Paddy Power offer €150,000 bonus for Irish and Cheltenham Gold Cup double

Paddy Power are offering a €150,000 bonus if the Irish Gold Cup winner next month follows up in the Cheltenham equivalent in March.

The bookmaking firm sponsor the Irish Gold Cup, which takes place at Leopardstown on February 5 and is worth €250,000, and have put up the bonus in the hope of attracting British-trained runners.

Subsequent Grand National hero Neptune Collonges was the last British-trained winner of the Irish Gold Cup in 2009, with just five runners from Britain having taken part in the last ten editions.

Three horses have completed the Leopardstown-Cheltenham double since the Irish Gold Cup's inauguration in 1987 – Jodami (1993), Imperial Call (1996) and Sizing John (2017).

Last year's winner Kemboy is 2-1 to take the Irish Gold Cup again with the race sponsors, with Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Minella Indo 9-4 second favourite. Entries close for the Irish Gold Cup on Wednesday.

Kemboy: last year's Irish Gold Cup winner finished ninth at CheltenhamCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Spokesman Paddy Power said: "We wanted to make things a little more interesting this year, so on top of trying to attract more of the big Irish contenders to the race, we're also laying down the gauntlet to British trainers to come and have a go at running a horse in Ireland’s principal steeplechase and beating us in our own backyard.

“Let’s not forget the British trainers took one hell of a beating last year on their own turf, with Ireland landing a record 23 victories at Cheltenham, so they shouldn’t need any more motivation to come over here and win some pride back. But a €150k bonus with the blue riband double is not a bad tempter, is it? Personally, I’ll be hoping both the cups and the bonus stay this side of the Irish Sea!"

Paddy Power have extended their sponsorship of the Irish Gold Cup and Paddy Power Chase day at Leopardstown's Christmas festival for three more years.

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Tim Husbands, chief executive of Leopardstown, said: “Paddy Power have always been fantastic supporters of Leopardstown and Irish racing and we are delighted to be announcing a continuation of their sponsorship for Paddy Power Chase day at the Leopardstown Christmas festival and the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival.

"The addition of an attractive bonus between the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Gold Cup endorses their commitment to our industry and we are extremely grateful for their ongoing commitment to Leopardstown and the industry."

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday