CHESTER RACE COMPANY has announced a partnership with Merseyrail for the upcoming race season.

The season starts with the StanJames.com Cup Day on Wednesday, May 9, which is the opening day of the three-day May Festival. Merseyrail will sponsor the final race of the day – The Merseyrail Day Saver Ticket Handicap Stakes.

The partnership means that racegoers coming from Liverpool and Wirral are now able to purchase train travel for the day in advance from the Chester Racecourse box office when buying race tickets.

Merseyrail will also be putting on additional trains on event days and race days which attract a high demand.

Chief executive of Chester Race Company, Richard Thomas, said: “We are looking forward to another successful race season and it is great to have Merseyrail on board, facilitating travel to and from Chester for our loyal racegoers from Merseyside.”

Merseyrail head of marketing and commercial revenue, Matt Roche, added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Chester Racecourse to encourage people to travel to the races by train and to sponsor the Merseyrail Day Saver Ticket Handicap Stakes.”