Gold Dancer had to be put down after suffering a broken back when winning the Mildmay Novices’ Chase on day two of the Grand National Meeting at Aintree.

The horse dragged his back legs through the final fence when leading Regent’s Stroll and was ridden out to win by four lengths under Paul Townend for trainer Willie Mullins.

Gold Dancer was immediately pulled up after crossing the finish line, with Townend dismounting and screens erected for veterinary experts to assess and treat the horse but the seven-year-old was put down.

Owners Gigginstown said: “He’s been put down. He broke his back. It’s terribly sad for the horse.

“What could Paul Townend do? He felt fine, it was just when he pulled up that something was wrong.”

Emma Slawinski, chief executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “Year after year we see horses dying at Aintree for people’s entertainment and a cheap bet. Sadly, Gold Dancer is the latest victim of this heartless spectacle, which flies in the face of animal welfare.

“The public and businesses should boycott the Aintree Festival, refuse to bet on the racing, and stop watching the ITV coverage and advertising which glosses over the animal cruelty.

“The government needs to act as the British Horseracing Authority and Jockey Club is prioritising gambling profits over the lives of the horses.”

Two horses, Willy De Houelle and Celebre D’Allen, died at last year’s Aintree Festival.

Gold Dancer has tragically lost his life after suffering a catastrophic injury while winning the William Hill Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree. The seven year old had produced an almost perfect round and was cruising towards a dominant win before faltering at the last fence.

Despite the setback, the Willie Mullins-trained runner still managed to claim victory by nearly five lengths, but harrowing scenes unfolded at Aintree afterwards. The horse limped past the winning post before jockey Paul Townend swiftly dismounted. Veterinary teams immediately attended as barriers were put in place, before the heartbreaking announcement was made.

Eddie O’Leary, racing manager for the Gigginstown stable, said: “He’s been put down. He broke his back,” adding “It’s terribly sad for the horse. What could Paul Townend do? He felt fine, it was just when he pulled up that something was wrong.”

Earlier in the race, Miami Magic and Jordans Cross both suffered falls, although ITV confirmed that both horses were able to walk back to the stables afterwards.

Aintree Racecourse issued a statement addressing the tragic incident, saying: “The winner of our second race of the day, Gold Dancer, was pulled up after the line and dismounted,” reports the Mirror, reports the Irish Mirror.

“He was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary team but sadly he could not be saved. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.” ITV’s Ed Chamberlin confirmed: “The winner was immediately attended by veterinary team but sadly could not be saved.” The Jockey Club, which operates 15 racecourses nationwide and runs both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, is continuing its work to minimise dangers in the sport.

Emma Slawinski, chief executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “Year after year we see horses dying at Aintree for people’s entertainment and a cheap bet. Sadly, Gold Dancer is the latest victim of this heartless spectacle which flies in the face of animal welfare.”

Gold Dancer had finished runner-up in the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The horse had previously won at Tipperary and Galway in Ireland while trained by Mullins, after beginning his racing journey in France.

Regent’s Stroll finished second in the 2:20 at Aintree, with Salver claiming third position.

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Put 90g smooth peanut butter, 2 tbsp lime juice, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp honey, 2 tsp sesame oil, ½ finely chopped red chilli (deseeded), 1 grated garlic clove, 1½cm square piece of fresh root ginger (peeled and grated to a purée) in a food processor or blender with 2 tbsp hot water and blitz, or mix everything together with a fork, beating vigorously. You should have quite a smooth mixture. Cover and set aside.

As a researcher investigating how electric brain stimulation can improve people’s powers of recollection, I’m often asked how memory works – and what we can do to use it more effectively. Happily, decades of research have given us some clear answers to both questions.

Memory essentially operates in three stages, with different brain regions contributing to each one.

Sensory memory, which can last only milliseconds, registers raw information such as sights, sounds and smells. These are first processed by the brain’s five primary sensory cortices (visual cortex for sights, auditory cortex for sounds and so on).

Working (short-term) memory holds and manipulates a small amount of information over several seconds or more. Think of this as your brain’s mental workspace: the system that lets you do mental arithmetic, follow instructions and comprehend what you’re reading. So it mainly involves the prefrontal cortex – the front part of your brain that supports attention, decision-making and reasoning.

Finally, long-term memory stores information more permanently, from minutes to a lifetime. This includes both “explicit” memories (facts and life events) and “implicit” ones (skills, habits and emotional associations).

For long-term memories, the hippocampus and temporal lobes – located deep within the brain, around the sides of your head near your temples – contribute largely to memories involving facts or life events, while the amygdala (near the hippocampus), cerebellum (at the back of the brain) and basal ganglia (deep in the brain) process emotional or procedural memories.

Working memory often acts as a conscious gateway to long-term memory – but it has its limits. In 1956, the American psychologist George Miller proposed that we can only hold about seven “chunks” of information in our working memory at any time.

While the exact number is debated to this day, the principle holds: working memory is limited. And that limitation can shape how effectively we learn and remember things.

But you can also get your memory working more effectively. Here are five easy steps for improving both your working and long-term memory.

1. Put your phone away

Smartphones reduce your working memory capacity. Even just having a phone nearby – no matter if it’s face down and on silent – can reduce performance on memory and reasoning tasks.

The reason is that part of your brain is still subtly monitoring it. Even resisting the urge to check notifications consumes mental resources – which is why researchers sometimes call smartphones a “brain drain”. The solution is simple: put your phone in another room when you need to focus. Out of sight really does free up mental capacity.

2. Stop your mind racing

Stress and anxiety can take up valuable mental space. When you’re worrying about something or are distracted by racing thoughts, part of your working memory is already in use.

Relaxation training and mindfulness practices can improve both working memory and academic performance, probably by reducing stress levels. And if meditation feels intimidating, try breathing techniques such as “cyclic sighing”. Inhale deeply through your nose, take a second shorter inhale, then slowly exhale through your mouth. Repeating this for five minutes can calm the nervous system and create better conditions for learning.

3. Get chunking

Everyone can expand their working memory using the technique of chunking – grouping information into meaningful units. In fact, you probably already do it to remember some phone numbers or lists of words – breaking long sequences into bite-size chunks that your brain can recall as a mini-group.

The same principles apply if you’re delivering a presentation, to help your audience remember your key points more effectively. Chunking would involve grouping ten case studies, say, into three or four themes, each with a short headline and single key takeaway.

Repeat this structure on each slide: one idea, a few supporting details, then move on. By organising information into meaningful patterns, you reduce cognitive load and make it more memorable.

4. Become a retriever

In the 19th century, German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus demonstrated how quickly we forget information after learning it. Within about 30 minutes, we lose roughly half of what we have learned, with much more fading over the next day. Ebbinghaus called this the forgetting curve. The light blue line on the chart below illustrates this.

The forgetting curve – and how to disrupt it

However, there is a way of ensuring that more sinks in when you are trying to learn a lot of information in a short period of time: retrieval practice.

When preparing to give a talk or studying for an exam, rather than simply rereading your notes, keep testing how much you remember. Use flash cards, answer practice questions, or try explaining the material out loud without notes.

Memory works through associations. Each time you successfully retrieve information, you link the material to new prompts, examples and contexts. This builds more cues to accessing the information, and strengthens each memory pathway. Often when we “forget”, the memory isn’t gone – we just lack the right retrieval cue.

5. Give yourself a break

Research shows that memory is more effective when study or practice sessions are spread out, rather than massed together. If you are studying for an exam, build solid blocks of downtime into your revision schedule. The dark blue line on the chart above illustrates how spacing out your practice sessions can help you remember more information over time, by adjusting Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve.

One study suggests leaving gaps between each revision session that equate to 10-20% of the time left until your exam or presentation. So, if your deadline is five days away and you do hours of revision a day, you should still take between a half and full day off in between sessions. In other words, don’t overdo it – you probably won’t see the rewards!

If you only remember one thing from this article about improving memory, make it this. Memory isn’t just about intelligence, it’s about strategy. Small changes in how you study or work can make a real difference in how well, and how long, you remember crucial information.

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez will remain unavailable for the upcoming home match against Manchester City despite apologising for recent comments about Madrid, head coach Liam Rosenior says.

Fernandez was handed a two-match internal ban by the club last week after he gave an interview during the international break in which he expressed his admiration for the city of Madrid.

The Argentine has repeatedly been linked with a move to La Liga club Real Madrid.

His agent, Javier Pastore, said this week that “we cleared the air” with Chelsea after Fernandez missed last Saturday’s 7-0 FA Cup victory against Port Vale, and had hoped that the ban would be reduced to one match.

However, Rosenior says Fernandez will miss Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Manchester City as Chelsea have decided to stick to their original punishment, despite the Argentine apologising for his comments.

“I had three or four [conversations] with Enzo,” said Rosenior.

“He’s apologised to me, he’s apologised to the club, and we’ll deal with that after a massive game on Sunday.

Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi says he is “not better” than predecessors Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor as he prepares to take charge of his first game at the Premier League strugglers.

Sunderland will be Spurs’ first opponents under the Italian, who was appointed on 31 March with the club one point outside the relegation zone with seven games remaining.

De Zerbi is Tottenham‘s third manager of the season after Frank and Tudor – the latter only lasting 44 days and seven matches in the role.

“I am proud and happy to be here and I have to say thank you to Vinai [Venkatesham] and Johan [Lange] because they showed me a big, big confidence,” said De Zerbi on Friday.

“I’m sure about the level of the players because I was very, very close to bringing many of these players to my former teams in the past.

“I think I am not better than Frank or Tudor because I consider them very good coaches.

“I try to bring my style, my character, my personality and my strengths to achieve our target, which is the most important part now.”

Tottenham have not won a domestic league game in 2026 and only two since 26 October 2025.

They were also knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 by Atletico Madrid 7-5 on aggregate.

Since 1950, Spurs have only spent one season outside the top flight, which was back in 1977-78.

“For me, it was a big opportunity because Tottenham are a very important club in the Premier League and the Premier League is the best league in the world,” said De Zerbi, who previously managed Brighton between 2022 and 2024.

“I love the qualities of the players and the crucial part that there was 12 days before the first game and for me it was important to have more than one week. I thought it would be important to understand the problems.

“The message for my staff and players is that we have to deserve the support because the fans are suffering like us. But for the fans, there is just one club. The players can change but for the fans, their club is unique.

“We have to make them happy with the right spirit and the right behaviour on the pitch. Then it’s easier to make points.”

Tottenham travel to the Stadium of Light to face 11th-placed Sunderland on Sunday (14:00 BST kick-off).

Police remain at the scene

A car was driven through a hedge at a supermarket as suspects attempted to escape from police following an attempted ATM theft. Police were called at 1.11am this morning (April 10) following reports of an attempted theft of an ATM machine at Morrisons at Parsons Green in St Ives.

A group of men in a dark SUV were involved in the incident but fled in the car empty handed. The vehicle was driven through a hedge, which caused damage to the car and left behind some debris.

Officers arrived at the scene seven minutes later and searched the area but could not locate the car or people involved. Officers remain at the scene.

An investigation into the attempted theft has been launched. Anyone with information such as CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage of the incident should report it to the police.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “We were called at 1.11am today to reports of an attempted theft of an ATM machine at Morrisons in Parsons Green, St Ives.

“A group of men in a dark SUV were involved in the attempted theft but fled in the vehicle empty handed. The vehicle was driven through a hedge during the escape, causing damage to the car and leaving debris behind.

“Officers arrived at the scene less than seven minutes later, and a search of the area was carried out to no avail.

“Police remain at the scene and an investigation has been launched. Anyone with any information including any CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage, is urged to submit this online quoting incident 29 of 10 April. Call 101 if you do not have internet access.”

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DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Friday marks six months since Gaza’s ceasefire deal took effect, a milestone largely lost in the confusion over the new and even more fragile ceasefire in the Iran war.

The ravaged Palestinian territory of 2 million people has seen the most intense fighting stop between Israeli forces and Hamas-led militants. But most of the ceasefire work remains to be done, from disarming Hamas and ending its two-decade rule to deploying an international stabilization force and beginning vast reconstruction. Gaza residents are in limbo, with limited aid entering through a single, Israeli-controlled border post.

Such challenges could represent what’s to come in the latest war, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to peacemaking appears to be stopping bombardment and leaving the bigger picture for others to work out.

Whether Trump can force through that kind of deal on Iran, with more actors in play and global markets quivering at every statement, is yet to be seen.

The Board of Peace goes quiet

Focusing on a deal’s details is crucial. Already the Iran war’s two-week ceasefire has created deadly confusion over Lebanon as Israel insists the deal doesn’t apply there and continues to attack the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, while Iran insists it does and threatens to upend the agreement. Israel made a surprise announcement Thursday authorizing direct negotiations with Lebanon, despite the lack of diplomatic ties.

Not long ago, the U.S.-created and Trump-led Board of Peace kicked off with $7 billion in pledges and sweeping intentions of resolving not only Gaza but other conflicts that emerge around the world.

Nine days after the board’s initial meeting, the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran.

The Board of Peace has not met again, and it’s still waiting for Hamas to respond to its proposal on disarming, a major concession and perhaps the hardest step. Hamas’ charter calls for destroying Israel.

A U.S. official said Hamas has not been given a definite deadline to respond to the proposal but added that “patience is not unlimited.” The official was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The lack of a deadline can weaken pressure to act. Meanwhile, diplomacy is busy putting out different flames.

Board of Peace director Nickolay Mladenov told the U.N. Security Council last month that the world should not lose sight of Gaza as a new war flared. The choice in Gaza is between “a renewed war, or a new beginning; the status quo, or a better future,” he added. “There is no third option.”

‘It’s as if there’s no ceasefire at all’

Palestinians might suggest a third option: neglect.

Six months into the Gaza ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10, little beyond the largely silenced explosions has changed.

Vast tent camps house most of the territory’s population. Other residents shelter in damaged apartment buildings. Health workers and other humanitarian workers say there has been little progress in the expected surge of medical supplies and other aid.

Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Pleasence appeared in four episodes of Coronation Street, where she played the character Monica Sutton, a small recurring role in early 1968.

In a statement shared on social media, her agency said: “We are very sad to announce the passing of our dear client, Angela Pleasance.

“During her career which spanned more than six decades, Angela appeared in more than sixty different screen roles.

“Some of her most memorable roles were in films including From Beyond the Grave and A Christmas Carol.

“In 1968, the actress joined Coronation Street in a guest role as a character named Monica Sutton.

“She then went on to work extensively in TV and appeared in shows such as Doctor Who, Happy Valley, Casualty and Whitechapel, in which she had a regular role for a series, The Bill.

“Angela also had a minor role in the 2002 Hollywood movie Gangs of New York.”

Her agency added: “While never defined by any one genre, her contribution to the British industry remains a distinctive and much-admired part of her legacy.

“Our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.”

Coronation Street star Craig Charles on why he left the ITV soap

Craig Charles played taxi driver Lloyd Mullaney on Coronation Street from 2005 to 2015.

His character, which was popular with viewers, was notably involved in the show’s dramatic 50th-anniversary tram crash storyline, which was broadcast live.

It was in May 2015 that Craig announced he would be leaving Coronation Street for Red Dwarf, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music.

Craig said: “The death of my brother, and my unexpected departure as a result, did change my life.

“It made me re-evaluate things and made me ask: ‘If that had happened to me, would I be happy with what I had achieved?’

“I came up with the answer and it was ‘no’.”

Islamabad entered a state of lockdown on Friday as Pakistan’s capital prepared to host high-stakes negotiations to end the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Army and paramilitary personnel guarded the roads around Serena Hotel, the venue of the talks, as police beefed up security across the city. On Wednesday, the luxury hotel’s management had asked its guests to check out by 5pm as the government had requisitioned the property for an “important event from this evening until Sunday”.

Pakistan’s political and military leaders achieved a major diplomatic breakthrough by mediating a ceasefire between the US and Iran early on Wednesday. The ceasefire was declared less than two hours before the deadline on US president Donald Trump’s threat to obliterate a “whole civilisation” if Iran did not open the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route that usually carries a fifth of the global supply of oil and gas.

Although the truce was immediately threatened by Israel’s deadly strikes on Lebanon which killed hundreds of people, it paved the way for American and Iranian diplomats to gather in Pakistan and negotiate an end to nearly six weeks of intense fighting.

The diplomats will be under great pressure to pull off what some analysts are describing as “mission impossible” – a deal that brings peace to the Middle East and stabilises a world economy battered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

In preparation for the meeting, the government declared public holidays on Thursday and Friday while police imposed strict traffic restrictions in Islamabad.

“The Red Zone and surrounding areas are closed to all types of traffic except official vehicles. Citizens are requested to avoid unnecessary travel,” the city police said in an advisory.

The Red Zone is a city landmark housing key government offices and foreign missions.

The heightened security measures are informed by the threat of terrorism, which remains real and present. There was a suicide bombing in Islamabad as recently as February and it was one of the triggers for the Pakistani airstrikes that fuelled weeks of fighting with neighbouring Afghanistan.

Islamabad accuses the neighbouring country of sheltering Islamist and ethnic insurgents responsible for carrying out terror attacks on its soil. Kabul denies the allegations.

“Given those risks, the lack of preparation time and the high-profile nature of these talks, this is a very challenging visit from a security perspective and speaks to the importance this administration places ⁠on the negotiations,” Elizabeth Threlkeld, director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center, said.

The US is expected to send a delegation headed by vice president JD Vance to conduct the talks in Islamabad, while Iran is set to be represented by foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Gulf nations such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, both of which are parties to the conflict, may also send delegations to Islamabad and hold talks on the sidelines.

Pakistani interior minister Mohsin Naqvi assured US chargé d’affaires Natalie Baker of elaborate arrangements for the visiting diplomats.

The newspaper Dawn reported that a 30-member US team was already in Islamabad to assess the security preparations.

Security analyst Zahid Hussain said the challenge for Pakistan was not just protecting the venue but to prevent diplomacy from being overtaken by forces outside the room.

Aside from this, analysts say, there isn’t much Pakistan can do. “What it lacks is meaningful leverage to compel ​concessions if the US and Iran are not willing to come to terms,” Ms Threlkeld said.