Paddy Power is today announced as the new sponsor of the Prestbury Cup.

 

The Paddy Power Prestbury Cup celebrates the fabled rivalry between Great Britain and Ireland and is awarded to the country which gains the most victories over the four days and 28 races of The Festival™ presented by Magners, which runs from Tuesday, 10 March to Friday, 13 March.

 

The current Paddy Power odds for the Paddy Power Prestbury Cup 2020 are:

6/5 Ireland

5/4 Great Britain

4/1 Tie

 

Named after the nearest village to Cheltenham Racecourse, the Paddy Power Prestbury Cup will be presented to jockeys and trainers from Ireland or Britain once the winning country is confirmed. The Cup itself sealed with some hallowed Cheltenham turf, so the winning country will be taking a little bit of Cheltenham with them.

 

The trophy was first awarded in 2014, when Great Britain came out on top. Great Britain was again on top in 2015 but this was followed by three consecutive victories for Ireland, including a comprehensive 19 to 9 success in 2017. Last year saw the first tie, with 14 wins for each country.

 

After day one of The Festival in 2020, the standings are Great Britain 4, Ireland 3.

 

The Paddy Power Prestbury Cup – Irish-trained successes at The Festival

 

2019-14 (28 races) Draw

2018-17 (28 races) Ireland win

2017-19 (28 races) Ireland win

2016-15 (28 races) Ireland win

2015-13 (27 races) Great Britain win

2014-12 (27 races) Great Britain win

 

Paul Mallon, Paddy Power's head of brand marketing for horse racing and Ireland, said: “Given the firm but friendly rivalry between Great Britain and Ireland at The Festival and Paddy Power’s longstanding relationship with Cheltenham Racecourse, sponsoring the Prestbury Cup was a very easy decision for us to make.

 

“It sits perfectly our Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle sponsorship and further cements our partnership with the Home of Jump Racing.”

         

Paul Binfield, racecourse ambassador for Paddy Power, said: “Day one ended with a narrow advantage for Great Britain but with three days of The Festival remaining, there is still all to play for in the Paddy Power Prestbury Cup. 

 

“May the best team come out on top.”

 

Carey Weeks, regional head of partnerships for Jockey Club Racecourses South West, added: “The return of Paddy Power to sponsorship at Cheltenham in 2020 has been very welcome.

 

“The Prestbury Cup sponsorship will ensure that the Paddy Power brand gains further exposure during The Festival and perfectly complements the company’s s backing of the G1 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday.”

 

Paddy Power, previously long-term backer of the Paddy Power Gold Cup at The November Meeting, returned to sponsorship at the Home of Jump Racing at the start of 2020 by sponsoring races on New Year’s Day and again on Festival Trials Day, when the G2 Paddy Power Cotswold Chase was won by leading Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate Santini.

 

The company sponsors at The Festival for the first time on Thursday, 12 March by supporting the £325,000 G1 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.