The Racing Post, the leading racing and sports betting newspaper
and website, and Racing UK, the premier horseracing TV channel, have joined
forces to produce the definitive Grand National website.
The newly launched site, www.thenational.co.uk, represents a
major development in the delivery of horseracing content online and aims to be
the first port of call for internet users with an interest in the biggest horse
race of the year.
The site combines the Racing Post's unrivalled racing news
service and form database with exclusive video footage from Racing UK, who
manage the media rights for 31 premier UK racecourses, including Aintree. It
also features live prices and interactive betting from Blue Square and eight
other leading bookmakers.
www.thenational.co.uk will stream the
Grand National live on 9 April to a UK and global audience. The site will carry
extensive video feature material in the build-up to the big day, including a
horse-by-horse form guide, news bulletins and a tipsters' forum in which the
Racing Post's experts analyse the chances of each of the runners.
Jeremy Reed, Managing Director of Trinity Mirror's Sports
division, said: "This partnership brings together for the first time the
extensive information and expertise of the Racing Post and the live and archive
video of this great race supplied by Racing UK to create the ultimate Grand
National website."
As well as targeting users of the Racing Post's website, www.racingpost.co.uk, which attracts
over 35,000 visitors a day, the Grand National site is designed to appeal to
internet familiar once-a-year punters who might prefer to make their selection
and have a bet on the race online.
For those whose interest normally revolves around the office
sweepstake, there will be sweepstake kits and a competition to win £10,000 in
association with leading bookmakers, Blue Square.
Simon Bazalgette, executive chairman of Racing UK, said: "This
innovative on-line venue adds another new media dimension to the enjoyment of
the very best of British racing and complements our TV coverage of all seven
races on all three days of Aintree's Grand National meeting."
The new website will benefit from promotion across Trinity
Mirror's newspapers and online brands and on-air promotion on Racing UK (Sky
Channel 432, Telewest 537 NTL 719).
