Sponsors & Partners

ALBERT BARTLETT

Albert Bartlett is a family brand, established in 1948 and is dedicated to providing an exclusive and tasty range of potatoes. Grown across the UK, they work closely with their farmers. Michel Roux Jr provides premium recipe inspiration at albertbartlett.co.uk.

BALLYMORE

Ballymore is an international property development company with a reputation for innovative projects that push boundaries and energise cities. Led by its founder, Chairman and CEO Sean Mulryan, who formed the company in Ireland over 35 years ago, Ballymore’s work has the scale of a heavyweight developer whilst retaining the integrity of a family business.

BOODLES

Boodles is a leading British fine jeweller whose reputation has been built on the excellence of its innovative design, quality and exceptional customer relationships and service

BROWN ADVISORY

Brown Advisory is an independent investment firm committed to serving its clients by delivering a combination of first-class investment performance, strategic advice and the highest level of service. Founded in 1993 as an affiliate of Alex. Brown & Sons, a leading U.S. investment bank, Brown Advisory became independent in 1998 and today serves families and institutions based in 25 countries. The firm’s employee equity ownership, experienced investment professionals, collaborative investment process and solutions-based culture help to make a material difference in the lives of its clients.

CLOSE BROTHERS

Close Brothers, sponsors of The Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase at The Festival, is a leading UK merchant banking group providing lending, deposit taking, wealth management services and securities trading.

Established in 1878, we believe our traditional merchant banking values, based on service and integrity, continue to be relevant today. We define our approach to business as ‘modern merchant banking’ – values that are embedded in our culture and that underpin everything we do.

Today, Close Brothers Group plc employs 2,900 people, principally in the UK. We are listed on the London Stock Exchange and are a member of the FTSE 250.

CORAL

Coral, formed by Joe Coral in 1926, is now part of Gala Coral Group, and is the largest privately owned bookmaker on the high street in the UK. Coral operates over 1,800 betting shops across the UK, employing 10,000 people, along with their online business at www.coral.co.uk.

Coral is also proud of its longstanding support of British horseracing, which includes its sponsorship of the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

GLENFARCLAS

Since 1865 Glenfarclas has been owned and run by just one family, the Grants of Glenfarclas, and is one of only a few distilleries in Scotland to remain in family hands. Now managed by the fifth and sixth generation of the family, the Grants remain committed to the vision of creating the best quality Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, in the traditional Speyside style.

holland cooper

Holland Cooper is a brand so synonymous with British luxury it’s recognised instantly in its use of the most superior Scottish woven tweed and wool combined with the finest suede and leather offering luxury tailoring for both men and women.

Established in 2008 designer Jade Holland Cooper saw a gap in the market for contemporary tweed wear, and armed with a wealth of design experience, infused with her passion for outdoor pursuits ensnared and consequently monopolised this market sector.

The offering is collectively outerwear and accessories with signature pieces including the bestselling Holland Cooper Tweed and Fur Cape, the double-breasted Mayfair Tweed and fur jacket and the elegant Prince of Wales staple jacket. These sit congenially alongside a collection of superbly crafted wraps, coats, skirts gilets, hats, and scarves.

JCB

JCB is the world’s third largest construction equipment manufacturer by volume. A family-owned business based in Staffordshire, England, JCB sells more than 300 different products to the construction and agricultural markets in over 150 countries worldwide.

JLT

JLT are a global organisation of specialists and one of the world’s leading providers of insurance, reinsurance and employee benefits related advice, brokerage and associated services. We are specialists. Our deep expertise and entrepreneurial culture give us the insights, creative freedom and tenacity to go beyond the routine and deliver better results for our clients. At JLT, clients come first. JLT owns offices in 41 territories and has more than 10,000 colleagues. Supported by the JLT International Network, we service clients in over 135 countries.

OLBG

OLBG.com, sponsors of the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at The Festival™, is a fun, friendly community of knowledgeable sports bettors who share tips and expertise, working together to help themselves and others to improve their betting.

MERRIEBELLE STABLE

Founded in 2012, Merriebelle Stable combined the U.S. thoroughbred interests of long-time business partners John Moores and Charles Noell, and in Europe, acquired the bloodstock developed by the former Kilfrush Stud, including Immortal Verse. Now based out of stables at Ardbraccan House, in County Meath, Ireland, Merriebelle is engaged in breeding, flat racing and steeplechase in America, Europe and Australia. Its stud includes co-ownership of Europe’s 2014 Cartier Champion Juvenile filly, TIGGY WIGGY (Kodiac), Group 2 winning stayer PALE MIMOSA and MAKARI, winner of the Group 1 A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Stakes at Saratoga, NY

NYETIMBER

For over 30 years, Nyetimber has had a single aim: to make the finest English sparkling wine, one to rival the very best in the world. A true pioneer, Nyetimber was the first producer of English sparkling wine to exclusively grow the three celebrated grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.

Nyetimber is made from one hundred percent estate-grown grapes and is regarded as England’s finest sparkling wine. Owner and Chief Executive Eric Heerema and winemaker Cherie Spriggs are committed to producing wines of exceptional quality.

PERTEMPS

Pertemps has a long and proud history of supporting the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle Series which culminates in the grand final at the Cheltenham Festival. The business, the UK’s largest independently owned recruitment agency, first backed the series in 2002.

RACING POST

Racing Post is a media company which focuses on horse racing, bloodstock, greyhounds, football and sports betting. The company publishes a daily national newspaper, and runs multiple websites and mobile products including racingpost.com. It also has an iPad newspaper app, successful social media platforms, and a growing syndication B2B division.

RSA INSURANCE

In the past 300 years, RSA has become one of the world’s leading multinational insurance groups. Today, we employ over 20,000 people, serving 17 million customers in over 140 countries. In the UK this includes both RSA and MORE THAN brands serving personal and commercial customers.

SKYBET

Sky Bet is among the fastest growing online gaming businesses in the UK – and among the largest. Based in Leeds and employing over 400 people, the firm won five awards at the prestigious ERG awards this year, including mobile operator of the year. They are a growing presence in horse racing including the flagship sponsorship of the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

ST. JAMES’S PLACE

St. James’s Place Wealth Management is a FTSE 100 company with £52bn of client funds under management.

Through our dedicated network of advisers – the Partnership – we offer face-to-face wealth management advice, which is tailored to meet clients’ specific circumstances.

ULTIMA

Ultima Business Solutions is the UK’s leading independent provider of IT infrastructure solutions, with top tier vendor accreditations.

Owner and CEO of Ultima, Max McNeill, is a committed and active supporter of Jump racing in the UK and has been stable sponsor of Alan King Racing since 2010.

WEATHERBYS

Weatherbys provide administrative, financial and many other services to British Horseracing. The business also initiated recording racehorse pedigrees in the General Stud Book more than two centuries ago. Weatherbys also provide numerous commercial services which include publishing the racecards for the Cheltenham Festival.

BENTLEY

Bentley Motors is the most sought after luxury car brand in the world. The company’s headquarters in Crewe is home to all of its operations and employs around 3,800 people. An example of high-value British manufacturing craftsmanship and engineering at its best, Bentley is proud to partner with the Jockey Club as its Official Luxury Car Partner and partner of the Cheltenham Club and looks forward to bringing galloping Bentley horsepower to the Cheltenham Festival. To find out more about the extraordinary world of Bentley, visit www.bentleymotors.com

GUINNESS

For 25 years Guinness has been as much a part of The Festival™ as the horses, enhancing the special Cheltenham atmosphere and making it a unique social occasion as well as a great sporting one. The famous Guinness Village has become the favourite meeting place for racegoers. Enjoy Guinness responsibly.

NATIONAL EXPRESS

National Express are the official coach partner of The Festival 2018. Travel direct on their great value services from across the UK. Coaches arrive with plenty of time to place your bets and won’t depart until all races have finished.

EQUI-TREK

Equi-Trek is the worldwide leading producer of horse transport; from lightweight and easy to tow side-loading horse trailers, through to horseboxes of all sizes from 3.5 tonnes to 26 tonnes. Manufactured in Yorkshire, Equi-Trek’s horseboxes and trailers are available through a nationwide network of approved distributors, as well as in Europe, Australia and the US. For more information please visit www.equi-trek.com or call us on 01484 852121.