Tonybet renews Irish Champions Festival sponsorship at Leopardstown

Tonybet on Saturday, 12 September, continued its sponsorship of the Group 2 Solonaway Stakes at Leopardstown as part of the Irish Champions Festival, with the operator calling the first day of racing “the highest quality.”

The Solonaway Stakes was won by Quddwah, trained by Simon & Ed Crisford, according to the press release. It marked the second time the father-and-son team has won the mile contest after Jadoomi in 2022.

Leopardstown’s nine-race card also featured the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes, won by 50/1 outsider Hotazhell. The meeting attracted a post-COVID record attendance of 11,516 spectators.

Dmitry Arabuli, CEO of Tonybet, said: "Firstly, we'd like to thank Leopardstown for putting on such an amazing feast of racing. For us to be a part of it with the Group 2 Tonybet Solonaway Stakes is very special and a proud moment for our business.

"There's no doubt that Irish Champions Festival is one of the highest quality fixtures in the Flat racing calendar. As mirrored by the rise in attendances each year, the event is only getting bigger and better.

"Congratulations to the Crisfords, James Doyle and connections of Quddwah. He looked a high-class winner of the Group 2 Solonaway Stakes and we look forward to following his progress through the autumn."

Tonybet said ambassador Tony Cascarino presented the trophy to the winning connections. Cascarino said: "I love being at the races, you can't beat it, and Irish Champions Festival has to be right up there. Seeing all the fans around the parade ring and in the stands at Leopardstown is great, there's been a real buzz around the place."