The leading Irish chasers have an extra end-of-season option after Cheltenham following the announcement yesterday of the £120,000 Heineken Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival in April.

This new weight-for-age three mile and one furlong feature of the second day of the festival, Wednesday, April 28th, is designed to attract the likes of Florida Pearl and Dorans Pride, the main Irish challengers for next month's Tote Gold Cup at Cheltenham. The winner's prize is £66,000.

The original Heineken Gold Cup for novices will now be run on the Friday instead, and renamed the David Austin Memorial Handicap Chase.