Tycoon bets on National

A NORTHERN Irish polo-playing biochemist turned healthcare tycoon is the unlikely sponsor of today’s Grand National.

Peter FitzGerald and his healthcare company, Randox Health, have paid millions to secure the five-year sponsorship deal for the world’s greatest steeplechase and has the option for another five-year stretch.

He told the Mail: ‘Most people have never heard of the Randox name. As I love horse racing, what better way for people to find out about us than sponsoring the greatest race of all?’ Known as the housewives’ choice for its broad appeal, around 600m viewers watched the Aintree Festival last year with 9m in the UK tuning in. More than £500m was placed in bets.

Randox Health takes over from ginger beer makers Crabbie’s as the official race sponsor. The deal is a great boost for the Randox brand, relatively unknown in the UK but big overseas where its medical devices are sold in 145 countries.