Ascot Racecourse has announced that Ladbrokes will return as the sponsor of the valuable two-mile handicap hurdle on the Saturday of the Howden Christmas Racing Weekend on 21st December.

The Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle will be run for £125,000 making it one of the most valuable handicap hurdles in the calendar. Ladbrokes sponsored the race previously from its inaugural running at Ascot in 2001 until 2015. During that time the race has been won by the likes of Tamarinbleu, Cause Of Causes, Brain Power and Not So Sleepy, the only dual winner of the race.

Early closing entries for the race are published today, with 34 engaged at this stage, headlined by the first four home from the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November, Burdett Road, Be Aware, Dysart Enos and Tintintin.

Nicky Henderson, the most successful trainer in the race with five victories including Luccia last year, has four entries, including Jingko Blue and Under Control.

The 2021 winner of the race, Tritonic, is entered for Alan King along with Favour And Fortune while Surprise Package and Impero are the only two entries from Ireland.

Ladbrokes ambassador and leading trainer, Dan Skelton, trainer of the Greatwood-second Be Aware, has won the race twice with Willow’s Saviour in 2013 and Mohaayed in 2018.

Skelton said, “This race is always one of the highlights of the Festive period and on our radar from a long way out. It’s a very valuable race and could be an important contest in our bid to claim the Trainers’ Championship this season. We’ve been fortunate enough to win it twice before and hopefully we can be lucky again. It looks the ideal spot for Be Aware after his run in the Greatwood and he should have plenty of improvement to come.”

Felicity Barnard, Deputy Chief Executive & Commercial Director at Ascot Racecourse, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ladbrokes back as a sponsor at Ascot and especially pleased that they will once again be associated with this contest, the final race of the year at Ascot and one of the highlights of the Festive period.”

Alex Apati, Head of Ladbrokes PR, said: “We are delighted to be staging the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Ascot’s Christmas meeting once again, after nine years away.

“Ladbrokes has incredible heritage in horse racing, so it’s fantastic to be back partnering with one of the greatest racecourses in the world.”

Weights are published for the race on Wednesday 11th December before confirmations on Monday 16th December with the final field declared on Thursday 19th December.