Cheltenham announces today that one of the course's long-standing sponsorships is coming to an end, with George Ward's Grunwick Group withdrawing backing for the bonusprint.com Gold Cup.
The £110,000 bonusprint.com Gold Cup, the main highlight of the two-day December meeting, has been supported by Grunwick since 1992 and, prior to last year, was called the Tripleprint Gold Cup.
The prestigious handicap chase over two miles and five furlongs was won by Monkerhostin from 12 rivals last year, while other good horses to have won the bonusprint.com Gold Cup include the Nicky Henderson-trained pair Iris Royal (2003) and Fondmort (2002), Legal Right (1999), Addington Boy (1996) and Dublin Flyer (1994).
Champion trainer Martin Pipe has sent out two scorers, Northern Starlight (1998) and Fragrant Dawn (1993), during the period, while local trainer Sue Knock succeeded with Senor El Betrutti in 1997 and Go Roger Go, from Edward O'Grady's stable, provided an Irish winner in 2000.
Nigel Payne, Sponsorship Manager for the Grunwick Group, commented today: "With the fast-growing digital print market, the company has decided to direct marketing spend towards the Internet to promote bonusprint.com
"George Ward is sad to end his association with Cheltenham's December meeting because it has been one of the most successful sponsorships for the company over the years."
Cheltenham is now seeking a new sponsor for the high-profile handicap chase which is one of the course's top races of the season.
Peter McNeile, Cheltenham's Commercial Manager, said today: "Cheltenham has greatly valued the backing of the Grunwick Group under both the Tripleprint and bonusprint.com brands.
"We hope this transitory phase in the photo-processing business is only temporary and that Grunwick will re-enter the sponsorship marketplace again in due course. Racing, and Cheltenham in particular, has much to thank bonusprint.com and its sister brands for over the past two decades.
"Losing a major sponsor is always difficult, but this does afford us a tremendous opportunity to reassess the two-day December meeting and try and raise its profile even higher, hopefully to the level enjoyed by The Open the previous month."
The Grunwick Group ceased sponsoring at the Cheltenham Festival after the 2004 event. It had backed the bonusprint.com Stayers' Hurdle from 1991 and that race is now the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
AT THE RACES TO SPONSOR GROUP ONE PREMIO PRESIDENTE DELLA REPUBBLICA
At The Races will be sponsoring the Group One Premio Presidente Della Repubblica to be run at Rome's Capannelle racecourse on Sunday May 15th. Total prize money for the race will be 440,000 euros, the richest race in Italy for four year olds and upwards.
Premio Presidente Della Repubblica was won twice, in 1987 and 1988, by Italian Prix de L'Arc De Triomphe hero Tony Bin. Prize money was boosted in 2000 after which followed an impressive list of winners: in 2000 Timboroa, 2001 Paolini, 2002 Falbrav, 2003 Rakti and 2004 Altieri.
After today's final forfeit stage, 20 horses stood their ground in Sunday's race including:
o Rakti, whose trainer Michael Jarvis has still to announce his preference between Saturday's 1m Lockinge Stakes and another trip to Rome.
o Italian leading old horse, Altieri, who has passed up an invitation to Hong Kong in his bid to repeat last year's triumph at Capannelle.
o Marcus Tregoning's recent Nad Al Sheba Group 2 winner, Alkaadhem,
o Soldier Hollow and Dayano from Germany.
o Touch Of Land from France.
o Veteran local trainer, Lorenzo Brogi's, duo Vol de Nuit and Distant Way, both of whom are reportedly in great shape.
Matthew Imi, Chief Executive of At The Races, said: "We have a long standing and very successful relationship with the Italian racing industry and are delighted to be sponsoring this highly prestigious race at Italy's number one racecourse. This is the first in a number of initiatives we have in mind to further develop awareness of our brand and our racecourse partners in a market that has a genuine appetite for betting on UK racing product."
Elio Pautasso, Director General, Capannelle Racecourse, said: "We are very pleased that At The Races will be sponsoring this great race and look forward to extending our relationship with them in the coming months. We believe that the considerable exposure this race receives within our domestic market will be of great benefit to At The Races and we look forward to introducing them to our colleagues within Italian racing."
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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