RYANAIR is the new sponsor of the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.

The £150,000 contest, registered as the Liverpool Hurdle, will be staged on Grand National Day, April 8th. Run over an extended three miles, it was won by Thistlecrack last season.

Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive and leading owner in both Ireland and Britain last season through his Gigginstown House Stud, has said previously that all Ryanair race sponsorships are funded personally by him. The airline already sponsors Grade 1 races at Leopardstown, Fairyhouse, Punchestown and Cheltenham. The Aintree deal is initially for two years.