Leading jump jockeys welcome 'transformative' new competition for ITV races with winning prize of £500,000

A new jockeys’ competition aimed at boosting audience engagement will be launched at Cheltenham on Friday with the winning rider receiving £500,000 when the event ends on the eve of next April's Randox Grand National.

The David Power Jockeys’ Cup (DPJC) will receive total funding of £1.5 million, part of which will be used for marketing, with jockeys earning points for finishing in the top four places in all jumps races broadcast on ITV Racing between Friday and April 4.

The points will contribute towards a league table with the top ten riders at the end of the competition receiving payouts. The winning prize of £500,000 is nearly double the £257,119 champion jockey Harry Cobden earned from his share of prize-money last season.

Funded by Flutter Entertainment, the bookmaking giant behind Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet which co-funded the Champions: Full Gallop docu-series, the DPJC is also rewarding the yard that supplies the final top ten riders with the most points, while the leading and runner-up conditional riders will also receive payouts.

David Power Jockeys' Cup: new competition will be launched at Cheltenham on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Former champion jockey Harry Skelton praised the “transformative” rewards on offer for jockeys, while Rachael Blackmore, a Betfair ambassador, said the DPJC “adds a massive layer of excitement to what already promises to be another highly competitive season”.

Cobden added: “This season is set to be very exciting, and I can’t wait to be part of the inaugural David Power Jockeys’ Cup. It’s a huge amount on offer and I’m sure it will create some great competition as we’ll all be trying to win as many of those ITV races as we can.”

The launch of the lucrative new competition comes at a time of declining racecourse attendances and a near 20 per cent fall in betting turnover on British racing in the last two years.

A survey last weekend commissioned by Flutter revealed 44 per cent of 1,002 UK-based sports fans would be more interested in racing if it were easier to follow and 38 per cent wanted more behind-the-scenes content and engagement with the jockeys.

How the David Power Jockeys’ Cup works

• The DPJC runs from the first day of Cheltenham’s November meeting until April 4, the second day of Aintree’s Grand National festival
• In jumps races broadcast on ITV Racing during that period, jockeys will receive points for finishing in the first four places: ten points for first, eight for second, six for third and four for fourth
• All jockeys are eligible and the points go towards places in a league table, with the top ten riders at the end of the event receiving cash prizes
• The trainer who supplies each of the top ten riders with the most points is also rewarded at the end of the competition, as are the stable’s staff

The investment by Flutter comes after a turbulent summer during which Paddy Power and Sky Bet offered SP-only betting on certain fixtures as British racing was increasingly being viewed “as an unprofitable product with a shrinking audience”.

Bookmakers had been pushing for the creation of a growth fund for the sport during levy negotiations before talks broke down in the spring, and Ian Brown, Flutter’s UK and Ireland chief executive, said the DPJC would enable people to have greater engagement with racing.

“The David Power Jockeys’ Cup is a game-changer for jump racing, bringing fans closer to the action and celebrating the incredible skill of our jockeys," he said.

“With the largest prize pot for any jockeys’ competition in the world, we’re proud to honour David Power’s legacy and bring a fresh level of excitement and accessibility to the sport. This Cup is all about inspiring a new generation of racing fans and creating unforgettable moments for everyone involved.”

David Power: co-founder of Paddy Power who died in JulyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The competition is named after David Power, the co-founder of Paddy Power who died in July. His son Paddy, a Flutter brand ambassador, said it was “incredibly moving” for his father’s name to be attached to the event as he “believed in innovation and making the sport accessible for everyone”.

While the DPJC will focus on the achievements of the jockeys, the competition also received the backing of trainers and stable staff. George McGrath, chief executive of the National Association of Racing Staff, said it was “brilliant” the DPJC would reward the “pivotal role” of stable staff, while Paul Johnson, chief executive of the National Trainers Federation, added: “This is just the type of initiative we need if we are to increase public interest in our sport and those who participate in it.”

David Power Jockeys’ Cup betting

Paddy Power: 6-4 Harry Cobden, 9-4 Harry Skelton, 5 Nico de Boinville, 11-2 Sean Bowen, 16 Paul Townend, 20 Johnny Burke, Gavin Sheehan, Sam Twiston-Davies, 40 Ben Jones, Jonjo O’Neill Jr, 50 James Bowen, 66 Tom Cannon, 100 Charlie Deutsch, Lilly Pinchin, Jack Tudor

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