LEADING Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has added to its extensive sponsorship portfolio at Leopardstown with their backing of the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup in a new deal.
The €250,000 Grade 1 chase, first run in 1987, is one of the highlights of Dublin Racing Festival and will be staged on the second day of the festival at Leopardstown on Sunday, February 2.
Bellshill gave Willie Mullins his tenth success and Ruby Walsh his third and final win in the race a year ago.
No trainer has a better record than Mullins, his Florida Pearl won four times, with Alexander Banquet, Rule Supreme, Kempes, Quel Esprit and Sir Des Champs also winning for the champion trainer.
Walsh made his breakthrough on the Paul Nicholls-trained Neptune Collonges, the most recent British-trained winner in 2009.
The Michael Hourigan-trained Beef Or Salmon and Peter Beaumont’s Jodami were three-time winners.
Jodami and Imperial Call, in 1993 and 1996 respectively, won the Irish Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season while the Jessica Harrington-trained Sizing John went one better by becoming the first horse to win the Irish Gold Cup, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Punchestown Gold Cup in the same season in 2017.
The John Kiely-trained Carlingford Lough, owned by JP McManus, was the winner in 2015 and 2016, joining a roll of honour that includes Carvill’s Hill, Danoli, Dorans Pride and Forgive ‘N’ Forget, the winner of the inaugural race 33 years ago.
In addition to the Dublin Racing Festival, Paddy Power sponsor on second day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and the opening day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend.
Tim Husbands, CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse, said: “I’m really excited to extend our partnership with top-class brand Paddy Power, the new sponsor of the Irish Gold Cup.
“Over the past three decades the race has provided some fantastic racing memories for racegoers. Our combined aim is to ensure the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup continues to showcase the competitiveness and the quality of racing in Ireland.
“The Dublin Racing Festival is entering its third year and this partnership will further strengthen it as one of the best weekends of racing in Europe.”
Paul Mallon, Head of Brand Marketing (Ireland) for Paddy Power, added: “Sports fans bang on about the exploits of Katie Taylor, Shane Lowry, Rachael Blackmore and the emerging crop of young football talent – but let’s not forget that some of the most consistent Irish winners have four legs, not two.
“The Dublin Racing Festival presents some of the highest-calibre horses to a country that loves its racing.”
Betfair added: “The Dublin Racing Festival has by now established itself as the definitive pre-Cheltenham race meeting in the country.”