William Hill Returns as County Hurdle Sponsor at Cheltenham Festival


William Hill has been announced as the new sponsor of the County Handicap Hurdle at The Cheltenham Festival, marking a return to the prestigious event. The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle, one of the most competitive races at the Festival, will be held on March 14, 2025, during Gold Cup Day. The race, covering just over two miles, consistently draws a full field and is recognized as one of Jump racing’s key events.

This sponsorship strengthens William Hill’s recent collaborations with The Jockey Club. The bookmaker currently serves as the Official Betting Partner of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree and will sponsor the Grade One Formby Novices’ Hurdle at the same venue on Boxing Day. William Hill will also sponsor five races this weekend at Cheltenham’s season-opening event, The Showcase.

In celebration of William Hill Showcase Saturday on October 26, broadcaster Nick Luck will host “The William Hill Showcase Saturday Centaur Preview” in The Centaur, Cheltenham, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. He will be joined by racing legends Sir AP McCoy and Barry Geraghty, who will share insights on the day’s races. Entry to this preview is free for Club and Tattersalls ticket holders.

William Hill’s history with Cheltenham’s Home of Jump Racing includes its sponsorship of the Festival Trophy Handicap Chase from 1998 to 2010, as well as the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2009, 2012, and 2013. The bookmaker’s ambassadors, Sir AP McCoy and Barry Geraghty, hold personal connections to the County Hurdle, adding a touch of legacy to this renewed partnership.

Dan Glavin, Bookmaker Partnerships Manager at The Jockey Club, said: “It is fantastic to welcome back such a famous brand as William Hill to sponsorship at The Cheltenham Festival.

“We extend our thanks to William Hill for its generous support, including the sponsorship of the County Hurdle and throughout the season, starting on Friday at The Showcase.”

Daryl West, William Hill’s Head of Media and Sponsorship, said; “As William Hill celebrates over 90 years in the industry, we’re embracing our heritage and being part of horse racing’s biggest days is something we’ve done throughout our history. Racedays don’t come much bigger than Gold Cup Day, so we’re delighted to be a part of it and back at the Cheltenham Festival in 2025.

“The County Hurdle is always a great betting heat and we’ve seen some fantastic hurdlers use it as a springboard to greatness. It’s a brilliant race for William Hill to showcase our commitment to proper prices for our customers and it’s a race that we’ve regularly offered extra places for each-way backers.

“As Official Betting Partners of the Grand National and now Cheltenham Festival partners once again, we’re delighted to strengthen our relationship with The Jockey Club. This is in addition to the Champion Chase at Punchestown meaning we’re right at the heart of the action at all three major spring festivals.”

Sir AP McCoy won the race on Blowing Wind in 1998 and said: “The County Hurdle was the sign that Blowing Wind was developing into a real talent. He was unlucky not to win the Grand National a few years later, but the County Hurdle was his first real big day and we’ve seen that a few times down the years with the likes of Rooster Booster and State Man, who went on to great things.”

Barry Geraghty, a dual winner of the County Hurdle, said: “Spirit Leader’s win in 2003 crowned a great week for me. I was top rider at the Festival that year and when I won on Spirit Leader that gave me my fifth winner of the week, which was a record back then. I also had my last ever Cheltenham Festival winner on Saint Roi in the race in 2020, so the County Hurdle holds fond memories for me.”

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