.”

Pillar Property’s withdrawal comes as a result of the company’s acquisition by British Land earlier this year, with the new management seeking to sponsor in other sports.