CHELTENHAM ANNOUNCES EXCITING ADDITIONS TO PERTEMPS HANDICAP HURDLE SERIES AS SPONSORSHIP IS EXTENDED FOR FURTHER THREE YEARS

CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE today announced that leading recruitment company Pertemps Group has renewed its sponsorship of the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Series and added seven new qualifiers for the 2010/11 season.



The Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final has been a feature since 2002 and is always one of the most keenly-fought races at The Festival. Run over three miles and one and a half furlongs, the race is a betting highlight on the Thursday of Cheltenham’s four-day March highlight and, in order to run in the final, horses must have taken part in a qualifier (or been declared to run should a qualifier be abandoned).



In 2007 a qualifier was introduced at Auteuil, and France features heavily in the series this season, with two new races each at Cagnes sur Mer (in December and January) and Pau (in January and February).



With additional races at Exeter, Huntingdon and Carlisle, and a new qualifier at Punchestown in Ireland, the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle series now includes 16 qualifying races plus the final, seven more than were programmed in 2009/10.



Tim Watts, Chairman of Pertemps Group, said: “The Pertemps Handicap Hurdle series is a significant investment for us, but one that is great value too.



“The final at The Festival is one of the highlights of the year for many of our staff and clients, and the series of qualifiers over the course of the season allows us to place our brand in front of countless racegoers, television viewers, newspaper readers and Internet users.



“I’m delighted that we have extended the series even further and look forward to welcoming some French-trained qualifiers to the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final this season.”



Peter McNeile, Director of Sponsorship at Cheltenham, added: “We are thrilled that the Pertemps Series continues to flourish and grateful to Pertemps Group for their commitment.



“The addition of extra qualifying races this season will make the Final more competitive than ever, and with seven races taking place away from Britain, it truly is now a European race series.”



The schedule for the series is as follows:



Friday, October 15, 2010
Cheltenham

Monday, November 1, 2010
Kempton Park

Sunday, November 7, 2010
Auteuil

Friday, November 19, 2010
Exeter

Saturday, December 4, 2010
Sandown Park

Monday, December 20, 2010
Cagnes sur Mer

Sunday, December 26, 2010
Wincanton

Sunday, January 9, 2011
Leopardstown

Sunday, January 9, 2011
Cagnes sur Mer

Saturday, January 15, 2011
Warwick

Sunday, January 16, 2011
Pau

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Huntingdon

Sunday, January 30, 2011
Punchestown

Friday, February 4, 2011
Pau

Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Carlisle

Saturday, February 19, 2011
Haydock Park

Thursday, March 17, 2011
Cheltenham




Further information from Andy Clifton, Cheltenham’s Communications Manager, on 07876 330090




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