William Hill Poker Back The Group 3 Strensall Stakes At York

Fresh on the launch of their first land based poker tournament, the £450,000 William Hill Grand Prix, the UK's leading online poker site is now branching further in to horse race sponsorship today, with their backing of the £50,000 Group Three Strensall Stakes at York.

"Being based in Leeds, York is our nearest racetrack and we are delighted to be supporting the William Hill Poker Grand Prix Strensall Stakes." said Hills spokesman David Hood. "The fact that It attracts a select, but very high-class field has similarities to the William Hill Grand Prix poker tournament, being is restricted to just 48 of the worlds top professional players and 8 on-line qualifiers."

This year's William Hill Poker Grand Prix Strensall Stakes has attracted an entry of six, includes Maraahel (3rd to Electrocutionist in the Juddmonte International last time), Mullins Bay (winner of the John Smiths Cup), Andean, Democratic Deficit, True Class and Wise Dennis (winner of the Williamhillpoker.com Stakes in May).

A star-studded line-up of poker professionals have already confirmed for the inaugural £450,000 William Hill Poker Grand Prix later this year including 'Bad Girl' Xuyen Pham, currently the World Pot Limit Champion and Andy Black winner of $1.7m in the recent World Series Of Poker in Las Vegas.

The William Hill Grand Prix is a televised tournament that will be filmed between Oct 17th 2005 and Oct 25th 2005. The tournament will be broadcast later this year.