Cheltenham Search For Queen Mother Backer

Cheltenham are to break with tradition and are currently on the lookout for a commercial backer for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The two-mile showpiece event is the only Grade One race at the meeting currently without a sponsor and the racecourse are seeking someone to invest in the region of £250,000.

The opportunity was initially offered to Royal & Sun Alliance after their surprise decision to end their support of the staying novice hurdle event which has carried their name since 1974. However, they declined.

Peter McNeile, Cheltenham's commercial manager said: 'We've decided to seek a sponsor for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and we reckon a sum in the region of £250,000 would be fitting for such a magnificent race that so often has been the highlight of the meeting.

'The Queen Mother died four years ago, and we considered the time was appropriate to look for a sponsor for our only Grade One race without one.'

? PA Sport