Coral Extends Welsh National Sponsorship

Coral has extended its sponsorship of one of the most iconic steeplechases in the National Hunt calendar - the Welsh National at Chepstow Racecourse.

The new four-year deal takes its support up to the end of 2012 - the 40th year of the involvement of the bookmakers in the race.

The £100,000 Coral Welsh National enjoys the second longest sponsorship in National Hunt racing after Newbury's Hennessy Gold Cup, and the company now supports the entire card.

It comes as Chepstow Racecourse's owner Northern Racing agreed with the BBC to continue its live coverage of the Welsh National for three more years up to and including the renewal in 2012.

The Coral Welsh National in 2009 will be held on the Bank Holiday on Monday 28 December, a day later than usual.

Tony Kelly, Northern Racing's Group Managing Director, said: "We are thrilled to announce the continuing sponsorship of Coral who are showing real commitment not only to Chepstow Racecourse but also to one of the great annual sporting occasions in Wales as well as jump racing in general."

Simon Clare, Coral's Director of Communications, said: "We are delighted to maintain our high profile involvement in a highlight of National Hunt horseracing over Christmas. Our sponsorship of the Welsh National goes all the way back to 1973, and we are very proud of our long association with the race."

In 2008 the Coral Welsh National was won, for the first time, by an Irish-trained horse in Notre Pere which went on to record a victory in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival and is now a leading contender for the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In recent years, the extended three mile and five furlong steeplechase has been a good guide to the Grand National. This year's Aintree winner Mon Mome was runner-up at Chepstow in 2006, while Silver Birch triumphed at Aintree two seasons after victory at the Welsh racecourse in 2004.