Ahead of the Game: Hundred franchises set to choose their investors January 15, 2025 The eight Hundred franchises have been asked to name and rank at least two preferred bidders from the private investors who have submitted offers for a 49 per cent stake in the third and final round of the auction process which is currently taking place. All of the Hundred teams attracted multiple bids in the [...]
Saudi Public Investment Fund nearing $1bn stake in Dazn January 14, 2025 Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is nearing a $1bn acquisition of a small minority stake in sport streaming platform Dazn. The London-based rights holder, which enjoys relationships with boxing’s Riyadh Season and a number of the top European football leagues, could potentially see its value pushed into the tens of billions after the injection. It [...]
Can Italy’s challenger European rugby project win them a World Cup? January 14, 2025 Rugby authorities in Italy have reportedly submitted plans for a new European rugby competition. But can it be viable, and is the World Cup the end goal? The new president of Italy’s rugby federation, Andrea Duodo, caused a little bit of a stir recently when he confirmed that new proposals for a European club rugby [...]
L’Homme can Presse home his advantage in Gold Cup January 14, 2025 REGULAR readers will know that I tipped a Venetia Williams horse in my first Road to Cheltenham ante-post column last week. Well, I’m going in again I’m afraid! Make no mistake, Williams is an outstanding trainer, particularly of chasers, and I just think L’HOMME PRESSE is too big at 25/1 for the Boodles Gold Cup. [...]
Time to hit the jackpot at Ascot with Jonjo’s Jipcot January 14, 2025 MILLIONS are on offer this weekend. Quite literally, as Windsor (Friday and Sunday) and Ascot (Saturday) host the inaugural three-day Berkshire Winter Millions Festival with £1.2 million up for grabs. With a strong card up at Haydock as well, several horses hold multiple entries, so there are some risks with ante-post punting. First on the [...]
Purton looking to Fly North of Whyte’s wins record January 14, 2025 IT GOES without saying that all eyes will be focused once again on jockey Zac Purton, as he closes in on Douglas Whyte’s record of 1,813 winners in the territory. Having ridden eight winners already this month, and totalling 1,808 victories at present, it is only a matter of time before he surpasses Whyte’s record. [...]
Bottomuptogether could be a Smart Fighter on debut at Happy Valley January 14, 2025 BANK on former Hong Kong champion trainer Ricky Yiu to provide the best bet on a tricky and highly competitive nine-race programme at Happy Valley today. With just seven winners separating the top nine stables in the Trainers’ Championship at present, Yiu is making a strong bid to win another title he last held five [...]
Australian Open NFTs tank in value on non-fungible token marketplace January 14, 2025 NFTs sold by Tennis Australia for nearly £1.5m have tanked in value amid reports the organisation has walked away from its non-fungible token project. More than 9,000 of the NFTs, which are digital images of tennis balls, have shed up to 90 per cent of their value since the launch in 2022 by Tennis Australia. [...]
72% UK sports fans would pay more for tickets if they benefited environment January 14, 2025 Seven in 10 sports fans would be willing to pay more for a ticket to a live event if the extra was used to benefit the environment, according to a new survey. The Sport Industry Report, published today, found that 72 per cent of sport fans it surveyed said they would pay the surplus “if [...]
Leicester City still face PSR danger despite Premier League decision January 14, 2025 Leicester City remain on the hook for possible breaches of PSR rules despite the Premier League deciding not to issue charges to any clubs for the period ending last season. Leicester escaped punishment last year despite being charged with overspending for the period ending 2022-23 after they won a legal appeal centred on ambiguity in [...]