Punchestown and Ladbrokes announce new sponsorship deal

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 ?200,000 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!"

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"