Champions League is widely considered the top club tournament in soccer, and the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 begins on March 10 and March 11. The 2026 Champions League bracket is now live, and similar to the buzz that’s created around NCAA Tournament brackets, many will flock to create their 2026 UCL bracket and debate who to crown their winner in Champions League bracket pools.

Reigning champion PSG failed to secure one of the top eight spots, leaving their fate to be determined by the knockout round. No team since Real Madrid, which won three straight from 2016-18, has even won back-to-back UCL titles, so how should that affect forming a 2026 Champions League bracket strategy? You can create Champions League pools of your own to compete against friends and family, and enter your picks into the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Challenge for a chance to win a trip to London, including tickets to a UCL match and a tour of the UCL Today set. With the action so close, now is the time to set up your 2026 UEFA Champions League pool.

If you’re looking for a UCL bracket game home, CBS Sports is the perfect platform to use. You can play Bracket Games on the CBS Sports App for free and you could win big prizes.* Sign up right here.

How to create a 2026 UEFA Champions League pool with friends and family

There is a CBS Sports UEFA Champions League Bracket Challenge giving you the chance to win a trip to London to watch a UCL match and tour the UCL Today set. It’s easy to qualify for this epic trip. Simply click this link, click the “Join Now” button and enter.* Fill out your UEFA Champions League bracket before Round of 16 play begins.

Once you’ve entered CBS Sports UEFA Champions League Bracket Game, you can also set up your own 2026 UCL pools on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app. When you go to the website, hover your mouse over the Fantasy tab until you find the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games logo.

Click on that logo to be redirected to the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games page. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see a “Create Pool” button to click on and once you’ve finished choosing your UCL bracket pool settings, you’ll be able to copy the URL and send it to your friends and family.

2026 UEFA Champions League Knockout phase teams to watch

Now that you know where to play 2026 UCL Bracket Games, here are some teams to watch as the 2026 Champions League Knockout phase approaches: 

Arsenal FC: The English Premier League leaders won all eight of their matches during the league phase, outscoring their opponents 23-4 in the process to produce the best goal differential in the competition. Arsenal have opened a six-point lead on Manchester City in the EPL, so they’ll still have a somewhat split focus, but this is their best chance yet at notching a UEFA Champions League title. Expect Mikel Arteta to dial in for these matchups and they should be well-rested thanks to the bye that comes with being a top-eight seed.

Manchester City: Manchester City were one of four teams that finished with exactly 16 points over eight UCL league phase contests. After being tied with the lowest goal differential and scoring the fewest goals of the four tied clubs, Manchester City are the No. 8 seed. Luckily for Manchester City, finishing last in the tiebreak didn’t result in a knockout round appearance, but they’ll have a challenging opening matchup in the Round of 16. Manchester City went 5-1-2 in the league phase, and defeated Galatasaray, 2-0, on Matchday 8 to secure a top-eight seed. Manchester City features the top goal-scorer in the Premier League in Erling Haaland, whose 22 goals are five more than any other player. He also scored in six of eight UCL contests, as he’ll be a daunting matchup for any club playing Man City. Join the 2026 UCL Bracket Game here.

How to enter 2026 UEFA Champions League Bracket Games

Sign up now before brackets are unlocked after the Round of 16 Draw. Visit CBSSports.com/UCLBracket or play on the CBS Sports App.

*No purchase necessary. See rules for details.

Eight players were ejected after a brawl between South Alabama and Coastal Carolina in the second round of the women’s Sun Belt Tournament on Wednesday. The fracas resulted in a referee getting injured and requiring medical attention. 

The incident occurred with 5:38 remaining in the fourth quarter as South Alabama’s Cordasia Harris and Coastal Carolina’s Tracey Hueston started fighting under the basket. 

Staff members from both schools, teammates and referees rushed to attempt to break up the fight. Among them was referee Marla Gearhart, who caught a flailing arm and was knocked to the floor. She remained on the ground for a moment while the medical staff went over to check on her. 

The conference released an update later Wednesday saying Gearhart was evaluated at the Pensacola Bay Center and was released. 

Eight players were ejected immediately after the incident: 

• South Alabama: Cordasia Harris, Daniela Gonzalez, Terren Coffil, Saneea Bevley, Princess Okafor Nweze, Jeriyah Baines, Amyah Sutton
• Coastal Carolina: Tracey Hueston

South Alabama eventually won the game, 80-70, but will be shorthanded for the third-round game against Texas State on Thursday due to further punishment announced by the Sun Belt. Harris, Sutton and Gonzalez were all hit with one-game NCAA suspensions “because they were deemed to have engaged in a fight,” the conference said. 

In a statement, South Alabama athletic director Dr. Joel Erdmann said the university “does not condone fighting under any circumstance.” However, he said he does not agree that the actions of “all three” of Harris, Sutton and Gonzalez “rose to the level of being classified as fighting as defined by the NCAA rule book.”

“This judgment has negatively impacted the tournament experience of our suspended student-athletes and stripped them of limited opportunities to compete in the postseason,” Erdmann said. “Though I strongly disagree with the judgment of the officials, we will accept the decision from the Sun Belt Conference.”

On the Coastal Carolina side, Hueston was given a one-game NCAA suspension and suspended by the Sun Belt for the remainder of the season should the Chanticleers be invited to a postseason tournament. 

Coastal Carolina athletic director Chance Miller issued an apology and said “we are extremely disappointed in the actions of one of our women’s basketball student-athletes and program,” per local CBS station WBTW News 13.

Chanticleers coach Kevin Pederson said the incident will be addressed swiftly.

“We regret the actions that took place during today’s Sun Belt Conference Tournament game,” Pederson told the local station. “In no way does what occurred reflect the core values or day-to-day mission of the women’s basketball program, as we hold our student-athletes to the highest standards both on and off the court. The actions today don’t reflect those standards, and we plan to address that quickly.”

Arjun Tendulkar and Saaniya Chandok (X)

Arjun Tendulkar, the son of legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar, has officially tied the knot with entrepreneur Saaniya Chandhok. The wedding ceremony took place on Thursday, March 5, bringing an end to a week of celebrations attended by several well known personalities from the cricketing world.The couple had earlier announced their engagement in August 2025 in a private ceremony attended by close family members and friends. Since then, preparations for the wedding had been underway, with celebrations beginning earlier this week in Mumbai.

The festivities included traditional functions such as mehendi and sangeet, where a number of former and current cricketers joined the Tendulkar family for the celebrations. The events created a festive atmosphere as friends and family gathered to mark the special occasion.Arjun’s wife Saaniya comes from a prominent business background. She is the granddaughter of industrialist Ravi Ghai, chairman of the Graviss Group. Based in Mumbai, Saaniya has built her own career in the pet care and animal welfare space. She is known for her work as a veterinary technician and entrepreneur and has been actively involved in initiatives related to animal care.While the wedding celebrations have now concluded, Arjun will soon turn his focus back to cricket. The 26 year old left arm pacer has so far made five appearances in the Indian Premier League for Mumbai Indians. In those matches he picked up three wickets while conceding 114 runs and also scored 13 runs with the bat.At the domestic level, Arjun currently represents the Goa cricket team after making his debut for the Mumbai cricket team in 2021.Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction, Arjun was traded from Mumbai Indians to Lucknow Super Giants. He is expected to feature for the franchise in the upcoming season as he continues to build his career in professional cricket.

Prominent Republican congressional lawmakers and other high-ranking officials across the country shared their condolences after the death of legendary college football coach Lou Holtz Wednesday. 

The GOP figures to speak out included senators Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.; Todd Young, R-Ind.; Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; representatives Greg Murphy, R-N.C.; David Rouzer, R-N.C.; Erin Houchin, R-Ind.; and Steve Womack, R-Ark.; and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; Indiana Gov. Mike Braun; U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon; and Rudy Giuliani. 

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At the time of publication, prominent Democrat leaders have appeared silent on Holtz’s passing, including prominent Democrats with a football background. 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who worked as an assistant high school football coach; Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who was a recruiting target for Holtz in 1986 as a college prospect; Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, who played in the NFL; and Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Ill., who played football for the University of Illinois, have not posted acknowledging Holtz’s death. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to Waltz, Booker, Allred and Buckner’s offices for comment. 

Lou Holtz, who spent 33 years leading teams, including the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, died Wednesday. He was 89. 

The team released a statement from Holtz’s family, saying he died surrounded by family at his home in Orlando, Florida. 

“Louis Leo ‘Lou’ Holtz, legendary college football coach, Hall of Famer, bestselling author, and one of America’s most influential motivational voices, has passed away at the age of 89 in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by family,” the statement said. 

“Born January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, Holtz rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected figures in college athletics. 

“Over a remarkable five-decade career, he led college programs at William & Mary, N.C. State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina. He transformed every team he inherited and captured the 1988 National Championship with the Fighting Irish. Holtz was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Beth, with whom he shared a life grounded in faith, devotion, and service.”

Head coach Lou Holtz of the Arkansas Razorbacks walks on the sideline as his team takes on the Oklahoma Sooner in the 1978 Orange Bowl Jan. 2, 1978, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla. (Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Holtz had reportedly entered hospice care in late January. 

Holtz was the first coach in NCAA history to take six different football programs to bowl games, including William & Mary (1969-71), N.C. State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83) and South Carolina (1999-2004). The only team he wasn’t able to accomplish the feat with was Minnesota, which he led from 1984-85.

In recent years, Holtz has been a stern supporter of President Donald Trump, even saying in February 2024 that Trump needed to “coach America back to greatness!”

Near the end of Trump’s first term, shortly after former President Joe Biden defeated him in the 2020 election, Trump awarded Holtz with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States. 

“I will say this about Lou: Everybody loves him,” Trump said during the ceremony in December 2020. “Everybody respects him. He’s tough as hell, and yet they all respect Lou. They just — it’s amazing. They love him, and they respect him. Sometimes, it’s a combination that doesn’t come together, you know? They respect, but you are — you are something. ‘I never coached football; I coached life,’ he said. And it’s true. His players really always loved him.”

Head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish watches from the sideline during a game against the Stanford Cardinal Oct. 7, 1989, at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif. (David Madison/Getty Images)

Holtz, who also spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention, was humbled by the honor. 

“It’s the highest honor or award you could possibly receive, and I receive it with mixed emotions. First of all, I’m humbled,” Holtz told “Fox & Friends” afterward. “There are many more people far worthy than me, I can assure you. 

“Nobody is more appreciative than me. So, I’m excited to have this opportunity and, at the same time, I’m excited to receive it from President Trump. The president I admire and respect. I think he did a tremendous job.”

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At the time, Holtz also called Trump “one of the great presidents of my lifetime.”

Holtz finished his coaching career with a 249-132-7 record in 388 games. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.   

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Conor Benn will make his Zuffa Boxing debut against two-time super-lightweight world champion, Regis Prograis, next month and former cruiserweight ruler, Tony Bellew, has offered his thoughts on the contest.

Benn avenged the solitary defeat on his record when he overcame middleweight foe Chris Eubank Jr at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last time out, before announcing a return to the welterweight division.

‘The Destroyer’ was installed as the WBC’s mandatory challenger and inserted at the top of their rankings, with Eddie Hearn lining him up for a clash either against Ryan Garcia for the full world title, or against one of the other champions at 147lbs.

However, Benn instead made the shock move to split with Hearn and sign with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

Now, in his first outing since the move, Benn is set to take on Prograis on the Fury-Makhmudov undercard, in a 150lb catchweight affair. Speaking with First Round TV, Bellew believes that the Prograis bout has simply been ‘thrown together on short notice.’

“It is a fight that has been thrown together on short-notice and it just gets him out, that is it.

“If you are Conor Benn, you are jumping at it aren’t you. Everyone is making this thing about the amount of money that he is getting and stuff like that, but he will be like ‘you want me to face him for that? Absolutely no problem at all.’

“It’s mad, but it is this cards we get dealt. He has just got to go in there and deal with it. He has got a great coach in Tony Sims and he will make sure that he is fully prepared.

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“He will not want to go in there with his fighter not at 100%, so you know that he will be on it. He will be sharp, he will be ready to go and I think that Regis Prograis has probably seen better days, if I am being totally honest.”

Prograis was comprehensively outboxed by Devin Haney and beaten soundly by Jack Catterall when operating at super-lightweight, but he has yet to be stopped during his 33-fight career.

Boxing 10 pounds higher means Benn will go into the fight as the heavy favourite.

Fans attending the Texas Rangers’ home opening series against the Cincinnati Reds in early April will get their first look at the newly installed, permanent fixture in left field.

Billed as a tribute to the MLB franchise’s namesake, the Rangers unveiled the “One Riot, One Ranger” statue along the left-field concourse at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Monday.

In 2020, the statue was removed from Dallas Love Field amid heightened racial tensions and the group’s complicated history tied to race relations.

The book “Cult of Glory: The Bold and Brutal History of the Texas Rangers” examined parts of the law enforcement unit’s past. Its publication coincided with nationwide scrutiny of some police practices after the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.

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Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, May 30, 2025, during a game between the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals.  (Tim Heitman/Imagn Images)

In an Associated Press account about six years ago, around the time the statue was pulled from the airport, “Cult of Glory” identified the figure as Capt. Jay Banks. The book states that, in 1957, Banks led a group of Rangers believed to have blocked Black students from enrolling at a local high school and community college.

In the article, “Cult of Glory” author Doug Swanson said, “There’s a famous picture of him leaning against a tree in front of Mansfield High School while a black figure hangs in effigy above the school, with Banks making no effort to take it down.

“And Banks sided with the mobs who were there to keep the black kids out. So, he was the face of that.”

The Texas Rangers take batting practice before facing the San Francisco Giants at Globe Life Field June 8, 2021, in Arlington, Texas.  (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Russell Molina, a board member of the Texas Ranger Association Foundation, acknowledged the Rangers’ controversial past but said those who lived “up to the ideal” deserve recognition and argued the statue was not solely meant to represent Banks.

“We recognize that the history of the Texas Rangers, like that of our state and nation, includes moments that must be confronted honestly,” Molina said. “While not everyone who has served across more than two centuries lived up to the ideal, most did, and they deserve to be remembered for their service, sacrifice and commitment to the people of Texas.”

Globe Life Field, the new home of the Texas Rangers March 26, 2020, in Arlington, Texas.  (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Swanson told The Dallas Morning News he hoped the statue’s latest placement would include more context about the organization’s complex past.

Fox News Digital contacted the baseball franchise’s media relations department but did not immediately receive a response. 

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According to Globe Life Field’s official website, “While the ‘One Riot, One Ranger’ statue commemorates the legend surrounding the agency’s involvement in the stoppage of an unsanctioned Dallas prize fight in 1896, it also stands as a tribute to all who have served the organization over its storied history.”

Statues of former MLB stars Iván Rodríguez, Adrián Beltré and Nolan Ryan also stand at the Rangers’ retractable-roof stadium.

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Arsenal and England forward Chloe Kelly has been transformed into a Barbie doll as part of a special series to mark International Women’s Day.

Two-time European Championship winner Kelly, 23-time Grand Slam tennis champion Serena Williams and India cricketer Smriti Mandhana are among the sporting figures included by Mattel in its first ever “Barbie Dream Team”, which it says “honours women who led the way in their industries”.

“To be a Barbie role model is so special,” said Kelly, 28. “To have my very own one-of-a-kind doll – I’m very proud of that.

“You don’t really believe these things could happen. You always look for the trophies and the wins on the pitch but, off the pitch, this is a massive win.”

She added: “As a young girl, you dreamed of having these moments but they never seemed to be the case that they could come true.”

Kelly was a key member of the England squads that won the past two European Championships.

She scored the Lionesses’ extra-time winner at Wembley that secured victory over Germany in the 2022 final, then netted the winning penalty in a shootout against Spain that retained the trophy in Switzerland last summer.

Kelly was also involved as England reached the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

At club level, she was part of the Arsenal team that won last season’s Women’s Champions League.

The seeds of sports betting in the UK were planted centuries ago by wagering on the outcome of horse races, often between their owners and, in turn, by others who had an opinion on which was the better and were prepared to gamble on that opinion. In gambling’s digital age, that pastime continues on horse racing betting sites.

Many betting sites provide an excellent service for bettors, with as much or as little information as those wagering care to use to inform their choice of bet. UK horse racing betting sites are among the best on offer worldwide.

Bettors can compare licensed and regulated betting sites for wagering on horse racing below before getting to our recommendations.

UK horse racing betting sites – March 2026

Best horse racing betting sites – Top 5

With so many horse racing betting sites to choose from in the UK, it can be hard to decide who to use.

I’ve put together my five favourite online bookmakers, considering a number of key evaluation points such as the odds on offer, those that offer best odds guaranteed on horse racing, promotions that can add value for bettors, any free bets available, the benefits of each horse racing betting site’s mobile app and also its streaming service.

From there, I’ve compiled a list of the five best horse racing betting sites.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Launch year: 1928

What we like about Tote

Tote are one of the most famous and best horse racing betting sites in the UK, where they are established as the home of pool betting.

Racing punters can not only enjoy the uniqueness of pools betting with Tote, but also some of the perks you’d find at traditional racing bookmakers.

Tote now run the Stayers’ Club, a weekly free bets programme, while they’ll regularly offer money back on losing bets at the big meetings, such as Royal Ascot and Cheltenham.

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Tote also offer cash back on some losing exactas and trifectas, with refunds credited as free bets, and have recently changed their welcome offer, which is a bet £10, get £30 in free bets promotion.

The Tote also say they will never be beaten by SP, so if the starting price of a horse works out better than the Tote dividend payment, the Tote will match the SP when paying out.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Launch year: 1926

What we like about Coral

Coral are one of the UK’s oldest bookmakers and their relationship with betting on horses goes back a century. It’s a relationship they’ve preserved to the present day, with Coral still a top option for punters.

Bettors can expect to find the more standard promotions, such as best odds guaranteed, extra place races and odds boosts on selected races.

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But Coral also go beyond other racing betting sites, such as being one of the first bookmakers to offer racing bet builders, or running the free-to-play Racing Super Series game. They also run the Coral Racing Club, giving bettors the chance to experience what it’s like being a racehorse owner.

The Coral rewards shake is also good for the occasional racing free bet, while the free bets that come with the welcome offer can be wagered entirely on racing.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Launch year: 2000

What we like about bet365

Bet365 are more youthful than many others but have quickly become among the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.

The excellent Bet Builder facility allows you to create your own bets such as win, place, match-ups and winning distances.

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There’s also a really attractive ‘Position Payout’ bet, so the better your horse’s finishing position is, the more you win. Therefore, you can select it to finish, say fourth, and if it does finish fourth or better, you’ll already know before the race the odds on which you’re wagering.

There’s plenty to like about bet365, and it’s all available on desktop and mobile, with bet365 boasting when of the best betting apps available in the UK.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Launch year: 1967

What we like about Betfred

Betfred began as Done Bookmakers in a single shop in Salford in 1967 and, in the last 20 years in particular, have become one of the best horse racing betting sites in the UK, where they are established as the ‘Bonus King’.

Unlike all the other bookmakers on this list, Fred Done (aka ‘Betfred’) has been quite visible as the frontman for the company and often appeared on TV or radio making offers of bets himself. It’s this personal touch that makes bettors feel they really are taking on the man himself, rather than the name of an organisation and it has really worked.

Betfred offers plenty of boosts on both prices and enhanced place races. It also offered attractions such as free raceday tickets, best odds guaranteed, as well as a wealth of information and tips for those who might either want a nudge in the right direction.

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Racing punters won’t find a bigger welcome bonus that can be spent entirely on fixed odds racing bets than the Betfred sign up offer.

Sign up and bet a minimum of £10 on racing and in return Betfred will give new customers £50 in free bets.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Launch year: 2006

What we like about Betway

Betway are the youngest of our top five list and have quickly built a reputation for good service and some very attractive offers. They’ve fast become one of the top horse race betting sites.

Betway will often offer up place boost races, where each-way bettors can benefit from an extra place, at slightly reduced odds, which can offer a very useful extra insurance when wagering.

It also provides an excellent Free Bet Club for those loyal to the site, has a helpful bet builder facility and a super streaming service for horse racing bettors.

Best horse racing betting sites by feature

It was tough to whittle down all the potential best horse racing betting sites to a definitive list of five. Let’s take a look at where UK punters should go for certain features when it comes to betting on racing online.

Best for Cheltenham 2026 – LiveScore Bet

The 2026 Cheltenham Festival is nearly upon us and LiveScore Bet look like being one of the top options for wagering on this year’s edition of the meeting, with punters able to grab multiple free bets on all four days.

By betting on the first race of the day at Cheltenham, punters can look forward to receiving a free bet within one hour of the qualifying wager being settled. The value of the bet varies from customer to customer, but will range from £1 up to £50.

LiveScore Bet are also running money back specials each day of Cheltenham, offering punters their money back as a free bet if their selection finishes second, third or fourth in a particular race.

There’s also a third free bet promotion available from LiveScore Bet, who will give bettors a £5 free acca bet at the end of the week if punters place four or more accumulators, wagering a minimum of £5 each time.

On top of the free bet offers, LiveScore Bet will be offering extra places on certain races at Cheltenham, Best Odds Guaranteed from 10am each day, live streaming of every race at Cheltenham and Cheltenham specials bettors may not find anywhere else.

Best for free bets – Paddy Power

Paddy Power’s Rewards Club means bettors can get a guaranteed free bet each and every week for racing. Place a minimum of five bets, staking at least £5 each time, to claim the reward.

Free bets can vary in value, ranging from £5 up to £50, depending on how much was wagered the week before. Free bets are credited on the Monday of the following week and have seven days to use their reward.

Free bets can also be won playing Paddy’s free-to-play Wonder Wheel. Bettors get one free spin each day with prizes such as scratchcards, odds boosts, free bets and cash available.

Finally, Paddy Power have a strong track record of running free bet offers for racing on a weekly basis, refunding punters if their selection doesn’t win but finishes in the places.

Best for profit boosts – talkSPORT BET

talkSPORT BET is online horse racing betting UK’s best site for profit boosts or bet boosts. Bettors are able to weigh up their wagers with lots of information about each horse in a race and, if they have a stronger view about its chance, they can take advantage of better prices than SP.

A simple click takes you onto any race and from that point you can then click on ‘lengthen the odds’ by backing your selection to win by a specific distance or more. So, in a hypothetical example, a horse that is 5/2 favourite for a race may be offered at 3/1 to win the race by more than one length.

The site also lists numerous other Bet Boosts each day, showing bettors the prices that were available originally and the boosted prices now on offer.

Best for money-back specials – BetGoodwin

BetGoodwin are the best UK horse race betting site for refunds. They are unique in this respect.

Where other firms occasionally run money-back specials on races, BetGoodwin offers permanent and ongoing free bet refunds.

Particular free bets refunds include losers by a nose, where the company will refund bettors on the win part of the bet at up to £100 when your horse finishes second by a nose. You’ll need to stake a minimum of £10 win or £10 each way to qualify.

BetGoodwin also offers, on the same terms of wager and refund, a return of your stake if your selection finishes second in a chase by an official distance of under half a length. You can also receive a free bet refund if the winner of the race is 50/1 or bigger, or if your horse falls at the last while leading in a chase or hurdle.

Best racing bookmaker for accumulators – BOYLE Sports

Plenty of bettors love an accumulator, as a way of staking small but potentially winning big, and BOYLE Sports offers racing bettors an excellent option for an acca bet.

Boyles run an Acca Loyalty scheme, awarding customers a £5 free acca bet after they’ve placed five £5 accumulators, but there’s also Acca Rewards available on each multiple.

Acca Rewards allows bettors to either boost or insure their accumulator. Those offers have been around a while, but Boyles are constantly updating their offers so make sure to head to the promotions page to see what’s running on any given day.

Bettors can get their money back as a free bet if their selection finishes second to the SP favourite on all UK and Irish races, while they sporadically give out free racing bets for placing a racing multiple, including system wagers, such as a trixie bet or a yankee bet, or betting on the final race of the day at selected meetings.

Boyles also allow bettors to build up a bank of Cheltenham free bets by placing racing multiples, as well as other bet types, in the lead up to the festival.

Best for extra places – LiveScore Bet

It can be so frustrating as an each-way bettor when your horse runs a cracker and finishes just outside the places. LiveScore Bet is the best of the UK horse racing betting sites for giving bettors the benefit of an extra place.

For example, in my review of LiveScore Bet, there were several races on one day where a field of 12 runners, which would normally qualify for just three places for each-way bettors, paid out on a fourth-placed finisher on precisely the same terms, i.e. 1/5 odds for placed horses.

Some sites will do extra place offers where there will be reduced terms for that extra place but LiveScore Bet consistently offers the same terms and, therefore, a genuine extra place. This is a great benefit to have on your side when striking a bet.

Best for Best Odds Guaranteed – Unibet

As a bettor you always want to get the best possible value on the horse you’ve worked hard to select and, therefore, having best odds guaranteed on your side is a big positive. After all, you wouldn’t want your 5/1 bet to win at 6/1 and miss out on profit!

This is where Unibet is the best UK horse racing betting site for best odds guaranteed. Place your wager with confidence on numerous races each day, with early value prices offered with the insurance that you know that if your horse finishes in a position to earn you a payout, it will be paid out at the odds you took when placing your bet or the starting price of the horse, whichever is greater.

Best for cashback – QuinnBet

QuinnBet are one of the best horse racing bookmakers for daily offers with the Northern Ireland-based operator giving punters Best Odds Guaranteed, a free bet if second to the SP favourite on every UK and Irish race, and multiple extra place races.

There’s also a daily accumulator free bet boost for winning racing multiples, making QuinnBet a great destination for punters planning to bet regularly.

The cherry on top of all the racing offers is QuinnBet’s cashback scheme. Each week, bettors can receive 25% of their weekly losses back in free bets.

To qualify, bettors must place at least six bets over the course of a week with at least five of those wagers being 50% of the value of the largest bet that week.

The drawback to this offer is that the amount of free bets racing bettors can receive as cashback is capped at £20, instead of the £50 maximum punters get if they place non-racing bets. Horse racing has to make up more than 50% of your bets that week, so bettors who like to mix and match may be able to balance it out.

How we rank racing betting sites

I have stringent criteria I use when reviewing any horse racing bookmaker. Here are a few examples of what I am looking for during the review process:

Licensening & trustworthiness

We ensure that all our recommended UK horse racing betting websites are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which shows they have met industry standards in order to bet.

Value of odds and BOG availability

All the UK online horse racing betting sites that we recommend provide value odds for bettors and offer races that carry offers of best odds guaranteed on your bets.

Promotions and new customer welcome offers

Free horse racing bets or a racing-related welcome bonus are a nice incentive, and we look fondly on the bookmakers that have regular promotions related to racing.

Live streaming and in-play options

Most licensed UK horse racing betting sites offer live streaming services but we ensure that all of those that we recommend have top quality streaming as well as options to bet while the action is in-play.

Mobile app and user interface

We want to point you in the right direction to get the best experience as a bettor, no matter which platform you use. With mobiles now predominantly used to place bets online, our recommended bookies have to have top-of-the-line horse racing betting apps.

Customer experience

The quality of the experience the site provides for its customers was also taken into account when choosing the best horse racing betting sites, across desktop, mobile, and betting apps.

Payment methods & withdrawal speed

We understand that you would like a versatile experience with payments on UK horse racing betting sites and we vet all those sites we recommend to ensure that you have the best options for payment. While we recognise that not everyone is always satisfied with their withdrawal experience, the sites we recommend have historically scored very well when compared against other betting sites.

Responsible gambling

All the horse racing betting sites that we recommend carry responsible gambling markers, text and tools and offer services for bettors that aim to maintain a positive gambling experience so that bettors are able to gamble safely.

Why trust us

As the horse racing correspondent for the Independent, I take my responsibility of making recommendations very seriously. I have been a lover of horse racing for as long as I can remember.

I have also worked for a number of bookmakers, broadcasting and written services, such as websites and also other racing newspapers and magazines.

I have always looked for value betting options; good offers that provide me with benefits as a bettor such as cashback or best odds guaranteed; I value good streaming and TV/radio services as part of a good customer experience; and I always want to bet with UK horse racing betting sites who provide me with good customer service, whether I win or lose.

Best odds for this week’s horse racing

However, while winning is a great feeling, you should never bet with money you don’t have or cannot afford to lose. Always bet responsibly and keep things in proportion. The bigger the stake you wager, the greater your losses could be, so always keep your activity on gambling sites as a fun pastime.

Be selective and never get to the stage where you are betting on every race. There are free tools to help punters stay in control and they are available on various gambling apps, including online bookmakers, casino sites, slot sites and poker sites.

These tools include deposit limits, time outs, self-assessment questionnaires and self-exclusion options.

Gambling should be a pleasurable experience and if it becomes the opposite, the following charities can help:

Horse racing betting sites – FAQs

Which is the best horse racing betting site in the UK?

Coral offers bettors the best customer experience and is therefore my pick as the best betting site for UK horse racing. It offers competitive odds, many good offers such as best odds guaranteed and extra place races.

Which bookmakers offer Best Odds Guaranteed?

William Hill, Betfred, bet365, Unibet, Ladbrokes, BetVictor, BOYLE Sports, Betway and talkSPORT BET all offer best odds guaranteed (BOG). Always check each site for any timeframes for a best odds guaranteed promotion. Some international races can be excluded from BOG offers and some bookmakers do not provide BOG on multiple bets, so always check before betting.

What does each way mean in racing betting?

Each way means that you are placing two bets on one horse, the WIN part of the bet and the PLACE part of the bet. Therefore, if your horse doesn’t win but finishes placed, you will still receive some return on your stake. Bear in mind that your stake is doubled, for example, if you place a £1 each-way bet, your total stake will be £2.

What are extra place offers?

Extra place offers are where UK horse racing betting websites extend the number of places on which they will pay out. For example, for a 12-runner horse race, a place bet normally has to finish in the first three for you to receive a payout. An extra place offer would mean that your horse could finish fourth and still receive a payout.

What types of horse racing bets can I place online?

Online racing betting sites offer numerous bet types beyond simple win bets. Popular options include each-way bets (covering win and place), forecast bets (predicting first and second) and specials multiples to racing, such as a Lucky 15, Lucky 31 or a Yankee. Many bookies also feature novelty bets and enhanced odds specials during major festivals like Cheltenham or Royal Ascot.

Where can I get free bets for horse racing?

A lot of horse racing betting sites have free bet offers of one type or another. Free bets can be unlocked via money-back specials or free bets clubs, with BetGoodwin and Tote two standout betting sites when it comes to free bet offers.

Which betting sites offer live streams of racing?

Most betting sites now carry coverage of UK and Irish racing, while others will live stream selected cards from across the world. Bettors will either need a funded account or have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to live stream a race.

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.

Team Australia headed into this year’s World Baseball Classic on the back of a breakthrough campaign in 2023, where they qualified for the quarterfinals for the first time.

Australia’s squad for the 2026 World Baseball Classic is headlined by MLB stars Curtis Mead, Jack O’Loughlin and Cleveland Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana. The 2026 WBC kicked off with Australia facing off against Chinese Taipei opener at the Tokyo Dome.

Travis Bazzana featured at second base in the WBC opener with Curtis Mead at third base, Aaron Whitefield in center field, Alex Hall as the designated hitter, Jarryd Dale at shortstop, Rixon Wingrove at first base, Robbie Perkins behind the plate, Chris Burke in left field and Tim Kennelly in right field.

Former Baltimore Orioles ace Alex Wells started the game for Australia in their WBC opener. Australia claimed a 3-0 win after Perkins hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning and Bazzana added a solo home run in the seventh inning.

Former MLB top picks realising World Baseball Classic dream with Australia

Travis Bazzana, who is yet to make his MLB debut after being selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 MLB draft, admitted that he always dreamt of representing his country. He made his feelings know ahead of his WBC debut this week.

Growing up, I always looked ahead and kind of had a vision of things I wanted to do in this game, and this was a big part of it,” Bazzana saud. “Young me would be dreaming of (this) and now it’s here. Just got to make the most of it.”

Australia will play Czechia on March 6. They will be up against the defending champions, Japan, on March 8, followed by a clash against South Korea on March 9 to conclude their pool games.