QIPCO SPONSOR YORKSHIRE CUP

British Champions Series sponsor, QIPCO Holding, will sponsor next Friday's Yorkshire Cup at York's Dante Festival, the first race in the Long Distance division of the Series which highlights the 35 best races in the British Flat racing calendar.

QIPCO already sponsor the first Mile race and first Fillies & Mares race in the British Champions Series. The QIPCO 2000 and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket last weekend launched the 2013 Series in great style with two quality renewals.

Speaking on behalf of the owners of QIPCO Holding, David Redvers, their Racing and Bloodstock Adviser, said: "QIPCO are delighted to be sponsoring for the first time at York. The course has been a great supporter of the QIPCO British Champions Series at both their Dante and Ebor Festivals.

"Following on from a fantastic weekend to launch the 2013 Series, QIPCO are delighted to be sponsoring the Yorkshire Cup, the first race of the Long Distance division."

James Brennan, Head of marketing and Sponsorship at York said: "The Yorkshire Cup offers £140,000 in prize money so features some of the very best stayers.

"York already works closely with QIPCO Holding through their support for the Series so it is a particular pleasure to be able to welcome their support for one of the County's most famous contests."

QIPCO Holding also sponsor the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on 31 July - the fifth Mile race - and all five category finales on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 19 October, Britain's richest raceday which is now worth £3.4m. They are now the title sponsor of nine of the 35 Series races.

The QIPCO Yorkshire Cup (Group 2) invariably attracts top class stayers and has been won in the past by the likes of Ardross, Classic Cliche, Celeric and Kayf Tara, all of whom went on to win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, Britain's only Group 1 race for stayers.

Last year's winner, Red Cadeaux, is a top class international globetrotter, who was denied by the narrowest of margins in the 2011 Melbourne Cup, but won last year's Hong Kong Vase and this year was a fine second in the Dubai World Cup and third in the Tenno Sho in Japan, all Group 1 races.

There are another four Series races at York's Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival in August - the Juddmonte International (Middle Distance), the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Fillies & Mares), the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Sprint) and the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup (Long Distance).