JP McManus turns 75 on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival and our tipping expert has selections across the card to help you build your accumulator bets

JP McManus could mark his 75th birthday in style by securing a tenth Unibet Champion Hurdle victory with THE NEW LION (4.00) on the opening Tuesday of the Cheltenham Festival.

The Limerick-born billionaire celebrates his milestone birthday on Tuesday and has a strong chance of visiting the Cotswolds winners’ enclosure thanks to Dan Skelton’s seven year old gelding, who previously triumphed for him at the venue in last year’s Turners’ Novice Hurdle.

The New Lion faces stiff competition from three exceptional mares in Tuesday’s feature race, including Willie Mullins’ triple Festival winner Lossiemouth, along with last year’s Golden Ace victor and Brighterdaysahead, creating an intriguing contest.

Whilst Lossiemouth’s late switch from pursuing a hat-trick in Thursday’s Mares’ Hurdle has seen The New Lion lose his position as favourite, he still possesses the qualities needed to deliver trainer Dan Skelton and brother Harry their maiden Champion Hurdle success.

Graduates from the Turners’ boast a strong track record in the Champion, and this runner combines exceptional pace with stamina, whilst appearing to have resolved his jumping issues when claiming a Grade 2 Hurdle at the course in January, reports the Irish Mirror.

Lossiemouth represents formidable opposition at Cheltenham, and the addition of cheekpieces may provide the edge she needs following an unexpected loss to Brighterdaysahead at the Dublin Racing Festival. Both mares possess the ability to triumph with a 7lb advantage over The New Lion, yet given the anticipated quick pace, we’re backing The New Lion’s strong finishing burst to prevail in this contest.

Golden Ace is also seeking a third Cheltenham triumph, having claimed the Mares’ Novice Hurdle in 2024 before capitalising on a chaotic Champion Hurdle 12 months ago at 25-1.

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle opener has the potential to be an exceptional renewal, with at least half of the 12 runners showing signs of being top-quality prospects for years to come.

Throughout the winter, Willie Mullins appeared to lack a genuine Supreme contender, but a late tactical shift regarding Mighty Park’s objective sees him line up in the Festival curtain-raiser following one hugely impressive outing at Fairyhouse in January.

The Mullins team are hailing the JP McManus-owned gelding as a future star, however we’d rather back a horse that’s already demonstrated its quality at the elite level, which is why TALK THE TALK (1.20) earns our selection.

Joseph O’Brien’s five year old claimed the Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival by the narrowest of margins and would likely have secured the Grade 1 at Christmas too, had he not stumbled and fallen after clearing the final flight.

That DRF victory seemed improbable 100 yards from the line, but he displayed a remarkable acceleration on heavy ground in a steadily run race to catch Ballyfad and King Rasko Grey in an exciting finish. He should be far more comfortable on today’s predicted good ground, and assuming he can produce a clean jumping display, he possesses both the pace and endurance required to claim victory.

This son of Born To Sea appears to be an extremely promising talent, with JJ Slevin likely to hold him up before unleashing his turn of foot in the closing stages to overhaul his rivals.

El Cairos is another runner blessed with speed who firmly sits in the ‘potential star’ bracket following his two outings for Gordon Elliott, though question marks remain over his jumping accuracy and his limited exposure to Grade 1 competition.

The locally trained Old Park Star has maintained an unblemished record and may prove superior to the visiting Irish challengers, whilst Mydaddypaddy is expected to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the Formby at Aintree.

The subsequent Arkle Chase promises equal intrigue, with the showdown between Kopek Des Bordes and LULAMBA (2.00) representing one of the Festival’s standout contests.

Kopek Des Bordes captured last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle whilst Lulamba was denied in the Triumph by a 100-1 outsider, and anticipation for this encounter has been building throughout the winter months.

The two horses have followed contrasting routes to this meeting, with Kopek arriving following just one outing—albeit a commanding performance—in a Beginners’ Chase at Navan, whereas Nicky Henderson has given Lulamba three preparatory runs, even testing him against seasoned rivals in the Game Spirit on his latest start. That wealth of experience could prove pivotal, and whilst there are legitimate concerns about Kopek’s superior pace, the expectation is that Nico De Boinville can remain competitive and grind down his opponent in the final stages.

Henderson has captured this prize a record eight times, and Lulamba appears to share similarities with Altior – a horse that requires time to find rhythm but becomes formidable once in full flow.

The sentiment emerging from Mullins’ stable suggests Kopek is unbeatable, yet achieving victory in this contest following just a single chase outing has occurred only twice throughout the race’s history.

La Luna Artista had been our selection for the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, though she ultimately didn’t qualify, leaving us to back OLE OLE (2.40) trained by Gavin Cromwell with Keith Donoghue in the saddle.

This former French-trained runner has consistently finished second across three hurdle starts for Cromwell, having also secured a placing during his only French appearance.

Whilst the stable has endured a challenging campaign, they burst back to form at Naas on Sunday by capturing a prestigious handicap, and this powerful traveller looks well suited to strong pace and firm going.

Donoghue is expected to time his challenge carefully, and there’s every indication this horse would have already broken his maiden had he not been rested following Christmas to preserve his handicap rating ahead of this assignment.

He represents excellent each-way value. The Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase has been dominated by UK-trained horses consistently since 2006, and all signs point to that pattern continuing this year.

Henry De Bromhead’s The Short Go is expected to put in a solid performance, but attention is firmly focused on the JP McManus-owned pair of Jagwar and IROKO (3.20) – both trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.

The bookmakers favour Jagwar, though doubts linger over whether he can handle the extended three-mile distance, and his record suggests he can be difficult to get past the post despite his triumph in last year’s Festival Plate.

Iroko is using this race as preparation for the Grand National, where he secured fourth place last year, but he’s a high-quality performer who operates above handicap level and was at one stage being considered for the Gold Cup.

Winning a Festival handicap whilst shouldering 12st is a considerable challenge, but with a full month until Aintree, he’ll have sufficient time to recuperate before attempting to go one better in the National.

Olly Murphy is yet to register a Cheltenham Festival victory, but that could change in today’s concluding National Hunt Chase as his WADE OUT (5.20) appears to possess the necessary qualities to prevail.

He captured a Listed contest over 3m1f at this venue in November, having previously defeated Wendigo at Worcester, though the distance proved insufficient for his needs when last seen at Windsor. Champion jockey Sean Bowen is in the saddle and in what appears a below-par renewal, he stands out as a horse that’s continuing to progress and able to handle top weight.

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Padel is easy to learn and suitable for players of all ages and abilities, making it an accessible alternative to tennis while still offering a strong cardiovascular workout and social element.

The Bannatyne Health Club and Spa in Livingston has secured planning approval for new padel courts, bringing one of the world’s fastest-growing sports to the West Lothian club.

West Lothian Council has granted permission for the development at the club on Charlesfield Road, which will see three full-size doubles courts installed within the grounds of the health club, open to both members and non-members.

The courts will feature artificial turf playing surfaces, glass and mesh surrounds, canopy cover and floodlighting, allowing the facilities to be used throughout the year.

The new courts will be located on an area currently used for football pitches within the club grounds and will form part of Bannatyne’s ongoing investment programme to expand its racquet sports offering across the UK.

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Padel is easy to learn and suitable for players of all ages and abilities, making it an accessible alternative to tennis while still offering a strong cardiovascular workout and social element.

Played on an enclosed court where the ball can rebound off surrounding glass walls, the sport combines elements of tennis and squash and is typically played in doubles format.

Originating in South America, padel has grown rapidly across Europe and the UK in recent years as more people look for sociable ways to stay active. Spain now has more than six million regular players and the sport is widely predicted to become an Olympic event within the next decade.

Work on the Livingston courts is expected to begin before the summer, with the new facilities set to be open to both members and non-members once completed.

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Duncan Bannatyne, chairman and chief executive of the Bannatyne Group, said: “Padel is becoming one of the most popular participation sports in the UK and we are continuing to invest in courts across our clubs to meet that growing demand.

“The sport is accessible, sociable and great fun, which makes it a perfect fit for the Bannatyne community. These new courts in Livingston will give both members and local residents another exciting way to stay active and enjoy time together.”

The Livingston club already offers a wide range of facilities including a fully equipped gym, swimming pool, spa and group exercise programme. The addition of padel will further enhance the club’s sports and wellbeing offering for members and the wider community.

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Ian Huntley was attacked in prison on February 26 and died on March 7

A man has been charged with murder after the death of Soham killer Ian Huntley. Huntley was serving a life sentence for the murder of schoolgirls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells, 10.

Huntley killed the two girls on August 4, 2002, in their hometown of Soham. While serving his sentence in HMP Frankland in Durham, Huntley was attacked by another inmate on February 26.

The 52-year-old died in hospital on Saturday (March 7). Durham Constabulary has now charged a man in connection with Huntley’s murder.

A police spokesperson said: “Anthony Russell, 43, of HMP Frankland, has been charged with the murder of Soham killer Ian Huntley.” Russell will appear before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon (March 11) via videolink.

Christopher Atkinson of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings. We have worked closely with Durham Constabulary as they carried out their investigation.”

The CPS said it was “vital” there was no “reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings”.

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It turns out old CDs are the key to protecting your flower buds and fresh grass from being harmed in spring.

Do not chuck your old CDs in the rubbish, as they can prove remarkably handy for gardeners looking to safeguard their flowers, lawns and seedlings from birds this spring. It may sound peculiar, but now we’re in March, plants are vulnerable ans only just starting to sprout.

Spring also marks nesting season for many British birds. Species including blackbirds, pigeons and sparrows are frequently scouring gardens for seeds to nourish their young. Birds can rapidly wreak havoc on a garden during this period by unearthing freshly planted seeds, whilst also nibbling flower buds and grass shoots.

Gardens can find it difficult to flourish if birds aren’t kept at bay from plants in early spring, and Tanya Anderson, a gardener and founder of Lovely Greens, reckons hanging CDs is a highly effective deterrent.

Tanya explained: “Tie old CDs by a string in your fruit trees, bushes, or elsewhere in your garden. Their reflective surfaces will flash as they move in the breeze, scaring birds away.”

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CDs frighten birds by bouncing back sunlight and creating flashes of light, which they frequently confuse with the rapid movements of predators, reports the Express.

Birds are instinctively wary, particularly during nesting season, and unexpected movement makes them far more inclined to maintain their distance.

The flashing light can also bewilder them whilst flying, reducing the likelihood they’ll touch down in your garden and diminishing their opportunity to peck at your lawn or plants.

This straightforward technique works not only with CDs, but equally well with strips of tin foil, old metal pie lids, or even purpose-made bird deterrent tape, all operating on the same principle.

If you’re fond of feeding birds, simply position the CDs in parts of your garden you want to safeguard, such as a vegetable patch or lawn, whilst keeping them well away from your bird table or birdbath.

It’s worth noting that smaller birds like robins, chaffinches and goldfinches typically forage close to the ground and are less likely to spot CDs.

They also tend to be accustomed to humans, displaying more curiosity and boldness, meaning they’re more inclined to examine a shiny object rather than flee from it.

CDs prove more effective against larger birds, such as pigeons, as they’re naturally more wary since they’re easier targets for predators.

Their bigger eyes also mean they detect sudden flashes of light more readily, and they’re slower than smaller birds too, so they must be cautious about where they land, as getting away from danger proves harder for them.

Larger birds can also inflict considerably more harm on your garden, but investing just a few minutes hanging CDs in elevated spots, such as trees, can help deter them throughout spring.

With 5.8 million people in the UK living with diabetes, doctors are urging people to watch out for three key warning signs.

Diabetes is a generally lifelong condition that results in a person’s blood sugar level becoming dangerously high. Most sufferers typically have type 2 diabetes, which is frequently triggered by lifestyle factors such as carrying excess weight and insufficient physical activity.

Charity Diabetes UK estimates that over 5.8 million people across the UK are living with diabetes, representing “an all-time high”. Their figures reveal that almost 4.6 million people in the UK live with a diabetes diagnosis.

Furthermore, nearly 1.3 million people may be living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. As with any condition, certain signs and symptoms can indicate its presence, and Doctor Mohan Sekeram, known as @docmerton on TikTok, has highlighted three that serve as “red flags”.

1. Regular trips to the loo

Generally, people urinate between four and seven times each day. Should you find yourself visiting the toilet more often, especially waking numerous times throughout the night, it could signal that your kidneys are labouring to flush excess sugar from your bloodstream, reports the Express.

Consider restricting fluids after 7pm and avoiding caffeinated beverages after 5pm. Should you continue waking repeatedly at night to use the loo, it may point to an underlying problem.

2. Unquenchable thirst

Should you be drinking more than four litres daily and water fails to quench your thirst, it could indicate raised blood sugar levels.

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3. Fatigue

When sugar can’t get into your cells to fuel them, your kidneys have to put in extra graft to get rid of the surplus sugar. This can lead to feelings of tiredness, weakness and exhaustion.

It’s a “red flag” if you find yourself too weak to carry out everyday tasks that used to be a doddle, or you feel wiped out after eating a meal.

Dr Amir Khan also identifies fatigue as a primary symptom of diabetes. In a recent health podcast titled No Appointment Necessary, he stated: “Tiredness is the most common presenting symptom of type 2 diabetes.”

The VegTrug Medium Classic Planter is on sale at Yimbly for £158.40 with discount code SPRING10, saving shoppers more than £61 on the raised garden bed

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Garden enthusiasts are always on the lookout for tools and equipment that are user-friendly, lightweight, efficient, and reasonably priced. At Yimbly, a shopping marketplace owned by Reach Plc, the parent company of this site, a popular raised planter has been discounted by over £40, with an additional 10% off available using a code.

The VegTrug Medium Classic Planter is currently being offered at a reduced price of £175.99, down from its original price of £219.99. However, shoppers can avail of an even better deal by using the code ‘SPRING10’, which brings the cost down to £158.40 at checkout.

This makes it a more affordable option than Amazon, where it’s listed for £189.99, reduced from £219.99. Yimbly highlights that this Medium Split 1.8m VegTrug Planter comes with re-engineered panels that are lighter and more compact, simplifying everything from unpacking to planting.

It’s touted as being ‘perfect for all gardeners from beginners to green-fingered pros’.

Constructed from 100% FSC-certified cedar wood and treated with a water-based food safe preservative, this planter is durable, eco-friendly and ready for immediate use, according to the site. Its V-shaped design allows for both deep-and shallow-rooted crops to grow together, whilst its 420-litre soil capacity provides ample space for vegetables, herbs, and flowers, reports Devon Live.

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The planter comes with six protective plastic foot covers and a pre-formed biodegradable liner to ‘ensure stability and healthy soil with minimal maintenance’, whilst its elevated design eliminates the need for bending or kneeling. It measures 80cm x 183.4cm x 76cm.

For those seeking a more affordable compact option, Argos stocks the Home Wooden Rectangle Outdoor Planter at £25. At nearly 3ft in width, this timber planter features drainage holes offering ‘plenty of growing space’ and boasts frost and rust resistance.

Alternatively, Next offers the compact Charles Bentley Grey Garden Trough Slate 60cm Planter for £30. Constructed from lightweight plastic, the retailer describes this trough as having capacity for ‘an abundance of plants or flowers’, complete with a neutral grey slate-effect finish.

Whilst Yimbly doesn’t feature direct reviews for the VegTrug Medium Classic Planter, Robert Dyas has numerous testimonials, though it’s priced higher there at £189.99. One purchaser commented: “Ideal product for growing vegetables and herbs in a small garden and also at a comfortable height to avoid bending.”

Another customer enthused: “Star purchase… Why didn’t I buy this earlier! Absolutely delighted with the purchase of my VegTrug, which not only looks great but is manufactured to a high quality and went together perfectly. Within a matter of weeks it has allowed me to start harvesting fresh greens and I really enjoy watching my vegetable garden flourish with no pesky snails or slugs in sight!” Another customer revealed: “Trug was delivered safely. I was delighted with the quality of the parts and the fit. Instructions were unusually helpful. Having constructed it, it is now full of vegetable plants and no slugs!”.

Additional reviews came in for the VegTrug Medium Classic Planter, with one buyer commenting: “Pricey but ideal design for a backyard. Good visually. Yet to be planted. Assembly was straight forward and items well packaged.”

A further review noted: “Excellent, great quality planter with clear build instructions. Gave four stars rather than five stars that I gave my large one simply because some of the screw holes didn’t line up so missed their attachment. Redid them so not a problem.”

Several key castmembers and the director of hit Canadian show Heated Rivalry have condemned so-called “fans” using hateful language towards them and their co-stars.

Hudson Williams, 25, who plays the lead role of Shane Hollander in the gay ice hockey romance, shared the post to his Instagram Story on Monday (9 March).

“Don’t call yourself a fan if you share racist, homophobic, biphobic, misogynistic, ageist, ableist, parasocial [or] bigoted comments of any kind,” the message said.

“None of us need your hateful ‘love’.”

The message added: “We all respect and support and love each other and are on the same side. If you can’t accept that gtfoh [get the f*** out of here].”

Williams’s co-star François Arnaud, 40, who plays the character of Scott Hunter in the same series, shared the same post to his own Instagram Stories.

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Robbie Graham-Kuntz, who stars as Kip, the love interest of Arnaud’s character, also shared the post with a heart emoji next to their words, as did show creator/director Jacob Tierney and author Rachel Reid, who wrote the original Heated Rivalry books.

Heated Rivalry, whose central storyline follows the secret relationship between rival ice hockey players Shane and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), has become a phenomenon around the world, attracting huge praise for its performances, storyline and depiction of same-sex relationships.

However, much has also been made of the attention it has brought to the cast, some of whom were complete unknowns before the first series was released in December last year.

Williams, Storrie and Arnaud in particular have been hounded by paparazzi and fans, while also being bombarded with messages speculating about every aspect of their personal lives.

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The statement shared by Williams appeared to acknowledge fan-driven rumours attempting to root out any perceived tensions between him and his castmates.

Arnaud has also been the subject of online abuse over unsubstantiated speculation that he and Storrie, 25, are dating. During an interview with Andy Cohen last month, he retorted “none of your f***ing business” when the chat-show host attempted to pry about his dating life.

Despite online rumours about the relationships between cast members, all involved in the show have consistently publicly voiced their support for one another through their various TV appearances and interviews.

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Storrie was joined by Arnaud and their co-stars Nadine Bhabha, Christina Chang and Graham-Kuntz, along with Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brasy, at the GLAAD Media Awards last week – where they picked up the prize for Outstanding New TV Series.

Williams also turned up to support Storrie as he made his debut hosting Saturday Night Live earlier this month.

Writing for The Independent after Heated Rivalry was released in the UK, Adam White accused the more obsessive among the show’s fans of sucking the fun out of it.

“Heated Rivalry has become exhausting to talk about and think about, primarily because such a loud bulk of its fandom – an army of digital natives that seems to cross gender, age and sexuality – have come to treat the show as practically sacrosanct,” he wrote.

“Dissenting critics have been aggressively piled-on across social media, while screaming devotion to the show’s two stars seems poised on a cliff edge, as Storrie and Williams’s opinions, personal lives and digital footprints are inspected with a fine tooth comb for anything remotely spiky or clumsily worded.”

At the end of 2025, the Gulf states received high praise for their economic resilience. According to reports by the World Bank and the World Economic Forum, the region was stable, modern and reliable.

Now the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – are watching on nervously. The economic damage done by what has become a regional conflict, bringing an abrupt loss of stability, could be huge.

Aside from Saddam Hussein’s foray into Kuwait in 1991, these six countries have successfully steered clear of conflict on their home turf over a long period. They avoided the revolutionary upheavals which affected Egypt (1952), Iraq, Syria and Iran (1979). They steered clear of any spillover from the long-running Israel-Palestine conflict.

The group was mostly unaffected by the war between Iran and Iraq. And aside from a short-lived uprising in Bahrain in 2011, the GCC emerged largely unscathed from the regional turmoil of the Arab Spring in 2010 which spread from Tunisia and and Egypt and led to violent instability which continues to this day in Libya, Yemen and Syria.

The GCC’s comparative stability underpins its attractiveness as a global hub for money and modernity. Success in luxury tourism has filled places such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi with five (and even a seven) star hotels. Only France has more Michelin-starred restaurants than the United Arab Emirates (UAE). There is cutting-edge technology in Qatar’s energy sector, and a vast AI campus in the UAE.

It is these kinds of projects which led the World Bank and the World Economic Forum to publish glowing reports on the region recently. Both organisations agreed in late 2025 that oil wealth was being wisely invested for the future.

The general view was that the GCC was a place of economic stability and diversity. A director of the World Bank, Safaa El Kogali, said that the region’s embrace of a digital future had been nothing short of “remarkable”.

But US military bases in all GCC countries have come under attack. Drones have hit oil tankers. The Strait of Hormuz, vital for the transit of much of the world’s energy is effectively closed.

Missiles from Iran directly hit three Amazon web service facilities, one in Bahrain and two in the UAE, leading the company to recommend that GCC businesses back up their data and migrate it to data centres in the US.

Stock markets across the world have fallen sharply. Energy bills and petrol prices have soared as oil and gas refineries have been shut in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE.

Under fire

Despite efforts to diversify economies away from oil, for now the region is still clearly dependent on oil exports and food imports, hence the worries over Hormuz. There are fears for its numerous desalination plants, which provide drinking water (as well as filling infinity pools and keeping golf courses green).

And its status as a safe and sunny sanctuary for conference conveners, influencers, holiday makers and owners of second homes is now being questioned.

Even if the conflict were to end soon, reputational damage has been done. People are fleeing the area, as images of smoke filled skies fill screens.

This will inevitably dampen foreign direct investment in the immediate future. The course and duration of the conflict will determine the degree to which the region can bounce back and continue to attract holidaymakers and young professionals and those seeking a life with more sun and less tax.

From a geopolitical perspective, the region’s recent success – aside from its vast and easily extracted natural resources – has rested largely on the assumed political stability that was underwritten by hosting US military bases and buying US military hardware. Both of these could now prove to be an economic liability.