THE inaugural William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series came to a close at Kilbeggan on Friday evening, with Philip Rothwell landing the €50,000 top trainer’s prize.

The series ran from October to April, covering 50 races across 13 racecourses with bonus prizes totalling €135,000. The races were open to all trainers, but only those who had trained fewer than 50 winners in the last National Hunt or flat season were eligible for the bonus element.

Stable staff from all yards were eligible for the bonus element, including staff of trainers who were ineligible for the bonuses.

Rothwell led the trainers’ standings throughout the series, which he secured by gaining a further 23 points in the final five races.

Paul Nolan picked up the €25,000 prize for second place, edging out Oliver McKiernan, who got €10,000 for third.

The battle to be top jockey went down to the wire, with Phillip Enright eventually landing the €10,000 prize after one winner and a third-place finish on the day. Tiernan Power Roche took second by a point to Daniel King, with the former picking up €5,000, while King earned €2,500 for his efforts.

Rothwell’s yard also finished top of the stable standings, landing a further €10,000 for his stable staff. Gavin Cromwell’s staff earned a €5,000 prize for second, with Gordon Elliott’s team picking up €2,500.

Rothwell said: “It’s been a brilliant series and I want to say a massive thanks to William Hill for putting it on. I’m delighted - it’s absolutely incredible and it’s huge for us. The €10,000 is also huge for the stable staff and I’m glad we could finish top in that as well.

“My own prize is wonderful, but the stable staff prize means a huge amount too. The yard is one big family, we work very hard together. The lads are brilliant, they always have my back and they work very hard for me.

“In terms of how we’ll spend the money… it’s already spent! We’ve a huge amount of facilities and we’re always trying to keep improving. What’s not spent already will be well spent on things that can help us to keep improving.”

Phillip Enright said: “It’s a great initiative for us jockeys. The €10,000 prize is like the equivalent of me winning a Grade 1, so it’s brilliant. Oliver McKiernan was up there in the trainers’ standings, which gave him an incentive to push on for it and I’ve been lucky with the support I’ve had from him and other trainers.”

Feidhlim Cunningham, CEO of the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, added: “It has been a brilliant series throughout the season and has added a real buzz to grassroots racing in Ireland. Every race has been strongly supported and we are thrilled with how it has worked out.

“A huge thanks to William Hill for their support and it shows what can be achieved together. The €50,000 top prize for the leading trainer is a substantial pot, equivalent to earning more than €700,000 in gross prize money.”