Name game: mares' novice hurdle at Cheltenham up for auction at charity night

A unique sponsorship opportunity at this season's Cheltenham Festival has been made available, with the naming rights of the Grade 2 mares' novice hurdle on the Thursday of the fixture going under the hammer at an exclusive auction next week.

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous individual who has agreed to financially back the race, the Graded contest can be named by any individual or company.

Registered as the Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle and won this year by Eglantine Du Seuil, the race was introduced in 2016 and has gone the way of Willie Mullins every year since its inception.

On Tuesday at the Greenhouse charity dinner at Annabel's, the legendary nightclub in London's Mayfair, the race will be auctioned off, with all proceeds going to charity.

Funds raised will be donated to Wyndham Walks as part of their fundraising for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity to buy much-needed state-of-the-art equipment.

In addition to naming the race the highest bidder will receive hospitality for up to 30 guests on the day of the race and racecard advertisements, as well as an invitation to an exclusive sponsors' preview with champion jockey Richard Johnson in London prior to the meeting.

Carey Weeks, head of partnerships for the South West region of the Jockey Club, said: "Thanks to the generosity of the race sponsor, this one-off chance to name the mares' novice hurdle at the festival has now arisen.

"This is an exciting development and I am sure there will be plenty of interest at the auction on October 1. It is also gratifying to see that all proceeds from the auction will be going to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. We look forward to welcoming and working alongside the winning bidder."

Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily onthe Racing Post mobile app with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news