What is the Wrexham effect and how is it impacting sports betting? August 3, 2023 Wrexham AFC’s meteoric rise to fame, thanks to the docuseries ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ has caused sports betting to skyrocket in a phenomenon that has been dubbed the ‘Wrexham Effect’. Gambling giant Entain’s UK sportsbook reported a nearly 60 per cent surge in bets during the National League’s 2021-22 season compared to 2017-18 – the 2019-20 [...]
Scrapping Premier League relegation on table after flood of new private equity August 3, 2023 Private equity buyers flooding into Premier League and European football are likely to want more of a say over the rules of the game, top lawyers have told City A.M., including the potential introduction of ‘closed leagues’ without promotion or relegation. The value of deals in Europe’s top five leagues – England, France, Germany, Italy [...]
Blue Rose Cen looks Head and shoulders above Nassau rivals August 2, 2023 PANAMA hats, strawberries and cream, and overseas raiders are the three certainties of Glorious Goodwood year-on-year. And despite this year’s persistent rain which has kept ribboned headwear and fruit bowls away, international runners have still hit our shores to try and take a swing at the best we have to offer. However, in this year’s [...]
I spy a soft ground lover in Espionage August 2, 2023 STAMINA will come to the fore at Goodwood on Thursday. The usual sight of sun beating off the rolling Sussex Downs at this time of year has been replaced with grey clouds and lashing rain, and that’s seen track conditions quickly deteriorate. Having started the five-day meeting on the good side of good-to-soft, the going [...]
Emaraaty can leave Alice in wonderland after Richmond August 2, 2023 GOODWOOD was blasted with heavy rain yesterday which will ensure the ground will be testing again this afternoon. That poses a challenge for the two-year-olds lining up in the Group Two Markel Richmond Stakes (2.25pm). Sketch, one of the market leaders, is yet to race on anything slower than good, while plenty of the others [...]
Beckett’s Promoter looks box office in Goodwood opener August 2, 2023 IT’S ANYONE’S guess what the ground will be like ahead of the opening Kincsem Handicap (1.50pm) today, but it’s almost certain that it’s going to be hard work. It looks a very tricky puzzle to solve, but I think I’ve found one who ticks plenty of boxes in the form of PROMOTER. Ralph Beckett is [...]
Records broken as 650,000 turn up for men’s and women’s Ashes August 2, 2023 The men’s and women’s Ashes series saw a combined attendance of 655,000 this summer as records were shattered over the last six weeks. Nearly 545,000 fans attended the five men’s Tests – at Edgbaston, Lord’s Headingley, Old Trafford and the Oval – with every one of the 25 days sold out in advance of the [...]
England face interesting Test as Gatland picks mixed Wales squad August 2, 2023 England will go up against a blend of inexperienced and veteran players on Saturday as they get their Rugby World Cup warm-up schedule underway against Wales in Cardiff. Head coach Warren Gatland named his squad a day earlier than planned and has combined uncapped players with centurions in a 23 containing 672 international Wales caps. [...]
England docked WTC points after slow over-rate in Ashes August 2, 2023 Ben Stokes’ Test cricket team will take just nine World Test Championship (WTC) points from their Ashes draw after being penalised by the International Cricket Council for a slow over-rate. Both England and Pat Cummins’ Australia have been docked a combined number of 29 WTC points due to slow bowling rates throughout the Ashes series, [...]
EP: 219 Glorious Goodwood – Thursday August 2, 2023 Glorious Goodwood is the venue for many top races this week, but the much-anticipated Qatar Nassau Stakes on Thursday will, for many, be the highlight of the festival. Brilliant young French trainer Christopher Head runs his very exciting filly Blue Rose Cen in this Group 1 contest and he is our special guest on today’s [...]