William Hill named title sponsor of Spring Festivals Trial Day at Naas Racecourse

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William Hill have been announced as the new title sponsor of the Spring Festivals Trial Day, courtesy of a deal with Naas Racecourse. The meeting, due to take place on 23 February 2025, adds four races to the bookmaker’s Irish racing catalogue.

Revealed on 10 February, William Hill’s arrangement with the Irish racecourse covers the following events: The Grade 3 William Hill Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle, the William Hill Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase, the William Hill Handicap Hurdle and the William Hill (Pro/Am) Flat Race. 

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Last year’s runnings saw trainer Gavin Cromwell debut four-year-old Bottler’secret at the William Hill Grade 3 Fair Juvenile Hurdle. The Patrick Sheanon-owned Bay Gelding went on to win that meeting – followed by success at Fairyhouse and Punchestown. 

In addition to unveiling newcomers to the racing world, the Spring Festivals Trial Day welcomes familiar names – as Carefully Selected, Gerri Colombe, Stellar Story and William Munny have all come out on top during previous William Hill (Pro/Am) Flat Race runnings at Naas Racecourse. 

William Hill also sponsors the Cheltenham Festival County Handicap Hurdle, and the winner of the most recent meeting at that event — Limerick Lace — is expected to participate in the upcoming race day. The Grade 1 competitor is also a previous William Hill Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase winner.

Another highly anticipated runner is Home By The Lee, trained by Joseph Patrick O’Brien. The nine-year-old has become one to watch in Grade 1 Hurdles. 

Manager of Naas Racecourse, Aidan McGarry, outlined his delight at the agreement with William Hill: “We are delighted to welcome William Hill as our sponsorship partner for one of our flagship fixtures. 

“Naas Racecourse is a notorious nursery of champions – both over jumps and on the flat – and Festivals Trials Day at the end of February is perfectly timed with the right type of races for horses to go on and win some valuable jumps races at the major spring festivals.

“William Hill are title sponsors at both Cheltenham and Punchestown and we look forward to watching horses from our fixture on 23 February go on to compete at those festivals as well as the likes of the Grand National meetings at Fairyhouse and Aintree.”

Andrew McCleave, head of marketing for William Hill Ireland, discussed the bookmaker’s satisfaction with the sponsorship of February’s event: “We are thrilled to be sponsoring Spring Festivals Trials Day at Naas. This card has been a real springboard for future stars in recent years, and we’re really excited to see which promising individuals will be at Naas on 23 February.”

McCleave, who oversees all marketing operations for, iGaming conglomerate, Evoke spoke of the synergy that the contract with Naas Racecourse brings to William Hill’s current racing lineup: “We also see this race day as a fantastic addition to William Hill’s Irish sponsorship roster, which is headed by our headline season support of Dundalk Stadium and the William Hill Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival. 

“William Hill sees itself at the heart of the Irish racing scene, both with our array of sponsorships, but also our team of ambassadors featuring Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue. This latest sponsorship fits in perfectly and we can’t wait for the action later this month.”

Recently William Hill sponsored the Super Saturday meeting held at Newbury Racecourse, making it the first time a bookmaker has sponsored an entire event at the venue.