UK gambling firm Betway has extended its deal as the Official Betting Partner of the Grand National Festival for five years.
The deal was made by the north west division of Jockey Club Racecourses – the owners of the Aintree racecourse where the three-day festival is held.
Betway had previously signed a three-year-deal, from 2017 to 2019, replacing Betfred as the exclusive betting partner.
Under the extension, Betway will title sponsor seven races at the festival: the Betway Bowl, Betway Aintree Hurdle, Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle, Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase, Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle and the Betway Handicap Chase.
All the races will be broadcast live on the commercial television network ITV.
Anthony Werkman, chief executive of Betway, said: “With massive crowds on the racecourse and a huge TV audience, the National meeting is one of the biggest occasions in the sporting calendar and one that we are proud to be a part of.”
Betway currently sponsors several jump and flat races in both the UK and Ireland. It has been Official Sponsor of the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival since 2015.
UK healthcare group Randox Health is the title sponsor of the Grand National Festival, and the showcase race itself, in a five-year deal, from 2017 to 2021.
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Randox Health took over from the cider brand Crabbie’s in what is understood to have been a competitive bidding process.
So far, no betting brand has title sponsored the race, although the Jockey Club has no rules against betting sector deals.
The race has been title sponsored by five long-term partners since 1984: spirits brands Seagram (1984 to 1991) and Martell (1992 to 2004), beer brand John Smith’s (2005 to 2013), Crabbie’s (2014 to 2016) and Randox Health (2017 to 2021).