Down Royal's Northern Ireland Festival of Racing will receive an injection of extra prize money when it is staged next November, it was announced yesterday.

The feature race, the Ulster Champion Chase, will be raised in value from £100,000 to £110,000 and travelling allowances will be paid to English-trained runners.

Strong Promise's withdrawal because of soft ground meant there were no English runners in the inaugural running of the race last November, won by Florida Pearl.

However, Noel Chance, trainer of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Looks Like Trouble, has said that he intends to send his charge to Down Royal for the November 11th contest.

Chance said yesterday: "I have very happy memories of the racecourse from my early days and both Tim Collins, the owner of Looks Like Trouble, and myself would like to run here."

Ferdy Murphy has also named Ladbroke Casinos Scottish Grand National winner Paris Pike as a possible runner.