NEWBURY Racecourse, one of the UK’s leading venues, is entering an exciting chapter of its history in 2017 by celebrating a new partnership with Ladbrokes.

The inaugural Ladbrokes Winter Carnival takes place on Friday and Saturday, December 1st and 2nd, and is headlined by the £250,000 Ladbrokes Trophy (formerly run as the Hennessy Gold Cup).

Ladbrokes’ generous sponsorship means the prize money for the two-day meeting stands at an impressive £700,000. The Ladbrokes Trophy has received a 25% prize money boost and is now worth £250,000, making it the most valuable advertised race this side of the Cheltenham Festival.

Since the handicap chase was first run as the Hennessy Gold Cup in 1957, the Ladbrokes Trophy has become one of the major highlights of the National Hunt season, with some stunning performances over the last 60 years from the likes of Mill House, Arkle, Denman, Many Clouds and, most recently, Native River.

Both Newbury Racecourse and Ladbrokes, after the signing of an initial five-year deal, intend to see the two-day Ladbrokes Winter Carnival grow even more by attracting an increased number of Irish-trained runners. To this end, incentives have been instigated.

TRAVEL ALLOWANCES

Travel allowances will be available for all Irish runners across both days and are broken down as follows:

  • £750 per horse who is declared and runs in any of the graded or listed races on either day and does not collect any prize money earnings.
  • £450 per horse who is declared and runs in any of the supporting races and does not collect any prize money earnings.

    • OWNERS AND TRAINERS

    Newbury is committed to ensuring the very best experience and will be offering airport transfers for all those connections with Irish runners who are confirmed to race on either day of the Ladbrokes Winter Carnival.

    With the opening of the new Owners Club, a range of hospitality options are available.

    Enquiries should be made directly to Alice White at Newbury Racecourse and she can be contacted at awhite@newburyracecourse.co.uk

    STABLE STAFF

    All stable staff will be positively received and accommodation is available for those that require it in the 36-bedroom hotel (The Lodge).

    ENTRIES

    Entries for the feature £250,000 Ladbrokes Trophy must be made by 12 noon on Monday, October 30th, 2017 via HRI or by 12 noon on Tuesday, October 31st to Weatherbys, UK.

    If you are considering making an entry in the Ladbrokes Trophy, it is worth noting that over the last five years the highest-rated horses have ranged between 157 and 166 with a top-weight of 11st 12lb.

    In 2013, the lowest rated runner was 132, with a range up to 140 across the same period.

    CLOSING DATES

    Entries for the Ladbrokes Trophy must be made by 12 noon on Monday, October 30th, 2017 via HRI or by 12 noon on Tuesday, October 31st, to Weatherbys, UK.

    For those considering entering a horse for any race on Friday, December 1, entries close at 12 noon on November 23rd (HRI) and November 25th (Weatherbys, UK).

    Entries for Saturday, December 2nd will close at 12 noon on November 24th (HRI) and November 27th (Weatherbys, UK).

    The Worcester Novices’ Chase has been renamed in honour of John Francome MBE.

    The Grade 2 race will be now be known as the Ladbrokes John Francome Novices’ Chase and forms part of Saturday’s card.

    It is immediately followed by the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase, which will be particularly special given this year marks the 20th anniversary of his final commentary for the BBC in the 1997 Hennessy Gold Cup, won by Suny Bay.