STADIA UK’s Bill Glass has promised that this year’s Arc will go ahead with identical sponsorship to last year, whether or not a sponsor can be found.

Glass said: “I am currently in discussion with two potential sponsors, one of whom would possibly also want to sponsor the Pride of the West.

“But I am very conscious that owners and trainers are planning their racing schedules for the weeks and months ahead and uncertainty does nobody any good.

“As a result, I can confirm that the event will definitely go ahead irrespective of a sponsorship deal, and the first prize will remain at £8,000.”

The Category One event will be open to 36 runners over the Wiltshire’s track’s 480 metre course and concludes with televised SKY meeting on Wednesday April 29