Pertemps Network Group renews sponsorship for Cheltenham Festival series

Pertemps Network Group, the long-standing sponsor of the Pertemps Network series of hurdle races, has renewed its backing with Cheltenham Racecourse for another three years.

The latest series culminated in a thrilling final at the Cheltenham Festival which saw Davy Russell claim the £90,000 prize on the Philip Reynolds-owned Mall Dini from the small yard of Pat Kelly.

It was a fitting climax to the series and was perfectly timed for St Patrick's Day with horse, owner, jockey and trainer all coming from the Emerald Isle.

The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Series is a race series for staying handicap hurdlers, with qualifiers spread over racecourses in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France. To qualify for the final, horses must finish in the first six on at least one occasion in a Pertemps qualifier.

Pertemps Network Group first backed the series in 2001/02.

Tim Watts, Lifetime President of Pertemps, said: "We have a long and proud history of sponsoring the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Series and I am delighted that this relationship is set to continue.

"The final at The Cheltenham Festival is one of the highlights of the British racing calendar and it has been a source of enormous pleasure to watch the series develop.

"We have been treated to some fabulous racing since Pertemps first became involved in 2002 and the final of the series nearly three weeks ago was right up there with the best of them."

Ian Renton, Regional Director of Jockey Club Racecourses South West, commented: "I am very pleased that Pertemps Network Group has renewed its association with Cheltenham Racecourse yet again.

"The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Series is the leading handicap hurdle series of the season.

"Both the qualifiers and the final are very popular and we look forward three more years of valuable sponsorship by Pertemps."