ONLINE betting company Stan James is the new sponsor of the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

First run in 1987, the three-mile chase was originally titled the Vincent O’Brien Irish Gold Cup and was renamed the Hennessy Gold Cup in 1991.

Hennessy’s sponsorship ended after the 2015 running and this year’s edition was unsponsored. This week Leopardstown and Stan James announced a three-year sponsorship deal.

Founded in 1973,, Stan James has evolved into one of the best-known betting companies in the UK. Last year it was acquired by betting giant Unibet which decided to retain the Stan James brand as it is so well-known by UK punters. Stan James has a limited presence in Ireland - it sponsors the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown - and the Leopardstown deal is aimed more at British racing fans.

The first running of the Stan James Irish Gold Cup on Sunday, February 12th next year will be worth €150,000, the same as this year and when last sponsored by Hennessy. Carlingford Lough has won the past two runnings of the race and trainer John Kiely brought the horse to Leopardstown for the launch this week.

Florida Pearl (four wins), Jodami (three) and Beef Or Salmon (three) are forever associated with the Grade 1 chase. Only Jodami (1993) and Imperial Call (1996) have won both the Irish Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season.

Ed Nicholson of Stan James said: “It’s a race that resonates on both sides of the Irish Sea and one that links in well with our other racing sponsorships.”

Stan James also sponsors the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. The firm has not yet signed up to the British racing’s Authorised Betting Partner scheme and so is precluded from starting any new sponsorships at most top tracks.

Pat Keogh, CEO of Leopardstown, noted that Irish Gold Cup day is “the only race day in Ireland with four Grade 1s and we will continue to make it one of the best day’s racing in Europe.”