Ryanair to sponsor Gold Cup at Fairyhouse

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary announced in Dublin today that the airline will sponsor the E100,000 Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday, April 5th.

Formerly known as the Powers Gold Cup, the race is run over a distance of two miles and four furlongs and is the feature event on the opening day of the three-day Fairyhouse Easter Festival which takes place from Sunday, April 5th to Tuesday, April 7th.

Previous winners include Carvill's Hill, General Idea, Merry Gale, Dorans Pride, Native Upmanship, Like-A-Butterfly and Flemenstar. Rebel Fitz, trained by Michael Winters and ridden by Barry Geraghty won last year's renewal.

To celebrate its new sponsorship and its 30th birthday, Ryanair will run a number of promotions on Easter Sunday including:

* 30 free entrance tickets for Ryanair customers (on a first come first served basis) flying home to Ireland for Easter weekend

* A buy-one-get-one-free offer to all Ryanair customers who wish to "bring a friend" racing at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday

* A free family holiday worth over âE3,000 will be won by one lucky racegoer on Easter Sunday

* 30 free flight vouchers will be distributed to racegoers by Ryanair at the Easter Sunday fixture

Ryanair's Michael O'Leary said: "Ryanair is delighted to celebrate its 30th birthday in 2015 by sponsoring this prestigious Grade 1 race at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday and we look forward to a successful running of the Ryanair Gold Cup on April 5th.

"Ryanair's low fares, best customer service and biggest route network in Europe make us Europe's favourite airline and Ryanair is proud to become the title sponsor of this Grade 1 novice chase.

"With a bit of luck, it will be won by AP McCoy and generate lots of PR for Ireland's favourite airline."

Fairyhouse Racecourse General Manager Peter Roe said: "Ryanair is Europe's favourite airline and we are delighted to welcome them to Fairyhouse as a Grade 1 sponsor at the Easter Festival.

"It is a great testament to the high regard the Easter Festival at Fairyhouse is held in to have a business of Ryanair's stature get behind the event. We look forward to working with the Ryanair team as we approach what promises to be another exciting Fairyhouse Easter Festival."