- The betChronicle Bumper Remains The Most Valuable Bumper in UK & Ireland

Punchestown racecourse today announced that BetChronicle is to sponsor the Champion Bumper at the 2011 Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival 3rd to 7th May. With a pot of €75,000 on offer the betChronicle Champion Bumper remains the most valuable bumper on British and Irish racing calendar and the only Irish bumper to carry Grade 1 status.

The betChroincle Champion Bumper, formerly sponsored by Paddy Power Bookmakers, will take place the second day of the five day Punchestown Festival, Wednesday 4th May. The race boasts an illustrious roll of honour with previous winners including Hidden Universe, Dunguib* Cousin Vinny and Like A Butterfly. Bumper king Noel Meade is the winning most trainer with an impressive tally of 4 wins since 1992 and they are Tiananmen Square (1992), Geill Sli (2004) Leading Run (2006) and most recently Mick The Man (2007). He welcomed the news by saying “We have been very lucky in this race and given that it is the most valuable bumper on the calendar we hope to be lucky in it again! It’s great to hear that betChronicle have come on board and we look forward to the running of the betChronicle Champion Bumper at Punchestown in eight weeks time”.

Speaking about the announcement Chronicle’s Justin Carthy said “Having concentrated our recent sponsorship activities in the UK we are delighted to bring it home and where better than the home of Irish jump racing. The betChronicle Champion Bumper sponsorship was a great opportunity for us to further enhance or support of Irish racing. We have always worked closely the team at Punchestown and currently have four pitches during the Irish National Hunt Festival which is a key meeting on our calendar. We look forward to developing the Irish angle of our sponsorship with Punchestown”.

Dick O’Sullivan, Punchestown General Manager welcomed the news by commenting “We are delighted that Chronicle have come onboard as sponsors of the champion bumper at this year’s Festival. Chronicle have shown forward thinking in all aspects of their operation. Racing is an entertainment business and Chronicle continue to advance having pioneered a new high definition LCD on course odds board which will certainly enhance the betting product to racegoers on track. At the end of the day we are all aiming to improve the racing experience and bring the racing public back to the track so innovative thinking like this is the way forward. We look forward to developing the betChronicle and Punchestown working relationship”.

O’Sullivan also took the opportunity to thank out going sponsors of the race Paddy Power bookmakers - “We would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Paddy Power for their generous support of the race and indeed of Punchestown. We look forward to continuing our close working relationship with them”.