Irish jockey Jamie Spencer has secured a new endorsement deal with Albert Bartlett. The agreement sees the root vegetables supplier extend its involvement in horse racing. The company has been title sponsor of the Cheltenham Novices Hurdle, as well as sponsoring other races at the Cheltenham festival.

Spencer, who burst onto the racing scene as a teenager in 1998 with a win in the Irish 1,000 Guineas - a feat he repeated in 2002 - has won numerous international races, including the Champion Stakes in England and competitions in France, Singapore and the Middle East.

The jockey will wear the company's Rooster Potatoes brand. "I am familiar with Rooster Potatoes as they are usually served up at home, so am delighted to be working with Albert Bartlett," he said. Even more importantly, I'm very pleased to be associated with a company, which has strong values surrounding farming methods and their local community. I hope to achieve lots of success this season and look forward to placing Albert Bartlett firmly in the winner's enclosure."

A source close to Spencer confirmed that the contract was "a good six-figure deal" for the jockey, and it is thought to be worth a minimum of US$200,000. Ronnie Bartlett, managing director of Albert Bartlett, added: "Jamie is a fantastic ambassador for racing and we acknowledge his sporting talents to be of the highest calibre. He gives us a great marketing platform to promote product and brand awareness for Roosetr Potatoes and Albert Bartlett as a whole. We wish Jamie the best of luck in trying to regain the Championship title this year."