Balding partners with Betway ahead of Investec Derby Festival

Leading trainer joins online bookmaker to provide insight throughout the Flat season

Andrew Balding has signed a deal to become a brand ambassador for Betway for the 2019 Flat season.

The multiple Group 1 and Classic-winning trainer, based at Kingsclere, Newbury, will provide regular blogs for the leading online bookmaker, including for this week’s Investec Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse.

The deal will see Balding provide weekly updates on his runners as well as discussing all of the hot topics in horse racing via the Betway Insider blog.

Balding won the Investec Oaks with Casual Look in 2003 and on Saturday bids to land owners King Power Racing a first Group 1 and Classic win in the Investec Derby with Bangkok.

Andrew’s father, Ian, was a former champion trainer in the UK and won the Derby in 1971 with Mill Reef, while sister Clare is well known as one of the country’s leading broadcasters.

During the 2018/19 National Hunt season, Betway partnered with champion jockey Richard Johnson, trainers Harry Fry, Kayley Woollacott and Ross O’Sullivan, as well as retired Irish jockey Katie Walsh.

Andrew Balding said: “I’m excited to be working with Betway and look forward to updating their readers on our runners each week.

“We’ve got some very nice horses this year and we’re obviously all really looking forward to seeing Bangkok in the Derby on Saturday. He’s up there with the best three-year-olds I’ve trained and we have some very promising two-year-olds as well, so it should be a really fun season.”

Betway’s Alan Alger said: “With a long summer of fantastic Flat racing ahead, we’re delighted to have partnered with Andrew Balding to give us an insight into his yard over the coming months.

“Andrew is a highly successful trainer with a very strong group of horses at the moment. We very much look forward to sharing his views over the course of the season and we’ll all be cheering on Bangkok in the Derby this Saturday.”