The Grade 2 £50,000 National Spirit Hurdle has a new sponsor.
The race this Sunday 28th February is being supported by the Loch Lomond Group, an independent distiller and blender of some of the rarest scotch whiskies in the world. The company also produce a range of popular vodkas and gins.
Other races on the card are being sponsored by Champagne PIAFF, The Official Champagne of The Open golf. The company’s chairman is racehorse owner Ashley Head, who has horses in training with Gary Moore, Colin Tizzard, Tom Lacey and Sheena West. Champagne PIAFF is expertly blended by 6th generation wine makers Épernay and can be ordered direct from their cellar to your door. www.champagnepiaff.com
Eleven times champion trainer Paul Nicholls has won the race three times including with Celestial Halo ten years ago. This year he has entered the highly regarded McFabulous, winner of the Grade 2 Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow last October. Also entered is the 2019 Grade One Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner, Cornerstone Lad from the Micky Hammond yard and the Harry Fry trained If The Cap Fits, successful in the Grade One Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in 2019.
There are eight entries in total:
Ballyandy
Brewin'upastorm
Call Me Lord
Cornerstone Lad
If The Cap Fits
McFabulous
Molly Ollys Wishes
Reserve Tank
It’s 20 years since dual Stayers’ Hurdle winner, Baracouda, won the National Spirit Hurdle for owner JP McManus and trainer Francois Doumen.
The seven race card starts at 2.10pm and is live on Sky Sports Racing.
