RYANAIR have this week been announced as the new sponsor of the World Hurdle.

The airline takes over from Ladbrokes, which sponsored the contest from 2005 but is currently not an authorised betting partner within British racing.

The airline now sponsors the two feature races on St Patrick’s Thursday, having backed the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase since 2006. The World Hurdle sponsorship by Ryanair is for one year.

Michael O’Leary, chief executive officer of Ryanair, said: “We are very happy to step in to add the World Hurdle to our day’s sponsorship, alongside the Ryanair Chase, and remain wholly supportive of The Jockey Club’s stance with regard to Authorised Betting Partners which has led to this race becoming available for sponsorship this year.”

Ian Renton, regional director of the south west region of Jockey Club Racecourses, added: “I am delighted that Ryanair have agreed to sponsor this year’s World Hurdle but would also like to thank Ladbrokes for their commitment to the race in previous years.”

A total of 34 entries remain following February 16th scratchings and the sponsors are represented by Alpha Des Obeaux, Dedigout, Prince Of Scars and Tiger Roll in the race for which 34 contenders remain engaged. Thistlecrack is still the 11/10 favourite with Annie Power quoted at 3s and 4/1 ahead of Alpha Des Obeaux at 6s and 7/1.

Other Irish runners still entered include Nichols Canyon and Navan winner Snow Falcon, Martello Tower, Monksland and Zabana.

Cheltenham and The Iroquois, a race meeting staged near Nashville in the US each May, are offering a US$500,000 bonus for any horse that can win both the World Hurdle and the Grade 1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle (3m) on May 14th, 2016.

The bonus goes to any horse successful in both races within the space of 12 months, opening the door to horses who do not triumph at Cheltenham this March to make the trip to Tennessee in May and, if winning there, try to gain the bonus at the festival in March, 2017.

Brown Advisory, investment manager based in the US and Britain, has agreed to sponsor the bonus which, if a horse were to take both races, means they will amass a total more than US$850,000 in prize money, to include the US$500,000 bonus.