New Sponsor For Prestigious Race At Irish National Hunt Festival A new sponsor in the shape of local developer Barrack Homes has been confirmed for the Pat Taaffe Handicap Steeplechase at the Irish National Hunt Festival. The race, increasing in value from ?55,000 to ?70,000 for the 2007 festival will be called the Barrack Homes Pat Taaffe Handicap Steeplechase and takes place on Thursday, April 26th. Barrack Construction, now known as Barrack Homes was founded in 1999 by local businessman Paddy Byrne and is based in Thomastown, Naas. Marketing Director for Barrack Homes, Mike Keely said 'As a leading sporting event, the Punchestown festival absolutely meets our criteria for branding and marketing. The festival is recognised nationally and internationally and creates a perfect fit for Barrack Homes in that we have development in both UK and Ireland. Punchestown has rightfully generated huge support from home and abroad and we are delighted to become part of that.'Welcoming the announcement, trainer Tom Taaffe commented ' It is great to see locally based companies supporting racing and the local area. County Kildare is a famously strong racing community and our family has enjoyed many great days at Punchestown. We are very pleased to have my father's name associated with such a prestigious race now worth a notable ?70,000.'Dick O Sullivan, manager of Punchestown, announcing yet another new sponsorship for the meeting stated 'Punchestown has always maintained very strong ties with local businesses and its great to have another successful local company involved at the festival. The Barrack Homes Pat Taaffe Handicap Steeplechase is now a valuable race worth ?70,000 and Barrack Homes have been very generous in helping us to increase the race value to that.'The Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival takes place from Tuesday, April 24th to Friday, April 27th. The prize fund for the meeting has now reached a record ?2.5 million. Admission is ?30 and Admission and Reserved Enclosure badges cost ?40.
