Insurance broker JLT has forged a five-year sponsorship deal that will create a brand-new £100,000 stayers' handicap, called the JLT Cup, which will be introduced on July 21.

The two-mile-and-half furlong contest is open to three-year-olds and above, and forms part of Weatherbys Super Sprint Day, which offers a total cash prize of more than £500,000.

“The JLT Cup is a significant sponsorship agreement and demonstrates our continuing support of the horse-racing industry and the important contribution it makes to the UK economy as a whole,” said Jonathan Palmer-Brown of JLT Group.

Julian Thick, chief executive of Newbury Racecourse, said the new JLT Cup is “in response to appetite from horsemen and the industry for an enhanced stayers programme,” and thanked JLT Group “for their contribution and commitment.”

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