Thursday 29 January 2015 21:38, UK
Ultima Business Solutions are to sponsor the £90,000 three-mile and one-furlong handicap chase, registered as the Festival Trophy Chase, on the opening day of this year's Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday March 10.
The Ultima Business Handicap Chase is always a hotly-contested affair, with a maximum 24-runner field. Last year’s renewal went to the 10/1 chance Holywell, handing trainer Jonjo O’Neill his third victory in the race.
Previous winners of Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase have gone to win some of the biggest prizes in jump racing. Five previous winners, for example, have gone on to land the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, most recently Charter Party in 1986 and 1988. In addition, four winners have progressed to win the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree, a double last achieved by Rough Quest.
Max McNeill, CEO of Ultima Business Solutions, commented: “At Ultima, we are absolutely delighted to have further strengthened our association with Cheltenham Racecourse, where we have been sponsoring The Open meeting since 2009.
"Ultima is now in its 25th year of business and this is the perfect opportunity for us to mark the occasion. Over the last 25 years we have grown and evolved into the UK’s pre-eminent independent IT infrastructure provider. This sponsorship will enable us to share our success and achievement with our clients and vendors alike.”
McNeill added: “The opening day of the Festival is, without question, one of the most exciting days in the racing calendar and one that jump racing fans are counting down to as soon as the previous year’s Grand Annual Chase has finished! To have a sponsored race on the first day is something very special for me and I cannot wait to see the runners go to post for the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase.”
Ultima is also currently in the fourth year of a sponsorship deal with trainer Alan King, which includes branding on the majority of the yard’s runners, stable staff and horseboxes.
