Racing: A brand new role for riders

THE SEARCH for fresh revenue for racing takes a new turn at Chepstow today when a horse and rider will carry advertising on their equipment for the first time. Earth Summit and Carl Llewellyn will sport an orange and red logo of the words 'Grange Hill' on saddle, paddock sheet, riding boots and breeches when they turn out for the 2.20 race. The name refers to the stable of the horse's trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies.

The experiment is a small step along the route to encouraging companies to take a financial stake in racing and allow owners to obtain sponsorship as part of the VAT concessions of last March's Budget.

Twiston-Davies's Cheltenham Gold Cup prospect, Young Hustler, will have an outing over the Prestbury Park circuit on Saturday in the pounds 15,000 Timeform Hall of Fame Chase. Also among the 13 entries are the Martin Pipe-trained pair Run For Free and King's Curate, as well as Bradbury Star, Morley Street and last year's winner, Sibton Abbey.

A spokeswoman for Pipe said: 'Run For Free is fine after his race (at Haydock on Saturday). But Martin will not make his mind up about the two horses until later in the week.'

Bradbury Star may miss the race for events at Sandown or Wincanton next month. Josh Gifford, his trainer, said: 'Bradbury Star likes Cheltenham but this looks like a hot contest.'