The Cheltenham Festival has parted ways with its longest-standing sponsor, Coral, which has announced its withdrawal from supporting the Coral Cup. Having backed the festival since 1974, Coral originally sponsored the Coral Golden Hurdle before the establishment of the Coral Cup in 1993.
The Coral Cup remains one of the Cheltenham Festival’s most popular betting races, famously won twice by Dan Skelton-trained Langer Dan in 2023 and 2024, setting a unique record as the only hurdler to claim the race twice. Coral, part of Entain Group along with Ladbrokes, is a key supporter of British horseracing and has also sponsored the prestigious Coral-Eclipse Stakes since 1976.
The decision to end sponsorship comes in the wake of the UK Government’s recent tax increases unveiled in the November budget. Remote gaming duty will rise dramatically from 21% to 40% starting April 1, while remote betting duty on sports — though hockey racing is exempt — is scheduled to increase from 15% to 25% by 2027.
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Simon Clare, Entain UK’s Consumer PR Director, expressed regret at the decision: “Coral has been the longest-running sponsor at the Cheltenham Festival since 1974. However, the significant government tax hikes on betting operators have forced us to make challenging choices, including ending our sponsorship of the Coral Cup.”
Despite stepping back from this sponsorship, Entain remains committed to British horseracing. Clare emphasized ongoing partnerships with racecourses via Ladbrokes and Coral brands, continuing support for major events such as the Ladbrokes King George and Coral-Eclipse, which recently celebrated 50 years of sponsorship.
Clare highlighted the financial pressures faced by betting operators: “Though horse racing remains exempt from the remote betting duty increase, it is still the most costly product for us due to media rights and statutory levies. We must maximize returns on sponsorships and scrutinize marketing investments amid this taxing landscape.”
He added, “For the long-term health of the sport, it is vital that racing collaborates with betting operators to grow consumer appeal without further increasing costs, particularly as our tax burdens rise sharply.”
Cheltenham Festival CEO Guy Lavender acknowledged Coral’s invaluable contribution: “Coral has been a hugely supportive partner since sponsoring the Coral Cup’s inception in 1993. We have enjoyed many memorable moments, from Olympian’s victory in the first race to Jimmy Du Seuil’s in 2025.
“The Jockey Club maintains a strong relationship with Entain Group as an Official Betting Partner. We continue to work closely with Ladbrokes and Coral, both significant sponsors of other key race days including the Coral-Eclipse, Coral Lanzarote, Ladbrokes Trophy Day, and Ladbrokes Christmas Festival.”
Lavender concluded with anticipation: “We look forward to announcing the next chapter in sponsorship for the Coral Cup in due course.”