Ladbrokes Punchestown Sponsorship Deal

Punchestown and Ladbrokes Announce Three Year Sponsorship of the World Series Hurdle

There was good news today for Irish racing as Ladbrokes.com and Punchestown Racecourse announced details of a major sponsorship and commercial arrangement. The deal will see Ladbrokes guarantee sponsorship of the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle over a three year period. As part of the agreement Ladbrokes will operate the on-course betting shop at Punchestown and provide significant marketing support to the Home of Irish National Hunt Racing.

Following on from their successful sponsorship of the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle last year, Ladbrokes have signed a three year agreement which ensures that the race will be worth a minimum of E200,000 for each of the next three renewals.

Ladbrokes' agreement to acquire the license to operate the on-course betting shop at Punchestown will further add to the bookmaker's already impressive on-course presence which includes shops in Fairyhouse, Galway, Kilbeggan and The Curragh.

In a novel twist to the event Ladbrokes.com have made the appropriately named Punchestowns the ante-post favourite for the event.

Welcoming the announcement Nicky Henderson, trainer of Punchestowns said "Punchestown's owner Lynn Wilson, who sadly passed away last summer, adored the Punchestown Festival and would no doubt be delighted to see Punchestowns run in the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at his namesake track. The plan is Cheltenham and straight to Punchestown. With a name like this, we can hardly avoid it!"

Joe Lewins, Chief Executive of Ladbrokes Ireland is delighted with the opportunity to enhance its sponsorship portfolio in Ireland, Lewins commented "The Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown is now a major national and international race meeting and a sponsorship of this calibre rarely becomes available. The race is the perfect fit for Ladbrokes as it mirrors the World Hurdle in Cheltenham and means we have title sponsorship for the two most prestigious staying hurdle races anywhere in the world."

Commenting on the agreement Dick O Sullivan, General Manager of Punchestown said "This is a tremendous boost for Punchestown's Irish National Hunt Festival. It is no secret that these are challenging times for the economy and racing industry as a whole so to receive such support from the worlds leading bookmaker is paramount. The Ladbrokes.com World Series race has always had an international dimension with four of the last five winners coming from across the water, we are very excited that this sponsorship enhances our standing on the world stage."

Punchestown will be making further major positive announcements concerning the Irish National Hunt Festival at a press briefing in Dublin on Monday 9th February. The press briefing will also feature contributions from Charlie McCreevy, EU Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Denis Brosnan, Chairman of Horse Racing Ireland and Dick O'Sullivan, Manager of Punchestown Racecourse

Ladbrokes have already opened a book on the race and make the Nicky Henderson trained Punchestowns the 11-4 favourite for their World Series Hurdle at The Irish National Hunt Festival. The Doumen trained Kasbah Bliss, runner up to Inglis Drever last year at Cheltenham, is next best at 3-1 while last year's winner Blazing Bailey is available at 10-1. Best of the Irish would appear to be the much improved Catch Me who is currently trading at an attractive 25-1.

Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle Punchestown, Thursday 30th April, 2009

The Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle has an impressive pedigree, and over the years has attracted the cream of long distance hurdlers from the UK and Ireland, the prestigious roll of honour for the race includes star hurdlers such as Limestone Lad, Rhinestone Cowboy, Asian Maze and Blazing Bailey.

Past Winners of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle Include:

The five day Punchestown Festival runs from Tuesday 28th April to Saturday 2nd May 2009.