NAAS, IRELAND – Leading bookmaker William Hill will extend their support of Irish racing as they become the title sponsor of the renowned William Hill Spring Festivals Trials Day at Naas Racecourse on February 23, 2025.
William Hill will add four races to their sponsorship portfolio in Ireland: the Grade 3 William Hill Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle, the William Hill Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase, the William Hill Handicap Hurdle, and the William Hill (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
Last season, Bottler’secret made a winning debut over hurdles in what is now the Grade 3 William Hill Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle. Trained by Gavin Cromwell, the four-year-old went on to win a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse’s Easter Festival and finished second in Grade 1 company at the Punchestown Festival.
Notable past winners of the William Hill (Pro/Am) Flat Race include Carefully Selected, Gerri Colombe, Stellar Story, and William Munny, with Ile Atlantique, Caldwell Potter, and Wingmen among those previously placed.
The William Hill Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase has been won by subsequent Cheltenham Festival champion and Grade 1 heroine Limerick Lace, as well as Home By The Lee, a leading hurdler at Grade 1 level.
Aidan McGarry, Manager of Naas Racecourse, commented: “We are delighted to welcome William Hill as our sponsorship partner for one of our flagship fixtures.
“Naas Racecourse is known as a nursery of champions – both over jumps and on the flat. The Festivals Trials Day at the end of February is perfectly timed with the right type of races for horses to go on and win valuable jumps races at major spring festivals.
“William Hill are title sponsors at both Cheltenham and Punchestown, and we look forward to watching horses from our fixture on February 23 go on to compete at those festivals as well as the Grand National meetings at Fairyhouse and Aintree.”
Andrew McCleave, Head of Marketing for William Hill Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to be sponsoring Spring Festivals Trials Day at Naas. This card has been a real springboard for future stars in recent years, and we’re really excited to see which promising individuals run at Naas on February 23.
“This raceday is a fantastic addition to William Hill’s Irish sponsorship roster, which includes our headline season support of Dundalk Stadium and the William Hill Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival.
“William Hill sees itself at the heart of the Irish racing scene, with an array of sponsorships and a team of ambassadors featuring Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue. This latest sponsorship fits in perfectly and we can’t wait for the action later this month.”
