JN Wine sponsorship to end but De Bromhead keen on winning final edition

Henry de Bromhead has his sights set on capturing the final running of the JNWine.com Champion Chase under its current title on Saturday week, as stablemates Balko Des Flos and Sub Lieutenant are set to take on each other at Down Royal in the first Grade 1 race of the season.

The existing sponsorship of the Down Royal showpiece, through the JN Wine company owned by the track's outgoing chairman Jim Nicholson, will come to an end after 20 years on November 3, adding another chapter to the tale of woe at the troubled course in the last week.

Last Wednesday, the Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders announced it was preparing for the closure of the course when its lease expires at the end of the year. However, the track's owner Merrion Property Group later announced it was committed to racing continuing at Down Royal.