Crabbies new sponsor of Grand National Aintree's search for a new sponsor for the Grand National is over with the news that Crabbies has signed a three-year deal which will see the race serve up £1million in prize money for the first time. Since John Smith's announced they would not be renewing their nine-year association with the race after the 2013 renewal, won by Auroras Encore, Aintree and its owner the Jockey Club have been searching for a new backer. Crabbies has its own unique link to the race as it is part of Halewood International, a company founded by John Halewood who won the 2004 Grand National with the Ginger McCain-trained Amberleigh House. Halewood died in 2011. Crabbies, who specialise in making alcoholic ginger beer, have sponsored races at a lower level for some time and also sponsor the Scottish football club Hibernian. The new deal sees the Crabbies name attached to the three races run over the National fences; the Crabbie's Fox Hunters' Chase, the Crabbie's Topham Chase and the Crabbie's Grand National.
