Brits urged to back UK pubs during World Cup amid booking surge June 16, 2026 Brits have been urged to support their World Cup team by getting down to the local pub amid a four-fold increase in bookings for England games. The UK hospitality sector is set for a 42 per cent sales boost across the group stages of the World Cup – with kick-off times in the US, Canada [...]
And they’re off: Royal Ascot racegoers put on a patriotic show as iconic horse racing meet gets underway June 16, 2026 Royal Ascot, the greatest flat racing festival in all of horse racing, is underway and thousands of punters have dressed to impress at the Berkshire course. There are over 100 runners across Tuesday’s seven races, with over £2.75m in prize money on offer to the top performers. Racegoers must adhere to the strict Royal Ascot [...]
Children as young as 14 are being targeted by unregulated gambling firms on social media June 16, 2026 Children as young as 14 are being targeted by unregulated gambling firms, with AI-generated tipsters, influencers and the manosphere blamed for exploiting teenagers on social media. Over 30 unregulated gambling sites – such as Stake and Rainbet – are accused of targeting UK users primarily aged 14-25, according to new data collected last month by [...]
2026 World Cup: How England went from misery to magnet for blue chip brands June 16, 2026 As they begin their 2026 World Cup campaign, the England brand is unrecognisable from 10 years ago – and it is paying off in growing revenues for the FA. This month marks a decade since one of the darkest days in the Football Association’s history, when England’s men were humbled by Iceland – a nation [...]
Episode 91: Royal Ascot 2026 – Day 1 & 2 June 15, 2026 Tom Marriott and Bill Esdaile are back to preview the opening two days of Royal Ascot 2026, with analysis and selections across the cards. Trainer of Overpass, Bjorn Baker, joins to discuss his sprinter’s chances in the King Charles III Stakes on Tuesday. Check back on Wednesday for a preview of the rest of the [...]
Talk can follow Echo home in St James’s Palace June 15, 2026 NO HORSE has attracted more attention ahead of this week’s five days of Royal Ascot than George Boughey’s BOW ECHO, who runs in Tuesday’s Group One St James’s Palace Stakes (4.20pm). The son of Night Of Thunder was certainly well-regarded as a two-year-old, winning his three starts, culminating in a good performance in the Group [...]
Play Opera to hit all the right notes in the Queen Anne June 15, 2026 ROYAL Ascot kicks off with the Queen Anne Stakes (2.30pm) featuring several high-class performers including Godolphin’s favourite, Notable Speech. William Buick’s ride heads the betting after an impressive victory in the Lockinge, but there could be reason to oppose him at the prices. He has been beaten on both starts at Ascot, including in this [...]
Cut A Dash to back Hannon’s Coventry Rocket June 15, 2026 TODAY’s Coventry Stakes (3.05pm) is the most prestigious two-year-old event at Royal Ascot and will see over 20 of the best juveniles scorch down the Ascot straight. Aidan O’Brien’s Confucius heads the betting and is expected to be hard to beat. It was a surprise to see him defeated on debut given his reputation, but [...]
Put hands in Ur pocket for O’Brien runner in Ascot Stakes June 15, 2026 A ROYAL favourite heads the market for the Ascot Stakes (5.00pm) in Reaching High, but at the current prices he looks worth taking on. The market leader has plenty of potential, yet he hasn’t been seen since failing to fire, when seemingly unlucky at last year’s Royal meeting, and is short enough given that absence. [...]
Carson backing Bow to Echo Guineas romp at Ascot June 15, 2026 There don’t come many bigger legends in Flat racing than Willie Carson. The four-time Derby winning jockey was one of the icons on the level during the 20th century, and with 56 Royal Ascot winners to his name, he knows a thing or two about winning at the Royal meeting. This year’s extravaganza from Berkshire features [...]