Sandown Park has announced an enhanced programme for the end-of-season 2014 bet365 meeting, including a rise in prize money and extra races.

Paul Nicholls: Thrilled with Sandown changes

Sandown’s card on Saturday April 26 – the finale to the 2013-14 jumps season – will for the first time be an all-jumps affair, featuring the £150,000 bet365 Gold Cup and newly upgraded to Grade One bet365 Celebration Chase worth £125,000, and will also be followed by a four-day break in professional National Hunt racing.

Three new jumps races have been revealed for the Saturday card, including two Listed events worth £50,000 each.

Friday’s new all-Flat card will feature three Group races, including the Group Two bet365 Mile, while the total prize money on offer over the two days has been bumped up to £755,000 from £637,000 in 2013.

Andrew Cooper, Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Sandown, said: “We are delighted to announce two such valuable and strong days of racing, including the creation of three new Jump races on the Saturday that have been the result of consultations with trainers and others, and have been supported all along by the BHA through its Race Planning team and Jump Race Committee.

“We believe this programme will provide a fitting and competitive finale to the season.”

Denise Coates, Joint Chief Executive, bet365, said: “bet365 are very excited to be associated with what will be a fantastic weekend of racing.

“The bet365 meeting will not only launch the first day of the new Flat season at Sandown Park on the Friday, but will also honour and celebrate the end of the National Hunt season with a finale it deserves.

“The Saturday card has very high quality racing, accompanied by other on course activities such as the Parade of Champions and Season Awards presentations.

This is a fantastic starting programme for the newly formatted bet365 Meeting which can be enjoyed by racing fans and connections for years to come.”

Leading trainer Paul Nicholls has had plenty of success at the meeting in recent years, including victory in the bet365 Gold Cup with Tidal Bay.

He said: “TThe increase in prize money for the bet365 meeting at Sandown Park in April is great news and provides an excellent opportunity for owners to win good prize money at the end of the Jumps season.

“The addition of two new valuable Listed races adds to what is already a high class all Jumps card on the Saturday including the newly upgraded Grade One bet365 Celebration Chase.”

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