H&T: Pawnbroker boosted by gold price and demand for quick cash March 18, 2025 H&T has reported a double-digit rise in profit driven by demand for its core pawnbroker service as Brits continue to look for quick cash amid a high cost of living. The business told markets this morning that profit before tax reached £29.1m in the year ended December 31, 2024, up 10 per cent year on [...]
Wetherspoons set for profit spike as it braces for Budget tax hit March 16, 2025 JD Wetherspoon is expected to reveal soaring sales this week, as experts tip the pub group to seize more market share from smaller competitors amid tax rises coming in April. The London-listed firm, which has around 800 pubs across the UK, is set to report its half-year results on 21 March. In a January trading [...]
Fancy McManus to Win Some in the Pertemps March 12, 2025 FINDING the winner of the Pertemps Final (2.40pm) can be a difficult task, but I think I’ve found two runners who’ve got a great chance of getting us in the money. Jeriko Du Reponet is the warm 5/1 favourite, and you can see why with some hot novice form to his name. Nicky Henderson is [...]
Financial watchdogs ditch DEI regulation and ‘name and shame’ plans March 12, 2025 The UK’s two main financial watchdogs have ditched plans to impose diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) targets on City institutions amid a government push to put Britain’s regulators on a growth footing. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) announced on Wednesday that in light of the “broad range” of feedback and [...]
Final Demand to tame The Lion in the Turners March 11, 2025 ANYONE who watched The New Lion saunter home in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury over Christmas would have fancied him to follow up in today’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle (1:20pm). He breezed through the field to stamp his authority on this staying novice hurdle division and JP McManus was quick to make previous owner Darren Yates [...]
Take it to the Max with Clegane in the Coral Cup March 11, 2025 CHELTENHAM handicaps are notoriously difficult to unravel and they don’t come much harder than this afternoon’s 26-runner Coral Cup (2.40pm). Dan Skelton, who has won the last two renewals with Langer Dan, saddles Be Aware and he has been a big ante-post springer. A fine second to Burdett Road in the Greatwood Hurdle, he looked [...]
Work can earn you the Munny in the Supreme March 10, 2025 WE’RE finally here, the Cheltenham Festival, four days of unmissable action with the stars of Jumps racing coming out to play. The roar that greets the lifting of the tapes to begin the first race, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1.20pm), is perhaps the loudest of the week, but four and a half minutes later there [...]
Take on Lossiemouth with pair of improving mares March 10, 2025 AS FAR as big betting weeks go, nothing comes close to the Cheltenham Festival. The entire Jumps season has been building to these four days at Prestbury Park, and it really is a punters’ paradise. However, looking at this year’s Champion Hurdle (4.00pm), I’m reminded that some races are there to just sit back and [...]
Manchester United Old Trafford plans set to be revealed March 10, 2025 Manchester United are today expected to announce plans for a new stadium to replace Old Trafford after co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe defended the club’s penny pinching. A “Wembley of the North” on the site of Old Trafford has been Ratcliffe’s goal since the billionaire purchased just under 30 per cent of Manchester United last year. [...]
Ministers mull GB Energy spending cuts in blow to Ed Miliband March 7, 2025 The government is considering cutting funding for GB Energy in June’s spending review in a major blow to energy secretary Ed Miliband. State-owned GB Energy has been tasked with decarbonising the electricity grid by investing in and operating clean power projects. The government pledged £8.3bn over the course of the current parliament. However, it was [...]