13.01.09 - THE GRAND NATIONAL, RACING AT AINTREE

CITROËN AND TOTE LINE-UP FOR 2009 MEETING

Aintree Racecourse also announced today that it was delighted to retain Citroën UK, totesport and totepool as official partners of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting for 2009.

Citroën UK will continue to support the international event for a fourth year in succession as the meeting’s Official Vehicle Partner, providing a fleet of vehicles for the event’s VIP chauffeur service, which transports officials and VIP guests and includes the Citroën C6, C5 and C4 Picasso in addition to the Citroën C-crosser 4x4 vehicle.  Citroën will also support the increasingly popular Style 2009 contest, which includes the prize of a £20,000 Citroën C-Crosser 4x4 vehicle for the lucky winner.

The BBC-televised Citroën C5 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) will be run at 4.20pm on Friday, 3 April.

The totesport Bowl on Thursday, 2 April and the totepool Handicap Hurdle on Friday, 3 April will both continue to receive the generous support of Official Betting Partner, the tote following a successful inaugural year of sponsorship at the meeting in 2008.

Despite the economic downturn, the Tote is again hopeful of achieving the same high levels of turnover on-course at this year’s John Smith’s Grand National meeting and aim to break the £2million mark on Grand National day on Saturday, 4 April for a second year.

With the three days at Aintree in April playing vital part in the Tote’s annual performance, 2009 will be as vital as ever, as David Craven, Totepool Managing Director explained: “The premier festivals provide the perfect platform for betting on and off course – and the John Smith’s Grand National remains the biggest betting highlight in the racing calendar.”