Wireless earbuds have taken over the world, offering excellent sound and dramatic noise cancelling effectiveness all in a convenient package.
There are multiple things to consider, especially with the wide range of ‘true wireless’ earbuds on the market. Having overtaken all the best headphones (the over-ear sort) in 2020, wireless stereo earbuds now account for 72.6 per cent of the smart personal audio market in 2024, according to analyst Canalys, with 77 million units shipped.
However, despite Apple’s AirPods earning $18 billion in 2023, more than companies such as Nintendo and Spotify, AirPods aren’t necessarily the best wireless earbuds in terms of price, noise cancelling abilities or sound. I tried some of the best models, including Beats, Samsung and Sony, picking out my top 10, including one pair that costs less than £50.
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If you are after more detail, the full, in-depth reviews for each style are further down. You can also find the answers to frequently asked questions for more information.
If you’re in the market for some new wireless earbuds, you need to figure out what you need them for.
James Roth, Head of Consumer Electronics at technology platform TG0, says: “True wireless earbuds offer a compact and lightweight option, making them great for on-the-go sports and travel. You’ll want earbuds that offer great sound quality, good battery life and ease of use, but it’s also worth looking out for waterproofing.“You probably won’t wear them in the bath, but proper waterproofing can prevent headphones from going ‘phut’ in heavy rain,” James says.
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“Active noise cancelling (ANC) models – where the design reduces unwanted ambient sound – are a terrific choice for those listening on planes, trains and automobiles,” he adds. “Today’s best Bluetooth earphones can actually give the best noise cancelling headphones a run for their money on sound quality,” he says.
It’s worth doing a bit of research to get the best sound out of your earbuds. There are various different “codecs” – software which transmits data from your phone to your headphones – and these make a huge difference to sound quality, with Apt-X and LDAC codecs offering near CD quality sound for users of Android smartphones.
You’ll also want to weigh up your budget and how the buds fit in your ear, plus make sure the style you choose is compatible with your mobile phone.
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
Phoebe Barton Affiliates Content Editor and Sarah Tulloch
10:30, 10 Mar 2026
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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.
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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.
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.”
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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 Rivalryhave condemned so-called “fans” using hateful language towards them and their co-stars.
“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’.”
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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.
Hudson Williams and his ‘Heated Rivalry’ co-stars shared the message on Instagram (Instagram/Hudson Williams)
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.
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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.
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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.
Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander (left) and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov in ‘Heated Rivalry’ (Crave/HBO)
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.
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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.
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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”.
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.
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.
Watchdog urged to clamp down on heating oil costs after 1.7m UK homes hit by soaring bills
The government has been urged to take quick action to help the 1.7 million homes that still use heating oil and have seen prices double due to the US attacks on Iran.
These are often people in rural areas, who have seen prices for their fuel jump in some cases from 62p a litre before the war to perhaps £1.73 now.
Tara Cobham10 March 2026 10:15
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Economist warns Trump may have done permanent damage to oil market with UK in especially weak position
An economist has warned that Donald Trump may have done permanent damage to the global oil market, with the UK especially vulnerable to any consequent inflation.
Mohamed El-Erian, ex-chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, told The Guardian the risk the war causes permanent harm to oil markets is being underestimated.
He said he forecast a 50 per cent chance the conflict could trigger higher inflation and interest rates this year and next.
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And he warned that Britain, having failed to tackle low productivity, a heavily constrained budget and entrenched inequality over the past 10 years, is in a particularly weak position to deal with an economic shock.
He compared the UK’s situation to the US, which has high productivity, and the EU, which has less inequality, suggesting Britain could fare especially badly.
Tara Cobham10 March 2026 09:57
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Pictured: Ministers arrive for cabinet meeting
Deputy leader of the Labour Party Lucy Powell (Reuters)
Health secretary Wes Streeting (Reuters)
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson (Reuters)
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood (Reuters)
Tara Cobham10 March 2026 09:45
Analysis: As oil prices come up, stock markets head the other way
Business and money editor Karl Matchett reports:
As oil prices come up, stock markets are heading the other way.
The FTSE 100 fell more than 5 per cent last week and started this week in similar fashion, but this morning it’s a sea of green with London’s main index up 1.6 per cent and smaller companies in the FTSE 250 up almost 2 per cent.
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Europe is following suit with France, Spain, Germany and Netherlands all up and that follows Asian markets surging overnight.
The super-volatile Korean Kospi soared 5.35 per cent but has had drops of nearly double that in a day recently; Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, India’s Nifty 50 and Japan’s Nikkei 225 all enjoyed strong sessions too, the latter rising up to 3 per cent.
Later on, US markets are projected to open slightly higher too.
Back in London, the biggest early riser in the FTSE 100 is housebuilder Persimmon, up 10 per cent – but that is not much to do with oil and Iran, more a strong set of results this morning placing it well for a recovery with the property market. Elsewhere, miners and finance firms such as Fresnillo, Antofagasta and Barclays are all up 5 per cent and more.
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Tara Cobham10 March 2026 09:30
Gas prices also plunge this morning
Gas prices have also plunged this morning.
UK wholesale gas prices dropped over 10 per cent to around 123p a therm as soon as trading began, the BBC reports.
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This is far below the high of 171p that was hit on Monday.
Tara Cobham10 March 2026 09:10
EU buying Russian oil would be ‘utterly despicable’ – Ireland’s deputy premier
It would be “utterly despicable” to allow Russia to gain financially by selling oil and gas to Europe, Ireland’s deputy premier has said.
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The European Union has been phasing out its use of Russian gas and oil following the country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly said his country is willing to work with European customers amid an energy crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking at a meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels on Tuesday, Tanaiste Simon Harris said it was important the bloc “remains steadfast” in its view that economic sanctions on Russia are an important tool in trying to end the war on the continent of Europe.
He said: “The idea that Putin and Putin’s Russia would in any way benefit financially from a moment of conflict and pain and trauma in the Gulf region would be utterly despicable.
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“It shows the importance of de-escalating the conflict in the Gulf region, and it also shows the importance of not losing focus on Ukraine and showing solidarity to our friends, to our European friends in Ukraine.”
Mr Harris said a fall in oil prices showed the “volatility” of the situation while the Irish Government keeps its response “under review”
Asked what action he wants the EU to take on energy costs, he said Europe’s energy market has become more diversified than it was in 2022 but added: “I think we still find ourselves far too reliant on other parts of the world when it comes to our energy and certainly this needs to be a sharp reminder and wake-up call about the urgency of moving towards energy independence at a European level.”
It would be ‘utterly despicable’ to allow Russia to gain financially by selling oil and gas to Europe, Ireland’s deputy premier has said (PA Wire)
Tara Cobham10 March 2026 08:50
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Watch: Rachel Reeves warns US-Iran war likely to cause rise in inflation
Rachel Reeves warns US-Iran war likely to cause rise in inflation
Bryony Gooch10 March 2026 08:30
Analysis: Brent crude oil price drop a moment of relief for the market
Money and Business Editor, Karl Matchett, reports:
The price of Brent crude oil has dropped back close to 9 per cent today – a breath of relief at this stage, more than a full-scale avoiding of a worst-case scenario when it comes to energy bills, inflation and beyond. Most economists and experts have been clear: the peak is less important than prolonged periods of high prices.
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Staying over $100 for weeks on end would be far more damaging to the economy long term than a quick one-day spike above that point and then back down again – if indeed it is now coming back down for the longer haul.
On that note, we’ll wait and see. The drop today back to $90.50 seems to be largely down to Trump saying the conflict could soon be brought to an end but it won’t take too much to the contrary of that message to send prices back up again.
Right now, we’re still $20/barrel above where we were pre-US strikes on Iran, not far off a third higher (29 per cent) in price.
Bryony Gooch10 March 2026 08:16
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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards won’t allow ‘one litre of oil’ shipped from Middle East
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have said they will not allow “one litre of oil” to be shipped from the Middle East if US and Israeli attacks continue, prompting a warning from president Donald Trump that the US would hit Iran much harder if it blocked exports from the vital energy-producing region.
His comments come after Aramco reported a 12 per cent drop in annual profit mainly due to lower crude prices. It also announced it would repurchase up to $3 billion (£2.22 billion ) worth of shares in its first-ever buyback.
Bryony Gooch10 March 2026 08:12
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Potential energy shocks are ‘vindication’ of government’s economic choices, minister says
Political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
A government minister has said the government’s choices on the economy “look even more correct” amid concerns the conflict in the Middle East could impact the UK’s economy.
Courts minister Sarah Sackman said the government wants a de-escalation of the conflict in an effort to reduced the “shocks” to the British economy.
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“What we are seeing is a vindication of the choices that we have made as a government to build our resilience and insulate the British economy against these shocks,” she said.
“The choices the chancellor made around protecting the public finances, lowering borrowing costs, all of that puts us in a better position to withstand this.”
Everything you need to know as protesters cover building with red paint in Manchester city centre – Manchester Evening News
A police cordon has been put in place around the protest this morning
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Everything you need to know as protesters cover building with red paint in Manchester city centre
A protest is underway outside a building in Manchester city centre this morning (Tuesday, March 10). The protest is outside Abbey House on Booth Street, at the junction with Mosley Street.
A large amount of red paint has been thrown over the front windows and doors of the windows. Two protesters have been pictured sitting on the entrance roof.
Police have cordoned off an area around the protest, with a stretch of Mosley Street blocked to pedestrians. Fire crews were also pictured on the scene earlier.
The protesters this morning are from the People Against Genocide group. The group said the red paint is symbolic for the blood of lives lost on the Palestinian West Bank, Lebanon, and Iran.
The activists have targeted Abbey House as a company linked to Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms firm, is based there, the campaign group said. Palestine Action has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on companies linked to Elbit in recent years.
Oil prices have fallen and stock markets are clawing back some lost ground after Donald Trump raised hopes that Iran war disruption to the global economy would soon be over.
Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, tumbled below $90 a barrel at one stage early on Tuesday after climbing above $118 – a six-year high – in the previous session.
The key worry is the effective closure of the narrow Strait of Hormuz shipping lane just off the Iranian coast.
It’s currently off limits due to the threat of attack by Tehran’s forces in retaliation for the US-Israeli airstrikes that targeted its leadership and key infrastructure.
President Trump gave mixed messages on the status of the war on Monday evening, after describing US objectives as “complete” and declaring that it “could be over soon”.
He added: “I will not allow a terrorist regime to hold the world hostage and attempt to stop the globe’s oil supply, and if Iran does anything to do that, they’ll get hit at a much, much harder level.”
The strait usually accounts for about a fifth of global oil and natural gas deliveries, but they have almost ground to a halt over the past 10 days.
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It has stoked market fears that a new wave of energy-led inflation is on the way – a surge in the pace of price increases globally brought on by higher oil and gas costs that will affect everything from filling up at the petrol pumps and home heating, to the manufacturing industry and even fresh food production.
For the UK and wider Europe, it is already being seen through a leap in fuel prices, especially diesel.
Average pump costs have risen by more than 9p a litre since the start of the hostilities in the Middle East but some forecourts have passed on prices that are double that figure.
The government and competition regulator warned the industry that any profiteering will be called out.
The G7 advanced economies, including Britain, plan to release reserves if needed to ease the squeeze from the loss of Middle East output and deliveries.
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Brent was trading on Tuesday at $90 a barrel in volatile trading in Asia.
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How will Iran war impact the economy?
The FTSE 100 opened 0.5% higher at 10,300, recovering all the ground lost yesterday following the 1.8% decline seen at Monday’s open.
The energy price declines were hurting the oil majors while mining and banking stocks were recovering some lost ground.
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The UK’s top flight index remains almost 5% up on the year despite a 4.6% hit to values this month caused by war uncertainty.
Miners have suffered due to the likelihood of negative effects for the global economy while banks have felt pain over fears central bank interest rates may have to rise to help counter upwards pressure on the pace of price rises from the lift in energy costs.
UK natural gas prices are down 20% today but remain 60% higher this month.
Stock markets in other parts of Europe and in the US had ended Monday’s session in positive territory after also starting the day with steep losses.
Sentiment remained stronger in both Asia and in continental Europe on Tuesday, but market analysts widely described the mood as cautious.
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Nigel Green, chief executive of the asset manager and consultancy deVere Group, said of the shifts: “Markets are beginning to trade the end of the conflict before it has actually happened.
“Oil dropping back below $90 and equities pushing higher tells us investors are already pricing a scenario in which tensions cool and supply disruptions remain limited.
“Financial markets are extremely forward-looking but, in situations like this, they can move ahead of geopolitical reality.”
Satellite navigation, commonly known as sat nav, is now a staple of car journeys. Once a novelty in premium cars, sat navs, like dash cams, became mainstream in the mid-2000s, though early models were not always reliable.
Today, satellite navigation is integrated into most new cars and smartphones. Google Maps has transformed how we travel, offering free mapping to billions of users worldwide. So why buy a dedicated unit today?
“For customers whose vehicles don’t have a built-in navigation system, a sat nav is a simple way to upgrade their driving experience without replacing the car,” explains Yousaf Kharal, technology buyer at Halfords.
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Prices range from under £50 to over £800, with leading brands including Garmin, TomTom and Spedal.
I tested the latest models to see if they are worth using instead of a mobile phone. You can read my reviews below. If you’re in hurry, here’s our top five.
The biggest name in the sat nav market is TomTom, which has been selling navigation systems for over two decades. It’s joined by Garmin, a global giant best known for smartwatches and sports technology.
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There are also thousands of smaller off-brand devices, many of which are obsolete. And then there’s the most obvious alternative: a smartphone capable of connecting to a dashboard mount, though this has its own downsides.
“Unlike smartphones, sat navs don’t rely on a mobile data connection, making them more reliable in areas with poor or no signal,” continues Kharal. “Additionally, it’s illegal to handle a phone while driving, whereas a sat nav is designed for safe, hands-free use and often has a clearer, more driver-friendly display.”
High-end sat navs can show live traffic updates and receive instructions by voice command. These cost hundreds of pounds. More affordable units have fewer features, but are a better price for occasional users.
Brands such as TomTom may also require you to pay a subscription fee and if you only need to get from A to B on simple routes, a cheap smartphone mount is an acceptable alternative. The OtterBox Car Vent Mount is my current favourite.
The 35-year-old singer was 24 when she first froze her eggs, before doing it again three years later
Rita Ora says being told to freeze her eggs in her 20s was “the best advice”. The 35-year-old star was 24 when she first froze her eggs, before doing it again three years later.
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The singer has now recalled how “everyone went mad” at the time, but “now everyone’s doing it”. She told Women’s Health magazine: “[Back then] a doctor told me it was a really good time to preserve the best quality [eggs].
“It was actually the best advice, because now I’m in my mid-thirties and I have a lot of friends really trying to figure it out. It will just be more of an expansion when the time comes. Davina [McCall] is always like, “Hurry up – you can do it!”‘
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Rita is stepmother to husband Taika Waititi’s children Te Kāinga o te Hinekāhu, 13, and Matewa Kiritapu, nine, and she is delighted with her role.
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She said: “I don’t know if anything really prepares you, you just have to figure it out in the moment. “I’ve loved every second – the girls are just a dream. I think I got very lucky. We have a lot of fun – doing nails, going shopping. I love hanging out with them.”
It comes as Rita recently revealed that being a stepmother has changed her perspective on life. She told The Sun newspaper: “It’s really easy. We wake up, we work out together with the kids running on the treadmills. It’s a family affair.
“I have to say it’s been a real eye-opener to understand that sometimes there’s more to life than what you care about in that moment. I’ve realised there’s so much more, so (becoming a stepmum) did give me that.”
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The singer and actress – who also works as a judge on The Masked Singer – is always excited to learn new skills, and she hopes to empower future generations.
Speaking at The Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, she explained to the Daily Mail last year: “I can talk about events like this for hours, in a nutshell, there’s so many moments I think we’ve seen as women, from equal pay to being shy to talk about menopause to everything we hold as a woman.
“It’s almost as if it’s being questioned, and it’s like, why is it even something that is discussed with women being in the same room supporting one another? I think it should just be a thing and be natural and normal and I don’t see a world without it. I’m very lucky to say I’m embracing that kind of energy, and I want to keep that going for the future generations.”
Newsboy has run the rule over all seven races on opening day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival with Talk The Talk leading the Irish charge and Golden Ace fancied to retain her crown
TALK THE TALK (1.20) is the pick to ‘walk the walk’ and deliver the first 2026 Cheltenham Festival victory to the Irish. A record of three wins from four starts would be a flawless 4-4 for the Joseph O’Brien-trained five-year-old, if not for a stumble on landing at the final obstacles at Leopardstown over Christmas.
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Runner-up in a bumper for Stuart Crawford, Talk The Talk made a winning start over hurdles, and for O’Brien, in a maiden hurdle at Limerick in October before a Grade 3 triumph at Fairyhouse the following month. Elevated to the top level for the Future Champions Novice Hurdle in Foxrock two days after Christmas, my selection had just taken the lead on the run to the last flight, where disaster struck.
At least JJ Slevin’s ride redeemed itself at the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival – and in a manner that bodes well for today.
Towards the back of the pack turning for home, Talk The Talk made steady progress in the straight to pip leader Ballyfad by a short head.
Talk The Talk deserves additional praise for winning that day, and a good pace and Cheltenham’s uphill finish should prompt another personal best. Old Park Star , Mighty Park , Leader D’Allier and Sober Glory are all newcomers of interest in a tantalising opening course, reports the Mirror.
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NEWBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 TALK THE TALK, 2 OLD PARK STAR, 3 SOBER GLORY.
LULAMBA (2.00) is anticipated to maintain his unbeaten record over fences and secure Nicky Henderson a record-breaking ninth Arkle Challenge Trophy victory.
Narrowly beaten by Poniros for the Triumph Hurdle a year ago, the French-born horse impressively reversed that result at Punchestown and has made an outstanding start to his fencing career.
A low sun meant Lulamba and Nico de Boinville had to clear just eight at Exeter when the five year old was the 2-5 favourite for his chase debut, and the duo did what was required with a 10-length lead.
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Henderson then set his sights on the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park in December and, starting at the same odds, Lulamba breezed home nine and a half lengths ahead of Be Aware.
The bay son of Nirvana Du Berlais completed his Festival preparations by defeating Saint Segal by six and a half lengths in Newbury’s Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at the start of last month.
Lulamba had to fight hard that day – he was less than smooth early on and found himself boxed in on the turn for home – but he surged home once finding daylight and has so much more to give.
Kopek Des Bordes is considered the biggest threat, followed by Kargese, Steel Ally and Jax Junior.
MANLAGA (2.40) has a promising profile that is expected to thrust her into the spotlight in a highly competitive race.
The daughter of Maxios was enlisted to race for Nicky Henderson and JP McManus following a compelling three-length victory on her hurdles debut at Auteuil last March.
She made her first appearance for her new team in a Listed juvenile hurdle for mares at Doncaster in January and, having her first run for 315 days, delivered a performance that hinted at great potential, finishing a three-quarter-length second to the undefeated Manganese.
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Manlaga then headed to Haydock Park three weeks later and improved on her previous result, moving from the back of the pack to overtake leader Pourquoi Pas Papa on the approach to the final jump, winning by two and a quarter lengths.
The British Horseracing Authority handicapper has assigned my preference a rating of 130 for her first venture in this category – an evaluation that seems achievable for a filly who is far from being out of contention.
Saratoga caught the attention of many at Naas last month and should be considered, along with Ammes, Madness D’Elle and Bibe Mus.
QUEBECOIS (3.20), returning to Cheltenham and back at three miles, stands out.
It’s straightforward to make the case that Paul Nicholls’ seven year old has so far been more ‘miss’ than ‘hit’ over fences – he has yet to secure a win in four attempts in the discipline and has been soundly defeated in three of them, at Exeter, Sandown and Newbury.
But there’s one piece of form that makes Harry Cobden’s mount a compelling contender, and by his supporters’ good fortune it came at Cheltenham’s Trials Day fixture in January.
Quebecois went off at 12-1 for the card’s two-and-a-half-mile novices’ handicap chase, a race won by Stage Star (2023) and Ginny’s Destiny (2024) on their way to the National Hunt Festival.
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My selection jumped with confidence and worked his way to the front two fences from the finish, only to be headed in the final stride by nose victor Jordans Cross, who is unbeaten over the larger obstacles when staying on all fours.
A 4lb rise for that brave defeat looks manageable and Quebecois should flourish for this three-mile test, having recorded his best effort of today’s distance as a novice hurdler.
The short-list is a lengthy one and has the JP McManus-owned pair Jagwar and Johnnywho at the top of it, followed by Blow Your Wad.
GOLDEN ACE (4.00) gets the nod to retain the crown she won in admittedly fortunate circumstances 12 months ago.
The falls of Constitution Hill and State Man contrived to gift victory to Jeremy Scott’s doughty mare, but that pair are absent, along with her six-length conqueror in Kempton Park’s Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day, Sir Gino.
Prior to that defeat, Golden Ace had emerged victorious in the top-level Fighting Fifth Hurdle, another race of high drama, at Newcastle in November. With Constitution Hill falling at the second hurdle, Golden Ace was closing in on leader The New Lion when that competitor fell at the same obstacle, which by then was the race’s penultimate hurdle, leaving the eight year old and Lorcan Williams to hold off Anzadam by a length and a half.
Those efforts made a subpar performance at Wetherby irrelevant and she approaches her title defence with the honour of having won at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, defeating Brighterdaysahead as a novice in 2024.
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In essence, she brings skill and consistency to the Tuesday feature, and those dual attributes should see her reward each-way backers – at the very least.
Lossiemouth, undefeated in four appearances at the track – including three at its flagship event – is tipped to make amends for her Irish Champion Hurdle defeat by Brighterdaysahead – Poniros was third and Anzadam fourth – and chase Golden Ace home.
Poniros is favoured over up-and-comers Tutti Quanti and Alexei for the final spot on the podium.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 GOLDEN ACE, 2 LOSSIEMOUTH, 3 PONIROS.
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DOWN MEMORY LANE (4.40) hasn’t yet become the horse he promised to be – but there’s still time.
When Gordon Elliott gave the son of Walk In The Park his chasing debut at Navan in November 2024, those who witnessed my selection’s seven-length thrashing of stablemate King Of Kingsfield were convinced they had seen a potential star.
Down Memory Lane then encountered four losses but had mucus in a nostril following a significant Galway Plate setback last July, and his winter return at Navan in December was quite promising.
Held back at the rear of the nine-runner field by Jack Kennedy, the eight year old made effortless progress to challenge in the straight and merely needed to be encouraged forward to defeat another stablemate, Search For Glory, by a length and a half.
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An 8lb higher mark makes things more challenging but Elliott has intentionally kept Down Memory Lane fresh for the Cheltenham Festival, and there’s untapped potential to exploit.
In a race with countless possible outcomes, the well-handicapped Madara, Zurich and Will The Wise all merit a second glance.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 DOWN MEMORY LANE, 2 MADARA, 3 ZURICH.
ICEBERG THEORY (5.20) is continually improving over fences – and another strong performance is expected.
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The winner of one of his eight attempts over hurdles, the Paul Nolan-trained seven year old delivered a promising effort on his fencing debut with a staying-on second to Majestic Force beginners’ chase over three miles and a furlong at Wexford last March.
Maintaining his novice status for this season, Iceberg Theory went one better with a two-length victory in a similar event at Limerick in May and followed up in handicap chase at Cork in November.
Sent off the 11-2 favourite in a field of 15, Conor Stone-Walsh’s mount powered clear to beat O’Toole by six and a half lengths. That contest was run over two miles and five, and the extra nine furlongs here should unlock fresh opportunities.
If the additional distance does spark a career-best performance, then a British Horseracing Authority handicap mark of 133 is well within reach for a horse who has considerable scope for further progress.
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As Tuesday’s action draws to a close, Backmersackme, Grande Geste and Kurasso Blue are three more names to consider in the mix.
OVER the past 15 years, support for disabled people with significant, but not the most severe, impairments has been steadily eroded.
The government’s latest proposals in the Green Paper would accelerate this cruel trend, hitting people hardest just when they need help most.
These changes will not help people into work. They will push some of those who could work even further away from employment, force many from poverty into deep poverty, harm physical and mental health, and increase homelessness.
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The creeping, insidious rise in hardship may not happen overnight, but it is coming. The benefits system must reflect real lives, not political soundbites.
Politicians talk about “simplifying” the system. But simplification should never mean cutting vital support.
A sophisticated benefits system manages complexity internally so that claimants don’t bear the burden of navigating it. Disabled people need targeted support tailored to their unique needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach that punishes them for being unwell.
Many disabled people want to work but cannot find jobs, not because they lack desire, but because employers fail to make reasonable adjustments. Shockingly, countless stories reveal people forced out of work unnecessarily. Real support would ensure employers make reasonable adjustments and the Government made sure essential services like Access to Work are provided in time.
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Yet financial support is equally essential. Cutting benefits does not encourage work, it reduces the very support that allows people to stay in employment or return to the workplace. Framing benefit cuts as a “moral” duty is not morality; it’s cruelty.
For those who cannot realistically work, the proposals would trap many in deep poverty. Society must recognise that people’s value is not determined by their ability to work. Everyone deserves dignity, a decent standard of living, and protection from destitution.
These proposals also risk breaking the law. They conflict with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Equality Act 2010, particularly where they cause loss of income for disabled claimants.
Sally’s story
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Sally had a professional career until 15 years ago when she became ill. She had post-operative complications; her employer failed to make reasonable adjustments and fired her. She wanted to continue working and considered going to an employment tribunal to contest her dismissal but was ill and when she looked at what would be involved, she could not face the stress.
Since then, her condition has significantly worsened. She has had numerous operations and has a stoma and a feeding tube. She has lost a lot of weight, and her body struggles to absorb nutrients. She has also developed rheumatoid arthritis which means she is in pain a lot of the time and finds walking very difficult. She has difficulty sleeping. She is exhausted a lot of the time.
Her social life is very limited, any trip out means that she must do nothing for several days before and after the outing.
She would love to work but believes that sadly this is now unrealistic. She was doing a small amount of voluntary work but had to give it up because she never knew when she would have a bad day.
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Sally receives UC with an additional component (LCWRA) and PIP. She received 10 points in the PIP daily living assessment but didn’t score 4 points for any activity so would lose that PIP under the government’s proposals for change. She is very worried about how she would manage with much less PIP and horrified how someone in her position on an even lower income will be expected to manage.
The solutions are clear:
● Restore different levels of support for different needs, PIP, Universal Credit, and work allowances must reflect the extra costs faced by people with significant impairments.
● Make assessments realistic, factoring in pain, exhaustion, diagnosis, age, experience, and the actual likelihood of returning to work.
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● Compel employers to provide reasonable adjustments so those who can work are not pushed out.
● Ensure disabled people living alone or caring for dependents get a self-care element to cover essential costs.
● Simplify the system without stripping out support, so claimants can access what they need without stress or confusion.
This is not about generosity, it’s about fairness, dignity, and social justice. Every one of us has a role to play. Write to your councillors, email your MPs, make your voice heard. Demand a benefits system that is just, dignified, and responsive to real lives.
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If we stay silent, it will not just be policy on paper. It will be real people in our communities, being written off. That is something no decent society should allow.
If this and Sally’s story has affected you, take action today, Every voice counts. Every action matters. Don’t let the most vulnerable in our communities be ignored.: Contact your local councillor or MP and demand better support for disabled people.
Rachael Maskell MP
House of Commons
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London
SW1A 0AA
Phone number: 020 7219 4525
Email: rachael.maskell.mp@parliament.uk
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Luke Charters MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
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Email: luke.charters.mp@parliament.uk
Find you local councillor at: https://democracy.york.gov.uk/mgFindMember.aspx
Citizens Advice York is a small independent charity providing support and advice to York residents on all of the topics mentioned here! Whilst City of York Council remain consistent and generous funders, we still have to raise £30,000 to £40,000 each and every year (and sometimes more!) to cover the full cost of this important service.
We could not operate without the generosity of donations to fill this gap. We are incredibly grateful of support, especially when everyone is feeling the effects of this current cost of living crisis. We know that times are hard, but if you are able to help please donate so we can keep on helping others.
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