Sports
2026 SA Derby preparation for Maher pair in Caulfield feature
Amazake keeps the South Australian Derby as his primary goal with an important appearance set for Caulfield.
On Saturday, the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) provides the launchpad toward the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville come May 2.
Dad And Dave and Awesome Artist, fellow Ciaron Maher charges, will share the Saturday bill with Amazake.
National assistant trainer Jack Turnbull from the Maher team indicated Dad And Dave will look to stake his claim as a Derby hopeful during Saturday’s event, whereas Awesome Artist might proceed to the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on April 25.
With eight starts still seeking a first win, Amazake boasts impressive staying qualities and is far more filled out than during his spring efforts.
The gelding earned third place in the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield en route to a distant finish in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington, something Turnbull admitted was too soon.
“We gave him a crack because he ran a place in the Norman Robinson, but he was up against Observer at that stage who was a cut above,” Turnbull said.
“Time has been his friend and he’s a fuller horse now and more mature.
“I think he’ll be fine now, so we’ll give him his chance, so he’ll run on Saturday and then onto the Derby in South Australia.
“He’s still a maiden, which you wouldn’t believe, but he’s won good prize money and has been running in good form races and only getting beaten a couple of lengths, with excuses.
“He’s in good shape.”
Coming off the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on March 21, Amazake and Dad And Dave placed fourth and ninth.
In Tasmania over summer, Dad ‘N’ Dave claimed the Tasmanian Derby (2200m) in February.
“If he doesn’t run to form, we’ll probably turn him out,” Turnbull said.
“He’s done the whole Tasmania thing, and he would want to show us that he warrants a trip for the Derby.
“Awesome Artist is down here after winning last time and maybe heading to the St Leger.”
Racing fans should explore betting sites for the best racing betting markets on the betting sites ahead of the South Australian Derby.
Sports
NBA fines Magic $25,000 for violating injury reporting rules
It turns out the Orlando Magic‘s win on Monday night didn’t come without a cost.
The NBA has fined the Magic $25,000 for violating injury reporting rules, the league announced on Thursday.
According to the NBA, the Magic failed to accurately disclose Anthony Black‘s status before the game against the Detroit Pistons. The third-year guard was listed as out in Orlando’s initial injury report and subsequently played in the game on Monday.
Black played 15 minutes off the bench, putting up 14 points, two assists and two steals in an important win for the Magic.
Orlando (44-36) has won four consecutive games entering Thursday, moving up to seventh in the Eastern Conference and just 0.5 games back of the Toronto Raptors in sixth.
The Magic are looking to make the playoffs for a third consecutive season and advance past the first round for the first time since 2010.
Sports
Avalanche say Nazem Kadri will miss a few games
Kadri is expected to miss a few games with an injury, but the hope is for the forward to return for at least one game before the post-season, the team told reporters Thursday.
Colorado, which has clinched the top seed in the Western Conference, has five regular-season games left.
Kadri suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Blues and was ruled out for the remainder of the game at the start of the third period.
It’s unclear how Kadri was injured but he missed most of the second period after blocking a couple of shots early in the frame.
Kadri, 35, was re-acquired by the Avalanche from the Calgary Flames at the trade deadline after previously playing for the team from 2019-22. He has 16 goals and 50 points in 77 games this season.
Sports
“Error That Will Cost Delhi Capitals Massively”: South Africa Great On David Miller’s No-Single Call
David Miller in action.© X (formerly Twitter)
The match between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday produced a perfect thriller. DC needed eight to win off the final three balls when David Miller clobbered pacer Prasidh Krishna for a 106-metre six over long-off. Needing two off the final two balls, Miller played the ball towards square leg but denied a single despite his fellow batter Kuldeep Yadav being halfway down the track. The South African veteran backed himself to do the job, but Krishna outfoxed him with a slower bouncer. As the batters tried to steal a single on the bye, wicketkeeper Jos Buttler hit the bull’s eye to catch Kuldeep short of his crease and seal a one-run victory for GT.
South Africa’s bowling great Dale Steyn feels that the loss would cost Delhi Capitals big in the upcoming stages of the tournament.
“You are reading Kuldeep’s body language there, where he is saying to Miller: ‘Trust me. I have got this.’ You can see as he hit it, he has kind of taken off for the run and then decided against it, backing himself. He’s just hit a 106-metre six. He’s in the zone. He is feeling it. But anything can happen,” Steyn said on ESPNcricinfo.
“Miller is too good a player not to take a single. You take what is given to you. It’s a draw or tie, and then you back your tailender in terms of Kuldeep to get that single. Or even if he misses it, you are quick enough and smart enough to run and get that bye, which in the case Kuldeep wasn’t able to do. Maybe just a slight hesitation believing that Miller is the kind of player that can hit the ball out of the ground. An error that will cost them (Delhi Capitals) massively,” he added.
Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, and Washington Sundar scored fifties as GT posted a total of 210 for 4 in 20 overs while batting first. DC, on the other hand, were restricted to 209/8 despite KL Rahul smashing 92 and Miller scoring an unbeaten 41.
Featured Video Of The Day
IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season
Topics mentioned in this article
Sports
Sligo v Leitrim Preview, Betting, Team News and Prediction
There is always a bit more edge when Sligo and Leitrim meet in championship football, and this latest Connacht quarter-final should again bring intensity and local rivalry to Markievicz Park.
Sligo will go in as favourites, having won the last three championship meetings between the counties, including a nine-point success in the Connacht championship in 2024. They also competed in Division 3 this year, while Leitrim were down in Division 4 and struggled for consistency.
Sligo finished fifth in Division 3 with three wins and four defeats, which was hardly spectacular, but it still compares favourably to Leitrim’s league return. Leitrim also won three games, but did so in Division 4 and finished seventh overall.
Derby games can produce surprises, and Leitrim will not lack heart, but Sligo appear to have the stronger platform. They look more likely to control the pace of the game and create enough scores to move on.
Sligo v Leitrim recent championship meetings
- 2024: Sligo 0-15 Leitrim 0-6
- 2022: Sligo 1-19 Leitrim 2-16 aet (Sligo won 4-3 on penalties)
- 2016: Sligo 2-15 Leitrim 1-10
- 2011: Leitrim 1-10 Sligo 0-10
- 2005: Leitrim 1-11 Sligo 0-9
Betting odds
Sligo are start as favourites based on league level, home advantage and recent championship results. The betting is 1/16 or Sligo -8pts
Prediction
Leitrim should make a game of it, but Sligo look the more complete side and should have enough to come through.
Prediction: Sligo to win
Predicted score: Sligo 0-17 Leitrim 0-12
Next up: The winners will play Galway in the Connacht semi-final.
Team News
Sligo – TBC
Leitrim – TBC
Sports
Polar launches Polar Street X for hybrid training
Polar launches a new watch
Street X is designed for sports enthusiasts and health-conscious urban users
It supports more than 170 activities, including strength and functional training
Recovery and sleep tracking tools inform users of when they’re ready to train again
Polar has launched a durable, “urban-ready” sports watch offering training and recovery features and long-lasting battery life at a more affordable price point.
Street X is designed for sport enthusiasts and health‑conscious urban users whose routines span structured workouts and spontaneous movement. Supporting more than 170 sports and activities, it covers traditional activities, such as running and cycling, as well as modalities like strength training, functional training and calisthenics.
With recovery and sleep tracking tools, the watch also supports users in knowing when they are ready to train again. The sleep tracking feature detects sleep duration, quality, and stages. It also monitors nighttime heart rate, heart rate variability, autonomic nervous system activity and includes nightly skin temperature measurement.
“More than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, turning cities into our everyday training grounds,” says Sander Werring, CEO of Polar. “With Street X, we responded to this demand by creating a rugged, design-led watch that combines Polar’s training credibility with bold, everyday wearability and durability at a more accessible price, ready to handle gym sessions, street runs and daily life.”
For the first time, an LED flashlight has been integrated, as well as GPS and route guidance.
Sports
Bob Arum names his favourite fight after 60 years in boxing: “It was a street brawl”
Top Rank’s Bob Arum has been involved in boxing since the 1960’s and has been a true servant to the sport, sure to go down as one of the most influential figures in its long history. More than anyone else, he perhaps has the claim to have seen it all.
Arum’s first fight as a promoter was a clash for the heavyweight world title, as Muhammad Ali successfully defended his WBC crown against George Chuvalo in Toronto, back in 1966.
The promoter would put on 27 of Ali’s 61 professional contests in total, but crafted his legacy just as much during the 1980’s, being one of the driving forces behind fights involving the ‘Four Kings’.
Speaking to DAZN Boxing after announcing a new partnership with the streaming service, Arum revealed that his favourite fight is the legendary clash between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns, where the middleweight duo produced an enthralling three-round slug-fest.
“My all-time favourite fight ever was Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns, because of the tour that we had them go on to publicise the fight.
“For some reason, because we had them on this tour, they rubbed each other up the wrong way and by the time the bell rang for the fight, they forgot everything they knew about boxing and they just wanted to make it into a street brawl.
“It was fantastic, it really was something. People who were there still recall it.”
The 1985 bout between Hagler and Hearns is often considered one of the greatest fights ever because of its sheer intensity and drama, with both men throwing everything from the opening bell in a relentless, high-risk battle.
In just three rounds, it delivered non-stop action, momentum swings, and elite skill under pressure – a perfect storm of violence and quality that has rarely been matched in boxing history.
Arum also highlighted Ali’s famous victory in the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ as a personal favourite, where ‘The Greatest’ cemented his dominance over Joe Frazier by knocking him out in their trilogy encounter.
Sports
‘Six months left to live’: Yuvraj Singh reveals chilling warning he got before cancer treatment
Yuvraj Singh has spoken about the period when he was diagnosed with cancer, saying the illness began when he was at the peak of his career, even as he continued to play for India.
At that time, Yuvraj had just played a big role in India’s 2011 World Cup win, he was Player of the Tournament. During the tournament, he was dealing with fatigue, nausea and discomfort. The illness was not detected then, and he continued to play.
After the tournament, his condition got worse and medical tests later found a rare form of cancer, with a tumour in his chest.
“Not coming to terms with it was something I was going through because, as a sportsman, you can’t be sick. You’re supposed to play for India. But eventually, I kept getting sicker and sicker while still playing cricket,” Yuvraj said in a conversation with Michael Vaughan on The Overlap podcast on YouTube.
He said sport often trains players to ignore such signs. “As a sportsman, you don’t think about being sick. You’re supposed to play for India.”
“It was hard to accept. At the peak of your career, you’re on top of a mountain and then you fall into a ditch,” Yuraj said on getting to know that he had cancer. “I was in Delhi. We were going on tour to the West Indies and England. Ganguly had retired and my Test spot had just opened. I was waiting seven years for that spot. I said, ‘I don’t care if I die, I need that spot.’ But I got sicker and sicker.”
The seriousness of his condition became clear after doctors explained the risks.
“He said to me, ‘Mate, I’ve looked at your scans. The tumour is sitting between your heart and lung, right on the pipe. Either you go and play cricket, or you might have a heart attack. I think you’ve got three to six months left if you don’t do chemotherapy.’”
That forced him to step back and take a decision.
“That’s when I realised I really needed to think about what I had to do. It wasn’t easy because I run a cancer foundation that focuses on early detection, and here I was, not coming to terms with what I was going through,” he said.
Yuvraj then went abroad for treatment and underwent chemotherapy in the United States during 2011–12. He said it took time to accept the situation.
“It took me almost a year to come to terms with the fact that I might not be able to play cricket again. But once the treatment was over, I was determined to come back, even though no one believed I could.”
During treatment, he continued to follow the game and also received visits from senior players like Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar.
Advertisement
130147068
“I kept watching old videos. Anil Kumble came to America, shut my laptop, and said, ‘Focus on your health, stop watching cricket videos.’ Sachin came to see me in England. Dr Einhorn gave me confidence; he said, ‘You’ll be a man who walks out of this hospital and never has cancer again.’ I came back and played for India in six months-the T20 World Cup. I wasn’t at my best, but I still got one Man of the Match. Then me and Zaheer Khan went to France for two months of fitness training in a remote area called Brive. We got fitter, came back, and made a comeback again,” Yuvraj revealed.
Sports
Unraced retirement announced for $10m Winx filly Quinceanera
Winx’s pioneering foal, the mare who seized international spotlight two years prior at this period, won’t ever compete on the track.
Woppitt Bloodstock of the Kepitis clan, after dropping $10 million on the Pierro-sired filly named Quinceanera, posted the update via social channels Wednesday.
The accompanying video depicted her period with Chris Waller – Winx’s storied handler – and noted the retirement followed advice from vets and the trainer himself.
“Although disappointing, it’s in her best interest to now begin her career as a broodmare,” the statement read.
No revelation on which stallion awaits her in the upcoming breeding season.
Shared precisely two years after her Inglis Easter auction success, as Debbie Kepitis outmaneuvered US bidder John Stewart.
Part-owner Kepitis of Winx, who notched 37/43 wins (33 in succession, 25 Group 1) and nearly $26.5m prizemoney.
With Quinceanera as one of two surviving Winx foals, the other a 2024 Snitzel colt eyed for Inglis Easter but sidelined pre-sale by injury.
Post-colt, Winx had a layoff before joining Too Darn Hot at Darley last season.
Breeding news like this influences future fields, so review racing betting markets at trusted sites.
Sports
Free gym membership for 11- to 16-year-olds in Manchester
Manchester City Council is introducing free junior memberships / Manchester City Council
Radical move to tackle health inequalities from Manchester City Council
Free memberships will be offered to 11- to 16-year-old high school students
This is an extension of a free swimming programme for under-16s
Council leader, Bev Craig, says they have listened to what young people want
Manchester City Council has launched an ambitious programme to offer free gym memberships and access to fitness classes for 11- to 16-year-old secondary school pupils.
This is an extension of the ‘Free Swim for 16 and Under’ programme which aims to put physical activity at the heart of the city’s drive to reduce health inequalities by opening up more opportunities for residents to get active, improve their wellbeing and enjoy inclusive, community‑focused sport and movement.
Those facing the greatest barriers will also be supported through targeted interventions to help create a healthier, fairer, and more connected Manchester.
Leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig, said: “Young people told us they wanted free things to do and they wanted to keep healthy. We’ve listened and made this really important investment.
“After years of cuts, better funding from government means we’re able to invest in the things that matter to people. So we’re investing extra cash in keeping our residents across the city happy and healthy.”
The initiative goes live from May half term at Arcadia Leisure Centre, Abraham Moss Leisure Centre, Belle Vue Sports Village, Broadway Baths, East Manchester Leisure Centre, Hough End Leisure Centre, Manchester Aquatics Centre, Moss Side Leisure Centre, North City Family and Fitness Centre, Whalley Range Sports Centre and Wythenshawe Forum.
Sports
BetMGM Grand National Offers | Free Bonus Bets & Promos
All eyes are on Aintree this week ahead of the 178th edition of one of the UK’s most prestigious horse races, the Grand National.
Ahead of the famed race, horse racing betting sites are providing customers with plenty of Grand National offers.
The BetMGM Grand National offer is a ‘bet and get’ offer, providing new customers with £40 in Grand National free bets when they sign up and bet £10.
And along with similar Grand National betting sites, BetMGM are running several offers during the three-day meeting for existing customers too.
To that end, we’ve compiled a guide to the latest BetMGM Grand National offers, including information on the BetMGM sign up offer and any relevant info on BetMGM Grand National free bets.
What is the BetMGM Grand National offer?
The latest BetMGM Grand National offer, which runs before and during the Grand National Festival, is a standard bet £10, get £40 offer.
To claim the offer, customers can sign up via our link and deposit a minimum of £10 through an eligible payment method.
Next, bettors must wager £10 or more on any sports market at odds of evens or greater. This is a low odds threshold to unlock any welcome bonus, though each-way bets must have a £20 total stake with only the win part qualifying for the BetMGM Grand National offer.
The free bet offer from BetMGM is split into the following denominations: 1x £10 free horse racing bet, 1x £10 free football bet, 2x £10 free bet builder bets.
Grand National free bets will be credited to a bettor’s account after their qualifying wager has been settled.
The horse racing and football free bets don’t have any requirements attached to them and can be placed on a selection at any price. However, the free bet builder wagers must have combined odds of 3/1 or higher.
Free bets expire within seven days, and you must select the free bets via the checkbox on the betslip when you want to use them.
Is there a BetMGM bonus code for Grand National 2026?
Customers don’t need to use a BetMGM offer code to unlock the BetMGM Grand National offer.
All new customers need to do is click our link before depositing £10 and betting £10 on any sports market, including the Grand National, with odds of evens or greater.
BetMGM Grand National Offers – Bet boosts
Customers will find bet boosts among the BetMGM Grand National offers, with the bookie choosing to enhance the odds on selected horses or other single markets.
These bet boosts will be available throughout the meeting, which starts on Thursday and runs through the Grand National, with several boosts available on the day of the race.
BetMGM Grand National Offers – Golden Silks
BetMGM’s Golden Silks scheme gives bettors the chance to bag a profit boost token for each day of the 2026 Grand National Festival.
Punters will need to opt in and then wager a minimum of £20 or more on racing to unlock seven profit boost tokens, with one available each day of the week.
The tokens can secure a 10 per cent boost for any winning bets and will be available to use on any race at Aintree, including Saturday’s Grand National.
BetMGM Grand National Offers – Golden Wheel
Existing BetMGM customers can secure free bets and more by spinning the Golden Wheel, which is a unique BetMGM Grand National offer.
Users are entitled to one free spin per day to unlock prizes, such as BetMGM free bets, up to £5,000 in cash, free spins and more.
BetMGM Grand National Offers – Best odds guaranteed
BetMGM offers customers the best odds guaranteed for bets placed on the Grand National after 11am on the day of the race.
BetMGM pays out at the best possible price, so if the starting price is greater than the odds you took, you’ll receive the bigger price.
BetMGM Grand National Offers – Each-Way Plus
BetMGM regularly runs its each-way plus offer on UK and Irish races, and the Grand National Festival will be no exception.
The each-way plus promotion boosts the number of places paid out on for each-way wagers.
Punters can expect extra places to be available on several races at Aintree across all three days.
How does the BetMGM free bet offer compare with rival Grand National offers?
BetMGM is one of the best new horse racing betting sites on the market and provides one of the best Grand National offers for new customers. Check out the table below to see how it compares against rival bookmakers with our table below.
|
Bookmaker |
Offer |
Free bet restrictions? |
Eligible payment methods |
|
Betfair Sportsbook |
Bet £10, get £50 in free bets |
Free bets can only be used on accumulators, bet builders & other multiples |
Bank transfer, debit card & Apple Pay |
|
Paddy Power |
Bet £5, get £30 in free bets |
n/a |
Debit card, Apple Pay, bank transfer |
|
Betfred |
Bet £10, get £50 in free bets |
3x £10 free sports bets, 2x £10 free accumulator bets |
Debit card, Apple Pay, instant bank transfer |
|
BetGoodwin |
Bet £10, get £15 in free bets |
1x £5 sports bet, 1x £5 acca bet, 1x £5 sub cover bet |
Debit card |
|
NetBet |
Bet £10, get £20 |
£5 football bet builder, £5 football acca, £5 horse racing acca, £5 tennis bet |
Debit card, bank transfer, Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal |
Responsible Gambling
If you decide to engage with any of the BetMGM betting offers highlighted on this page, remember to gamble responsibly, even when using free bets.
Betting should only ever be considered a form of entertainment – it will never be a surefire way to make money.
When taking advantage of Grand National offers, assume you’ll lose and therefore, only wager what you can afford. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget.
Make sure you use the responsible gambling tools offered by betting companies such as deposit limits, reality checks, loss limits and time outs. These can stop gambling from getting out of hand.
The same applies if you’re using new casino sites, slot sites, poker sites or any other form of gambling.
If you have gambling-related concerns, then seek independent help. There are several UK charities and institutions that offer support, advice and information, with a few listed below:
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
-
NewsBeat7 days agoSteven Gerrard disagrees with Gary Neville over ‘shock’ Chelsea and Arsenal claim | Football
-
Business7 days agoNo Jackpot Winner and $194 Million Prize Rolls Over
-
Fashion6 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Spanx – Corporette.com
-
Business5 days agoExpert Picks for Every Need
-
Business4 days agoThree Gulf funds agree to back Paramount’s $81 billion takeover of Warner, WSJ reports
-
Sports5 days agoIndia men’s 4x400m and mixed 4x100m relay teams register big progress | Other Sports News
-
Tech2 days agoHow Long Can You Drive With Expired Registration? What Florida Law Says
-
Business4 days agoNo Jackpot Winner, Prize to Climb to $231 Million
-
Fashion3 days agoMassimo Dutti Offers Inspiration for Your Summer Mood Board
-
Politics6 days ago
Wings Over Scotland | The quality of mercy
-
Fashion2 days agoLet’s Discuss: DEI in 2026
-
Business5 days agoAkebia Therapeutics, Inc. (AKBA) Discusses Pipeline Progress and Strategic Focus on Kidney Disease Treatments at R&D Day – Slideshow
-
Fashion7 days agoStatement Sunglasses: The Accessory Shaping Modern Fashion
-
Crypto World1 day agoBitcoin recovers as US and Iran Agree a Ceasefire Deal
-
Politics7 days agoEast Jerusalem Palestinian families eviction orders
-
Politics7 days agoWhy so many children are now classified as ‘disabled’
-
Fashion7 days agoFor Love & Lemons’ Spring 2026 Line is for the Romantics
-
Politics7 days agoNuclear rockets, moon bases and NASA’s Mars plan
-
Tech7 days agoThe Threadless Ball Screw Never Took Off, But Don’t Write It Off
-
Business6 days agoHPS FY 2025 slides: SaaS inflection drives 22% revenue growth

You must be logged in to post a comment Login