cheltenham 2007 / 2007 news /

Royal & Sunalliance Extends Festival Sponsorship
10/07/06

Royal & SunAlliance, jump racing's longest-standing sponsor with 36 years of involvement in the sport, is extending its backing of the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March for a further three years.

One of the world's oldest insurance groups, with origins dating back to 1710, Royal & SunAlliance's renewed agreement will see it concentrate on supporting the prestigious Grade One novice chase run over three miles.

The company has generously supported both the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle since 1974, and previously backed the Sun Alliance & London Foxhunters Chase from 1971-1973.

The West Awake has the distinction of being the one horse to have won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase after landing the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle (1987/1988). The new agreement ends Royal & SunAlliance's association with the latter race.

The Grade One Royal & SunAlliance Chase is the pinnacle for staying novice chasers and showcases future stars. Together with the Irish Independent Arkle Chase, also run at the Cheltenham Festival, it is the richest novice chase of the year and was worth £140,000 this year.

The race was run as the Sun Alliance Chase prior to the company's merger with Royal Insurance in 1996, becoming the Royal SunAlliance Chase in 1997, before undergoing a slight change in 1998 to the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

Brendan McManus, managing director - Broker, at Royal & SunAlliance, said: “We are delighted to continue our support of The Festival. We have quite a tradition with Cheltenham and we hope to continue our successful relationship over the coming years.”

Royal & SunAlliance's inaugural sponsorship in 1974 produced a fitting winner in the Jim Dreaper-trained Ten Up who went on to collect jump racing's premier prize, the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, the following year.

Master Smudge in 1979, Garrison Savannah in 1990 and Looks Like Trouble in 1999 also won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase prior to capturing the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup 12 months later.

The 1994 John Smith's Grand National hero Miinnehoma won the Cheltenham race in 1992, while the brilliant Florida Pearl scored a famous Royal & SunAlliance Chase victory in 1998, and 2005 brought success for subsequent Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Trabolgan.

The Royal & SunAlliance Chase maintained its high standard when the Paul Nicholls-trained five-year-old Star de Mohaison scored an emphatic victory in March.

Peter McNeile, Cheltenham Racecourse's Director of Sponsorship, commented: “Cheltenham is proud of its association with Royal & SunAlliance and is pleased to announce that the longest-standing partnership in jump racing will be extended for a further three years.

“The new agreement strengthens and consolidates Cheltenham Racecourse's relationship with Royal & SunAlliance, while increasing the profile of Britain's premier three-mile novice chase.

“As befits a market leader in its own field of insurance, the Royal & SunAlliance Chase is simply the definitive contest for staying novice chasers.

“I would also like to thank Royal & SunAlliance for sponsoring the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle from 1974 through to 2006. We look forward to developing both races through the 2006-7 season.”

The 2007 Royal & SunAlliance Chase will be run on Wednesday, March 14, the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, jump racing's top meeting.