Newbury today announced the introduction of a series of bonuses - the largest worth £250,000 - linking their two biggest chases, the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and the AON Chase, with the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The announcement comes on the day the £90,000 Hennessy closes to entries.
A horse that wins all three events, the Hennessy on November 25, the £50,000 AON Chase, on February 10, and the Gold Cup at Cheltenham on March 15, captures the £250,000 bonus.
There is a £100,000 bonus for winning either the Hennessy or the AON and the Gold Cup, with a £50,000 bonus for capturing both the Hennessy and AON.
The bonuses have been instigated by the AON Group Limited, sponsor of the AON Chase which was run for the first time in February, 2000, and won by See More Business, the 1999 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.
Newbury managing director Mark Kershaw said: 'Newbury is delighted to be introducing these bonuses along with the AON Group. The £250,000 bonus is one of the largest ever offered.
'The linking of Newbury`s top chases, the Hennessy and the AON, with the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup is designed to ensure that the best chasers run at Newbury.'
The main bonus will be split in the following way - £150,000 going to the winning owner, £40,000 each to jockey and trainer, and £10,000 each to the winning stable and the Injured Jockeys` Fund.
