Smurfit to end Champion backing

Smurfit Kappa are to end their backing of the Champion Hurdle which they have sponsored since 1991.

Next week’s running of the feature on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival will be the last under the banner of the paper packaging group.

Gary McGann, the firm’s group chief executive, said: “The Smurfit Kappa Group is pleased to have fully honoured its sponsorship commitment to the Champion Hurdle.

“We have enjoyed the excellent working relationship with the Cheltenham management team and we wish them every success in finding a suitable future sponsor for this famous event.”

Cheltenham’s managing director Edward Gillespie added: “It has been a joy to have the support of Smurfit Kappa for so many years. Sir Michael Smurfit, a great friend to racing, was initially the driving force behind the deal and it was appropriate that he had a runner in the first Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in 1991.

“It wasn’t until 1998 that the great Istabraq became the first Irish winner of the race under the Smurfit banner, and since then, Irish-trained horses have won on a further six occasions.”

The search to find a new sponsor is already under way.

Cheltenham’s director of sponsorship Peter McNeile added: “Smurfit Kappa has been an excellent partner and will be difficult to replace, but we already have some interest from other parties and will begin the process of recruiting a new sponsor for what is one of the iconic races once the dust has settled on the Festival 2010.”