Lexus Chase Is Now The Winter Season's Richest National Hunt Race The Lexus Chase, the feature race of the annual Leopardstown Christmas Festival, has now become the richest National Hunt Race of the winter season, following an announcement today (6th November 2007) that the prize fund in the famous Grade 1 steeplechase has been increased from €150,000 to a guaranteed minimum prize value of €200,000. Lexus Ireland also announced today that its hugely successful sponsorship of the Feature Race on Day Three of the Christmas Festival has been extended for a further three years. The new sponsorship agreement with the Leopardstown Club runs from 2007 to 2009 inclusive. The Lexus Chase boasts an honour roll of champions including Best Mate (2004), Beef or Salmon (2005) and reigning champion The Listener (2006). Robert Alner, last year's winning trainer, confirmed that The Listener will be back to defend the Lexus Trophy if preparations go to plan. Trainer Tom Taaffe also confirmed that it is their intention to enter the 2005 Gold Cup winner, Kicking King, and his stable companion Cane Brake. Meanwhile, Paul Nicholl's yard reported that Neptune Collognes and Denman are also in line to challenge for The Lexus Chase title at Leopardstown. Trainer of State of Play, Evan Williams said yesterday that there is a high probability that last season's Hennessy Gold Cup winner will feature in The Lexus Chase. As well as being the highlight of the four-day Leopardstown Christmas Festival, The Lexus Chase has become Leopardstown's most popular horserace ? in 2006, a record 18,000-plus punters attended the prestigious Grade 1 steeplechase, the highest recorded gate at the racecourse for last year. Additionally, over the past three years of Lexus Ireland's sponsorship, the race has grown to become the sporting and social highlight of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Commenting on the announcement Dr. Tim Mahony, Chairman of Lexus Ireland, said: 'We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of The Lexus Chase, one of the premium steeplechases in the country. Not only is The Lexus Chase the sporting and social highlight of the annual National Hunt racing calendar at Leopardstown Racecourse, but, with this announcement, it now becomes the richest National Hunt race at the course ? making it the perfect fit for Lexus. 'National Hunt racing is passionately followed in Ireland, and racing continues to grow in popularity. We are proud in Lexus Ireland with the success of our sponsorship of The Lexus Chase since 2004, and in particular with the popularity of this prestigious race with racing champions and fans alike. We are looking forward to an even more buoyant sponsorship of this Grade 1 race over the next three years, and, with that in mind, we are delighted to be making this exciting announcement increasing the guaranteed prizefund to €200,000.' Lexus Ireland's Chairman, Dr. Tim Mahony, is an avid follower and patron of horse racing in Ireland. Dr. Mahony is the owner of the well-known breeding and stallion farm, Ballylinch Stud ? home of the legendry Tetrarch and part of the Mount Juliet estate. Lexus Ireland has been long-standing supporter of Irish horseracing ? as well as sponsoring The Lexus Chase for the past three years, the premium car marque previously sponsored the Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh in the mid-1990s for a period of four years, followed by sponsorship of the 2000 Guineas, again at the Curragh. Welcoming the dual announcements Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, commented: 'HRI welcomes this major sponsorship news and congratulates Lexus on a most successful re-branding of this race which is now universally known as 'The Lexus'. The additional prize fund guarantees that this Grade 1 race, now the winter season's richest national hunt race, will continue to attract the very best horses and in the past has been won by horses which are now house hold names, such as: - The Listener (2006), Beef or Salmon (2002, 2004 & 2005), Best Mate (2003), Foxchapel King (2001), Rince Ri (1999 & 2000), Dorans Pride (1998) and Imperial Call (1997).'
