Leading Jockey Award at The Festival to be sponsored by British Jewellers Boodles

This year's Leading Jockey Award at The Festival will be sponsored by the London jeweller Boodles. The award, which recognises the jockey with the most wins across the four days of The Festival, will be presented during the meeting, once the winner of the award is so far ahead that they cannot be overtaken.

Michael Wainwright, Managing Director of the British family-owned fine jeweller, commented: "Boodles are delighted to be involved with The Festival for the first time.

"We have a long relationship with horseracing, having sponsored the three days of the Chester May meeting for some years and we have also created the Grand National trophies for many years.

"Although my own racehorse, trained by Tom Symonds, is not quite up to Festival class, I am passionate about Jump racing. We also know that many of our clients who buy Boodles fine jewellery are very keen racegoers and, for me, The Festival is the pinnacle of all UK horseracing Flat or Jump.

"We hope that the Leading Jockey Award will be fiercely-contested by all the top names in the game."

Carey Buckler, Regional Sponsorship Manager for the South West region of Jockey Club Racecourses, added: "I am delighted that Boodles are partnering with the Leading Jockey Award for this year. Although they are previous sponsors within racing, they have not partnered with Cheltenham before and I'm sure that they will find it very rewarding.

"This year's Boodles Leading Jockey Award will provide an interesting narrative throughout the week."

Previous winners of the Leading Jockey Award are:

2013 Ruby Walsh (4)

2012 Barry Geraghty (5)

2011 Ruby Walsh (5)

2010 Ruby Walsh (3)

2009 Ruby Walsh (7)

2008 Ruby Walsh (3)

2007 Robert Thornton (4)

2006 Ruby Walsh (3)

2005 Graham Lee (3)

2004 Ruby Walsh (3)

2003 Barry Geraghty (5)

2002 Richard Johnson (2)

2000 Mick Fitzgerald (4)

1999 Mick Fitzgerald (4)

1998 Tony McCoy (5)

1997 Tony McCoy (3)

1996 Richard Dunwoody (2)

1995 Norman Williamson (4)

1994 Charlie Swan (3)

1993 Charlie Swan (4)

 

The Festival takes place from Tuesday, March 11 until Friday, March 14. For further information or to book tickets visit www.cheltenham.co.uk or call 0844 579 3003.

About Boodles

Boodles are the leading British fine jeweller whose reputation has been built on the quality of their innovative design, quality and exceptional customer relationships and service.

Boodles have nine shops - their flagship stores are on London's Bond Street and in Liverpool. There are three Boodles in the North West of the UK, one in Dublin, two further shops in London, a concession in Harrods Fine Jewellery Hall, and one in the newly re-opened Savoy Hotel.

The company was founded as Boodle and Dunthorne in Liverpool in 1798 and has remained a family company; it is now run by brothers Michael and Nicholas Wainwright, together with Jody Wainwright and James Amos.

About The Festival

The Festival runs from Tuesday, March 11 to Friday, March 14 inclusive and is the embodiment of everything that is great about Cheltenham. It is four days of atmosphere, anticipation and action, played out on a beautiful sporting arena that has no equal. The Festival features the best and the bravest horses and jockeys, nervous and excited trainers and owners, and a wide cast of human characters who come together every year determined to have the time of their lives. For racing's practitioners, Festival glory provides lifelong memories that will never fade and defines careers. Witness the sheer elation of winning connections as they return to the cheers of the crowd and you are seeing dreams fulfilled and years of planning and effort coming to fruition. The Festival is one of those rare events that engages everyone who comes into contact with it, never failing to produce award-winning drama, enjoyment, camaraderie and sporting excellence in a cocktail for which no hangover cure is required. It truly is a life affirming four days.

About Cheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham Racecourse is situated in Prestbury on the outskirts of the historic spa town of Cheltenham. The Home of Jump Racing, Cheltenham Racecourse is the venue for the world's pre-eminent Jump Racing meeting, The Festival, which takes place in March every year. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham Racecourse is a stunning natural amphitheatre and offers the highest-quality action throughout the Jump season. Cheltenham has been voted Britain's Racecourse of the Year for the last 10 years by members of the Racegoers Club. Please find more details at www.cheltenham.co.uk and through Twitter (@CheltenhamRaces) and Facebook www.facebook.com/thehomeofjumpracing

Cheltenham Racecourse is part of The Jockey Club, which has been at the heart of British racing for more than 260 years. Today the largest commercial group in the sport, The Jockey Club runs the largest racecourse group in the UK by turnover (2012: £142.1m), courses (15) including those at Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs and Newmarket, attendances (2012: 1.8m), total prize money (2012: £35.3m), contribution to prize money (2012: £16.5m) and quality racing (Group and Graded races); more than 3,000 acres of world-class training grounds in Newmarket and Lambourn; The National Stud breeding enterprise and education provider; and the charity for racing's people in need, Racing Welfare. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny The Jockey Club makes it puts back into British racing. More information is available at www.thejockeyclub.co.uk