Irish Champions Weekend clash forces Ladbrokes to review sponsorship of St Leger Mike Dillon, the director of public relations at Ladbrokes, is to discuss the matter with Tony Kelly, managing director of the Arena Racing Company, at a meeting today. Under their current deal Ladbrokes are committed to sponsorship of the St Leger up to and including next year. They have backed the race since 2005. Doncaster have also worked hard at building up the supporting races, particularly the Doncaster Cup, Portland Handicap and Champagne Stakes, which now appear certain to come under pressure from Ireland, with its plans to stage 10 Group races on the same weekend. But Dillon also believes that the clash will result in jockeys being forced to make a difficult choice. "Jockeys are the key element in promoting the meeting," he said. Just look back at Conduit, ridden by Frankie Dettori, winning the 2008 Leger for Sir Michael Stoute, who had never previously won the race. The monkey was finally off the trainer's back. After dismounting, Frankie gave Sir Michael a big kiss, and it was that picture that was seen in every newspaper and that image that featured in all variety of media afterwards. For publicity of the race, and the meeting, it was priceless. We have managed to breathe new life into the day and to raise the profile of the St Leger. We had 32,000 on Town Moor last year to watch Camelot attempting to become the first Triple Crown winner in 43 years. When Ireland had Sea The Stars [in 2009] running in the Irish Champion Stakes, there were 8,000 on track. We are not blaming the Irish for trying to promote their racing, but for the BHA to know what was being planned and then not to consult the stakeholders is just downright bad manners. We are obliged to view the way the race is treated. "We have always looked at the big picture for racing, and if the St Leger is treated with reckless abandon, then maybe we are investing in the wrong place," he said.