Prize money at next month's Perth Festival is to carry a record near £250,000 following the arrival at the Scottish course of new sponsors Stan James.

The three-day Stan James Perth Festival between April 25 and April 27 will include a feature race in the form of a three-mile open handicap chase with a total prize fund of £40,000, making it the richest contest ever run at Perth.

Sam Morshead, Racing Manager at Perth, said: "I am delighted that Stan James are providing a tremendous boost to our prize money and taking over the title sponsorship of our Festival meeting in April.

"Stan James are renowned for their innovative ideas and keenness to push the boundaries. They have identified the sports betting market in Scotland as an opportunity for further expansion and the Perth Festival as the ideal opportunity to cement their name in that market place."

Neil Morrice, media and on-course representative for the Wantage-based firm said: "We are very excited about this fresh sponsorship link with National Hunt racing in Scotland and with Perth in particular. The Stan James Perth Festival will be one of the highlights of the second half of the National Hunt calendar."