Guinness have been unveiled as the new sponsors of the Punchestown Gold Cup. The three-mile-one-furlong race was won by Beef Or Salmon last year and always attracts a top-class field on what is the second day of the Punchestown Festival in April.
The race, which will now be known as the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup, will have an increase in prizemoney of €45,000, taking the total fund to €225,000.
Speaking on behalf of Guinness, Michael Whelan, head of sponsorships at Diageo Ireland, said: "We are thrilled to be involved in this showcase of National Hunt racing excellence at one of Europe's top racecourses."
Dick O'Sullivan, chief executive of Punchestown, added: "This race has become the highlight of the Punchestown Festival and indeed one of the most prestigious prizes on the National Hunt circuit, with recent winners including First Gold, Florida Pearl, Imperial Call and Beef Or Salmon.
"We are very excited about this sponsorship. Guinness have demonstrated an enormous ability to enhance events which they are involved with and we look forward to them contributing significantly to the growth of Punchestown and the Irish National Hunt Festival over the next three years".