Leopardstown Racecourse has announced that solicitors Patrick Ward & Company have renewed their support of the Grade 1 Irish Arkle Novice Chase. The race will be run on day 1 of the Dublin Racing Festival, Saturday 5 February 2022.
Patrick Ward & Company Solicitors have a long association with Leopardstown and the Irish Arkle. The Ward family name graced the Irish Arkle for the first time in 2010.
That season victory went to the Henry de Bromhead-trained An Cathaoir Mor, and subsequent years have seen winners such as Flemenstar, Un De Sceaux, Douvan and Energumene.
One of the feature events on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival, the Patrick Ward & Company Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice Chase was first run as a Grade 1 event in 2002. Subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King was successful on that occasion for trainer Tom Taaffe and Barry Geraghty. He went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup two years later.
Tim Husbands CEO of Leopardstown welcomed the announcement, stating:
“We are delighted that Patrick is to continue this partnership with Leopardstown, the Ward family have sponsored the Irish Arkle for a number of years and have been part of and supported Dublin Racing Festival since its inception. The Patrick Ward & Company Irish Arkle Novice Chase has attracted a superb entry, from all the leading yards and if the recent performance of last year’s winner of the race; Energumene, are anything to go by, this will be another exciting renewal!”
