Ayr’s Scottish Champion Hurdle lands new sponsor

Published on 22/02/2013 00:00

Ayr Racecourse has unveiled local company The QTS Group as the new sponsor of the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

The Lanarkshire-based company already back Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock and have extended their sports sponsorship to the Grade Two event on 22 April. Spokesman Alan McLeish said: “We are very proud to be supporting the 
Scottish Champion Hurdle.

“As a successful local organisation, we like to support other companies and we look forward to what the future holds for Ayr racecourse and The QTS Group.”

Yesterday’s meeting at Ayr finally went ahead after the track passed a fourth inspection. Clerk of the course Emma Marley took an initial look on Wednesday, and called a further 8am inspection on raceday due to frost. That check proved inconclusive, as did another one at 11.30am, but the meeting was given the go-ahead after a 1pm look. And Donald McCain’s stable continued their fine form with a double, as 2-9 favourite Dreams Of Milan cruised home in the opening novice hurdle, then Grouse Lodge (8-13) won the two-runner novice chase. Both were ridden by Henry Brooke.

Nicky Richards also landed a double with And The Man (6-4) and Simply Ned (9-2) ridden by Brian Harding and Fearghal Davis respectively.