Sports events must decide between purists and entertaining newbies June 26, 2025 With Britain in the height of its summer sporting season, Ed Warner debates how organisers must balance pleasing purists with enticing new fans. “Does anyone talk about The Season anymore? The social whirl of the Lord’s Test, Queen’s, Royal Ascot and then finally Wimbledon? I may have missed others…” I replied to this Sport inc. [...]
Mohammed Ben Sulayem rival Carlos Sainz Sr backs out of FIA race June 25, 2025 President of motorsport’s governing body Mohammed Ben Sulayem is almost certain to remain head of the FIA after potential rival Carlos Sainz Sr chose not to stand against the Emirati. The current president is currently unopposed for the position of president ahead of December’s election despite a number of controversies under his recent tenure. He [...]
The Punter Podcast Episode 36: Ascot takeaways, Northumberland Plate, Irish Derby and Happy Valley June 25, 2025 Tom Marriott and Bill Esdaile are back from a busy week at Royal Ascot to look at the Northumberland Plate and Irish Derby cards, while Wally Pyrah gives his selections for the racing at Happy Valley in Hong Kong. The Punter ‘The Punter’ has been City AM’s dedicated sports betting section for over a decade [...]
Tony Bloom tips Hearts to break Old Firm after Brighton owner invests June 25, 2025 Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom has vowed to loosen Celtic and Rangers’ grip on Scottish football after his £10m investment in Hearts was confirmed. Bloom has acquired a 29 per cent share in the Edinburgh club which confers no voting rights but comes with a non-executive director’s seat, which will be taken by [...]
Lions 1-0 Australia: Wallabies make concessions and release players June 25, 2025 The British and Irish Lions have had an early tour win after Rugby Australia bosses made concessions after a player availability row. The Lions had complained that Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt wanted to keep his core Australia players in camp ahead of a three-Test series against the touring side that begins on 19 July. This [...]
Barcelona score financial boost with Camp Nou reopening date June 25, 2025 FC Barcelona have announced they will stage their first match at the rebuilt £1.25bn Camp Nou in August, in a significant boost to the financially constrained European giants. The reigning Spanish champions have had to play their home games at Barcelona’s former Olympic stadium for the last two seasons, heavily denting their ticketing income. But [...]
How sport could shape Xi Jinping’s next five-year China plan June 25, 2025 It doesn’t feel like that long ago when the world was captivated by 2,008 drummers from China opening the Beijing Olympic Games in perfect harmony. But that was a different China in a different era, and the Sleeping Dragon has been in something of a comatose state since due to a number of factors including [...]
London Spirit: Tech titans eye speedy Hundred deal to beat Trump tax rises June 25, 2025 English cricket is set to be an unlikely beneficiary of US President Donald Trump’s tax changes, with the so-called “tech titans” who are buying into London Spirit eager to complete the transaction before the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is rubber-stamped by Congress. One clause of the Republic-sponsored bill, now with the Senate having been [...]
Pock to make mockery of mark in Plate Day opener June 24, 2025 NEWCASTLE’S Northumberland Plate card begins on Saturday with a wide-open six-furlong handicap (1.40pm) where I’ve found another nice ante-post betting opportunity. Durham Castle heads the market for Simon and Ed Crisford at around 5/1 and there are a host of talented sprinters following him in the betting, including the Wokingham sixth Aramram. The one that [...]
Back Balding duo Glen and Mixer to serve up Plate victory June 24, 2025 AFTER the five-day extravaganza at Royal Ascot, we head north to Newcastle this weekend in search of some ante-post value. The North East track hosts its biggest raceday of the year on Saturday, with the highlight the Northumberland Plate (3.15pm) – known locally as the “Pitmen’s Derby” – on the all-weather. It’s a race that [...]