LEOPARDSTOWN Racecourse announced today that Goffs are have taken new sponsorship of the Grade 1 Arkle Novice Steeplechase at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The Grade 1 Goffs Arkle Novice Steeplechase is one of the feature races on Day 1 of the Festival, Saturday 4th February, and boasts a prize fund of €150,000.

The race has attracted classy fields in recent years, with recent winners including, Blue Lord, Energumene, Notebook, Footpad, Douvan, and Un De Seaux.

The Irish thoroughbred auctioneer will sponsor the race for an initial three years and will also sponsor the stable staff canteen on both days of the meeting.

Goffs have supported supported the festival since is inception with previous sponsorship of the Grade 2 Future Stars Bumper.

Announcing the sponsorship, Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said: “Goffs is proud to sponsor the Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown especially as the Dublin Racing Festival is one of the great recent success stories in Irish Racing.

“The Arkle name has particular resonance for Goffs as the iconic Champion was sold as a three-year-old to Tom Dreaper on behalf of his owner The Duchess Of Westminster at Goffs in 1960."

Tim Husbands, Chief Executive of Leopardstown Racecourse, added: “We are delighted that Goffs has upgraded their existing sponsorship at Dublin Racing Festival to the Grade 1 Goffs Arkle Novice Steeplechase, a race full of history and heritage.