THE international real estate company Savills is to sponsor Leopardstown’s Grade 1 Christmas Chase, formerly the Lexus Chase, for three years. This is a major boost for one of the feature races at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

The blue-chip sponsor, recently entrusted with the sale of The K Club, has offices in Dublin, Cork, and Belfast and been a major player in the property market in Ireland for over 50 years.

Through their parent company Savills Plc., their international network extends to 700 offices and associates and over 30,000 staff in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

This year’s renewal of the race will be worth €175,000, an increase of €25,000, and the race has a stellar roll of honour, in the past decade being won by leading trainers Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson, Gordon Elliott, Paul Nicholls, Noel Meade and Jonjo O’Neill.

Road To Respect, trained by Noel Meade, won the race last December, while Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Bobs Worth and Synchronised, as well as triple Grade 1 winning chasers Outlander, Road To Riches, Tidal Bay and Don Poli have all been successful.

Pat Keogh, CEO of Leopardstown, is thrilled to secure the sponsorship, saying “it takes time to land a good one, and Savills is a truly international brand.”