UK bookmaker William Hill is the new sponsor of the King George VI Chase in a four year deal that includes the Winter Festival at Kempton Park.

The two day Christmas event will now be known as the William Hill Winter Festival. William Hill also have naming rights to all of the races across the two days including the King George Chase, Christmas Hurdle, Desert Orchid Chase and Feltham Chase, all premier events on the National Hunt calendar.

While the deal was thought to be around £5 million, William Hill spokesman, David Hood dismissed this “This is far and away our biggest sponsorship. It is a seven-figure deal over the four years – we have not disclosed the exact details, but it isn’t anywhere near the £4m or £5m. The total prize-money [of all the races involved] is over £5m but that’s not the contribution made by Hill’s. I’d like to give them £5m but there isn’t quite that available.”

Amy Starkey, Kempton Park’s Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement on a four-year sponsorship for Kempton Park’s flagship jumps meeting of the year. The William Hill Winter Festival will further strengthen the racecourse, and we will now work with Hills to enhance what is a superb advertisement for our sport.”

This is great news for the King George Chase as well as Kempton Park, as it secures the future of this great race until 2012. And if you want to have a bet on this year’s race then you can with William Hill.