Hundreds of millions of pounds are expected to be staked on the Grand National 2026, which takes place at Aintree today.

The world-famous steeplechase will see a field of 34 horses complete two laps of the racecourse near Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

Starting at 4pm, the runners will gallop four miles, 2½ furlongs and jump 30 fences before crossing the finish line. The Grand National offers a £1m prize fund with the owners of the winner scooping £500,000.

However, millions watching at home will also be hoping to win some money by placing bets in the hope of backing the winning horse.

As well as betting on a winner, people can also place each-way bets – which can win punters cash even if their horse doesn’t finish first. Instead, the bet is on the horse to finish among the top handful of places, the specific number of which is determined by the bookmakers

If you bet to win outright – or “on the nose” – you either win or you lose. But if you bet each-way, you are making two bets with the bookie.

So, for example, if you bet £1 each-way, you’ve made two bets, which overall will cost you £2.

It means that if your horse wins at 12/1, and you put £1 on it to win outright, then you get your £12 returns plus your original £1 stake.

However, if you backed it each way, then you’ll get £12 returns plus your £1 stake. In addition, if the bookies offer 1/4 the odds for a place, then you’ll get another £3 plus your £1 stake. That means in the each-way bet you will win a total of £15 plus get the £2 you staked back.

If your horse finishes placed but doesn’t win, you’ll also just get your £3 returns and your £1 stake back.

Typically, bookies tend to pay out on at least the first five places for the Grand National. However, given the larger field and the nature of the event, the odds for a placed finish, and how many places pay out, vary depending on the bookmaker – so it is always worth checking your betting slip.

Here are what some of the major bookies said they were paying out ahead of the race this year as of Friday afternoon:

• Bet365 – Six places each-way, 1/5 odds
• Betfred – Six places each-way, 1/5 odds
• William Hill – Five places each-way, 1/5 odds
• Coral – Five places each-way, 1/5 odds
• Ladbrokes – Five places each-way, 1/5 odds
• Sky Bet – Seven places each-way, 1/5 odds
• Paddy Power – Six places each-way, 1/5 odds
• 888 Sport – Five places each-way, 1/5 odds
• Unibet – Six places each-way, 1/5 odds
• Betway – Six places each-way, 1/5 odds
• VirginBet – Six places each-way, 1/5 odds

Remember to gamble responsibly. We strongly encourage our readers to only ever bet what they can afford to lose. For more information, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit begambleaware.org.

The NFL Draft is 12 days out for the Minnesota Vikings, and the first wave of weekend rumors is here.

Three new Vikings rumors are floating as draft week moves closer.

We roll out two rumor rounds every weekend, keeping tabs on the latest chatter as things move fast around the purple orbit.

Latest Draft Month Chatter Touches Quarterback, EDGE Rusher, and Left Tackle

A look at the Purple Rumor Mill just a week and a half before the draft.

Rumor: The Vikings could trade J.J. McCarthy to the Los Angeles Rams.

According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, McCarthy could step into familiar territory, with Sean McVay in Los Angeles and Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota running closely aligned systems.

He proposed this trade, “Rams get: 1-18, 3-97, QB J.J. McCarthy. Vikings get: 1-13. At the right price, though, taking a flier on McCarthy would make sense. The Vikings are unlikely to move forward with the 2024 ninth overall pick as their quarterback of the future, having signed Kyler Murray to take over as their starter in 2026 before deciding on McCarthy’s fifth-year option after the season.”

“Getting something for the 23-year-old quarterback would make sense if the organization has decided it is going to be heading in a different direction. This move up would get the Vikes ahead of the Bucs and Jets if they want to look toward secondary help in Round 1.”

The target at No. 13 remains up in the air; Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, for example, could enter the conversation if he slips on draft night.

Barnwell continued, “This trade would value McCarthy as being worth the 112th pick in a typical draft by the Johnson chart, a selection in the middle of the fourth round. That feels about right to me. And the Rams would be on the hook for $6.6 million over the next two years, which isn’t much for a developmental backup quarterback.”

“Could McCarthy’s solid final four games of the 2025 season (admittedly against dismal opposing defenses) portend growth and some future success? The Rams wouldn’t be paying much to find out.”

The Vikings probably won’t trade McCarthy, and if they do, he won’t be filler in a deal five spots up the draftboard.

Rumor: The Chiefs may pursue Jonathan Greenard via trade in the draft.

Also from Barnwell, he theorized that Greenard could go to the Chiefs in the same article.

He explained, “Chiefs get: 1-18, 3-97, Edge Jonathan Greenard. Vikings get: 1-9, Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah. This trade would value the difference between Greenard and Anudike-Uzomah — a former first-round pick who hasn’t impressed with the Chiefs — as being worth the 54th pick, according to the Johnson chart, in a typical draft.”

“The Vikings would move up from No. 18 to No. 9 and put defensive coordinator Brian Flores in line to add one of the premier defensive backs in this year’s class. The idea of Downs in a Flores defense is tantalizing, but the Vikings could also go for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane here. Trading Greenard would open cap space and create a spot in the starting lineup for Dallas Turner, who filled in for Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel when they were hurt last season.”

The Vikings haven’t picked as high as No. 9 in a draft since 2014 when they netted linebacker Anthony Barr.

This would-be trade is more likely than the McCarthy idea, but it still remains confusing that Minnesota would plan to be a playoff contender in 2026 while shedding pass rushers. Most serious teams do the opposite — stock up on EDGE talent.

Rumor: Christian Darrisaw’s belated ACL recovery is on schedule, alas.

O’Connell talked about Darrisaw’s ACL at the NFL’s league meetings last week, saying, “I do believe we’re at that point now. He’s having a really good offseason. And what that looks like, what his daily practice schedule and plan looks like, we’re going to do what we think is best to get Christian ready to play 17 games and feel at his absolute best to do so.”

“I was proud of the way Christian battled through the offseason and the recovery portion, but then it was frustrating for him at times because he did put in all that work, all that tireless work, that in his mind, ‘Hey, I want to move past this,’ But with an injury like that, sometimes time is truly the only thing that will ultimately get us to where we want to get to.”

In the meantime, Minnesota signed offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark from the Buffalo Bills as insurance.

O’Connell added, “He’s so impactful. That is one position where I don’t think we put enough credence and weight into the impact of winning and losing every snap, every down in the NFL at that left tackle position.”

Here’s to hoping Darrisaw’s ACL heals fully for 2026; Minnesota would be in panic mode without him, schematically and financially.

Arctic Glamour faces tougher weight-for-age rules in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes rematch versus Lazzura, though trainer Gerald Ryan believes it may not hinder her chances.

She received a 2.5kg concession when narrowly missing by a short neck to Lazzura in the Coolmore Classic (1500m), but equal weights apply when they clash again at Randwick on Saturday.

According to Ryan, weights don’t guarantee results, as demonstrated by his Group 1 mare Recurring losing with 54.5kg in the 2004 Birthday Card Stakes before winning with 58kg next start against rivals. “I remember a few years ago Recurring got beaten in a mares race with around 54 kilos then went to the Sapphire Stakes, and because it was set weights with penalties she ended up with 58 and she beat the mares that beat her the start before, despite carrying more weight.”

Can Arctic Glamour step up to genuine mile class? That’s the burning question.

In six 1600m attempts, she hasn’t placed, yet was a close fifth in the 2023 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and echoed that behind Ceolwulf in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) a year ago.

Pride Of Jenni’s presence adds pace to Saturday’s Queen Of The Turf Stakes, making it a genuine test, and Ryan prefers a restrained approach.

“It’s going to be a strong mile on Saturday with the speed that’s in the race,” he said. “We will ride her quiet from where she’s drawn. Her best runs are when we ride her quiet.”

Arctic Glamour was sidelined post-Coolmore Classic on March 14 after scratching from the Emancipation Stakes (1500m) due to wet conditions.

Recent trials and gallops have impressed Ryan greatly. “She trialled very well on Thursday, and her work (on Tuesday) morning was very good. As good as I’ve seen her do,” he said.

In the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m), Ryan and Sterling Alexiou run Skyhook with similar tactics in mind.

His Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) fourth initially irked, but deeper analysis changed views. “On face value, we were. But when you analyse the race, he was giving them all weight and maybe on the hot speed we rode him too close,” he said. “We’re going to ride him negative on Saturday and see if we can hit the line.”

Check betting sites for competitive markets on the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

McIlroy, who is hoping to become just the fourth player after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods to win back-to-back Masters titles has held a six-shot lead at this point in a major before.

He went on to win the 2011 US Open by eight shots – claiming the first of his five majors – and also spreadeagled the field with an eight-shot victory at the 2012 US PGA Championship.

And he plans to maintain an aggressive approach around Augusta National over the weekend as he bids to match Faldo, Phil Mickelson and Lee Trevino’s haul of six majors.

“Don’t protect it. Go out and play freely, keep swinging,” he said when asked what advice his 2011 self would have for him before Saturday.

McIlroy led that year’s Masters by four shots going into the final round, but carded an eight-over-par 80 to tumble down the leaderboard.

“A big part of the lesson from the 2011 Masters to the 2011 US Open was don’t get protective,” he added. “Go out there and keep playing, keep trying to make birdies, stay as trusting and as committed as possible.”

McIlroy also said he plans to watch tennis and spend time with his daughter Poppy to take his mind off the third round.

“That distraction is usually a good thing for me, especially with a late tee time and the lead,” he explained.

“There are two really good semi-finals at Monte Carlo in the tennis. So I’ll watch those.

“We’ve been watching the tennis early in the mornings. And then hopefully spend some time with Poppy. I think we’re about halfway through Zootopia 2.”

McIlroy has credited his fast start to the tournament with spending a huge amount of time practising on the course in the three weeks he took off from playing PGA Tour events after the Players Championship in March.

“I just don’t like the three tournaments leading up to this event,” said McIlroy, who has a home in nearby Florida.

“I’d rather come here. I did a couple of days where I dropped Poppy to school, flew up here, played, landed back home and had dinner with Poppy and [wife] Erica.

“I felt it was a better use of my time than going to Houston or San Antonio. It wasn’t really about conserving energy, but just I felt the more time I could spend up here, the better.

“I’ve been on this golf course so much the past three weeks. That has been a combination of practice and chipping and putting around greens, and then just playing one ball and shooting scores and ending up in weird places that you maybe never find yourself and just trying to figure it out. I think just spending so much time up here has been a big part of it.”

If you’re feeling generous, go ahead and turn over your couch cushions. Scrounge up your spare change and send it over to the Minnesota Vikings.

In all seriousness, the Vikings’ budget is quite lean. Much was done to allow the team to function within the frenzied portion of free agency. There has then been some ongoing inaction, a quiet period leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, the event that was always going to be the main way to reinforce the roster for the upcoming season. More work could be needed to help carve out cap space.

The Vikings’ Budget & The 2026 NFL Draft

The word from Over the Cap is that things are pretty modest.

Right now, the Vikings have less than $5 million. Any normal person sees $5 million as a massive, life-changing amount of money, but the NFL isn’t a normal workplace. That’s open room that will disappear very quickly. The precise estimate — $4,826,234 — is a mere fraction of the league-wide cap that’s sitting at north of $300 million.

What needs to be remembered — and what Minnesota’s front office has baked into the financial planning — is that June is going to bring a financial windfall, at least as it relates to the salary cap.

The Vikings’ budget hasn’t yet reaped the rewards of Jonathan Allen’s and Harrison Smith’s post-June 1st cuts. As the basic description suggests, there needs to be some patience for June. The Vikings will get an influx of north of $12 million at that time, providing the needed wiggle room to do business.

Most commonly, draftees get signed well ahead of NFL training camps at the end of July. There are always some guys who linger into the summer, though, before ink gets tossed down onto a contract. Seeing a Viking or two get signed in June isn’t a catastrophe even if signing earlier is generally better.

What happens, though, if the Vikings don’t want to wait until June to get all of the draftees signed? There will need to be some further cap clearing.

Per Spotrac, the Vikings will need close to $6.5 million in cap space to get all of their nine picks under contract. The beefiest cap charge (obviously) is going to go to that top pick, the No. 18 selection. That single player alone is going to chew up more than $3.7 million in cap space for the upcoming season. Toss on the 2nd-Round selection (coming in at No. 49) and there’s an added $1.782 million being accounted for within the Vikings’ budget. Combined, the two highest picks eliminate the cap space.

Oh, and then there would be the remaining draft picks even if the offseason’s top-51 cutoff comes into play to help the budget balance.

Quite often, NFL front offices are more patient than fans of the team. Such is the case right now for the Minnesota Vikings. Onlookers may be skittish, but there’s little need to be concerned.

Rob Brzezinski is working through the offseason a step at a time. He opened the cap space he needed to do business with veteran talent and to navigate the in-house decisions. Well and good, perfectly reasonable.

Even if nothing happens to create cap space — unlikely — the Vikings will get added financial freedom starting in June. That influx alone will be enough to officially sign the draftees.

The Vikings are sitting on nine draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. At the top is the aforementioned No. 18 pick. There’s then No. 49 (2nd) alongside No. 82 and No. 97 (3rd) as the most promising picks. We’ll see if there’s some trading to change the water on the purple beans, but that’s a general description of how things look for the current picks in the purple coffer.

Keep an eye on the Vikings’ budget in the coming weeks. A surgeon’s scalpel is likely to be used. Possibilities for added cap freedom include adjusting the deals for Jonathan Greenard (trade or restructure), Brian O’Neill (extension), and/or various other decisions.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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West Ham climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since December with a 4-0 win over Wolves at the London Stadium that dropped Tottenham into the bottom three.

Mikel Arteta revealed talks over a contract extension at league leaders Arsenal are on ice, while Enzo Fernandez’s Chelsea future remains up in the air.

Nuno: Keep calm and carry on

Nuno Espirito Santo insisted nothing has changed after West Ham beat Wolves 4-0 to exit the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since December and push Tottenham into the bottom three.

Two goals each from Konstantinos Mavropanos and Taty Castellanos saw the Hammers sweep away the league’s bottom side and win for the fifth time in their last 11 matches, leaving their rivals from north London facing the unthinkable prospect of dropping into the Championship.

However, Nuno believes climbing above their rivals alters nothing in the wider picture.

“It doesn’t change anything,” he said. “Next week we play after all our opponents. We have to focus on ourselves and today we did the job.”

Arteta wants to fire with Gunners

A “fully committed” Mikel Arteta said discussions over his next contract have been put on hold until the end of the season – after he insisted he has so much more to achieve at Arsenal.

Arteta’s three-year deal is up for renewal in 2027 and both the Spaniard and the club are understood to be keen for him to extend his six-and-a-half-year stay, regardless of what happens between now and the summer.

Quizzed about his future, Arteta, still hunting just the second trophy of his reign, said: “There’s no news on that. The full focus is on what we have to do from here until the end of the season. I am fully committed and really happy and I feel good.

“This job is about the present and what you do on the day. Give your very best and feel that you are the person that can lead and inspire the group to achieve great things for the club.”

Fernandez’ future hangs in the balance

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has cast further doubt on Enzo Fernandez’s future by admitting a “few hurdles” need to be overcome to resolve the midfielder’s situation.

Fernandez will sit out the Blues’ Premier League clash with Manchester City after Rosenior confirmed he will not overturn an internal two-match suspension following comments the Argentina international made during the international break in which he appeared to court Real Madrid.

“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.

“There are still are few hurdles that need to be overcome that I won’t go into, but at the same time I want every player really, really focused on a huge run-in.”

Pep in the dark over Bernardo Silva

Pep Guardiola has paid tribute to Bernardo Silva as his captain nears the end of his Manchester City career – but claims he is yet to be told of his departure.

Silva looks set to leave City when his contract expires this summer after nine years at the Etihad Stadium, and assistant manager Pep Lijnders all but confirmed as much last week.

There has been no official confirmation by the club or Silva, however, and Guardiola insists he is still in the dark.

The City manager said: “I’m so grumpy with Bernardo because a month ago I said, ‘If you take a decision I have to be the first to (know)’ and he didn’t say anything to me yet. I said, jokingly, ‘Tell me, I deserve it’ but he didn’t tell me so I don’t know what’s going on!”

What’s on today?

Arsenal welcome Bournemouth in the lunchtime kick-off and victory for the Gunners will take them 12 points clear of Manchester City, who are not in action until Sunday afternoon.

Liverpool will seek to solidify their top-five spot against Fulham at Anfield, Brentford and Everton try to bolster their European ambitions in west London, while Brighton travel to relegation-threatened Burnley.

Coventry can all but book promotion to the Premier League by beating already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday, while Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts take on Motherwell.

India vs Australia, 2010 (Photo: Screengrab)

More than a decade after one of the most talked-about flashpoints in India-Australia cricket, former India pacer Zaheer Khan has finally revealed what he said to Ricky Ponting during their heated exchange in the 2010 Mohali Test.The incident, etched in cricketing memory, unfolded after Ponting was run out following a sharp direct hit from Suresh Raina. Ponting’s run-out came at a crucial juncture of the Test, and the dismissal clearly didn’t sit well with the Australian captain. As he walked past the Indian players, he immediately turned back, pointing his bat and engaging in a brief but intense verbal exchange before the on-field umpires intervened.For years, fans wondered what exactly had triggered Ponting’s reaction. Zaheer has now put the mystery to rest.“You think you were Usain Bolt?” Zaheer said smiling in an interview with Indian Express. The cheeky remark, aimed at Ponting’s attempted quick single, was delivered as the Indian team celebrated the crucial breakthrough.Zaheer’s wider view of the practice, though, is rather interesting.“Sledging is not about use of bad words. It’s using it to your advantage, and not losing yourself in the process,” he says.At the time, neither side made much of it. After a long day in the field, Pragyan Ojha summed it up simply: “When two top teams compete hard, words are exchanged, that’s cricket.” Especially in Test cricket, there was nothing more to it.A Test to RememberThe Mohali Test in October 2010 was one of the most dramatic matches in Test history, with India pulling off a stunning one-wicket victory. Australia set India a target of 216 runs in the fourth innings. India collapsed early to 124/8, seemingly heading toward defeat. But VVS Laxman, battling severe back pain, played a heroic unbeaten 73, anchoring a miraculous chase.He found an unlikely partner in tailender Ishant Sharma, who scored a crucial 31, helping India get within touching distance. After Ishant’s dismissal, last man Pragyan Ojha survived nervy moments before sealing the win with Laxman.Australia, led by Ricky Ponting, had chances, most notably a dropped catch by Nathan Hauritz that proved costly.

During their scouting of New Zealand yearlings, elite syndicator Wylie Dalziel alongside Hall of Fame conditioner Peter Moody spotted a standout family connection with Oak Lightning.

Bred at Little Avondale Stud, the Per Incanto youngster is half-related to Desert Lightning—a Pride Of Dubai product who triumphed at Group 1 level in New Zealand before linking with Moody and co-trainer Katherine Coleman at Pakenham.

He further connects as brother to Lindsay Park’s Group 2 champion Oak Hill, but the page features a legendary relation amplified by Moody’s choice of Saturday’s Redoute’s Choice Stakes at Caulfield.

Dam Isstoora to Oak Lightning, Desert Lightning, and Oak Hill traces as granddaughter of Twyla, by Danehill from Shantha’s Choice, making her sister to Redoute’s Choice.

The elements surrounding Oak Lightning justified his NZ$200,000 Karaka Yearling Sale price tag, according to Dalziel.

“Moods obviously had Desert Lightning, so he took a line through him, and Oak Hill had only had a few starts (at the time) but looked alright and then when we came across him we thought, ‘what a nice colt this is,’” Dalziel recalled.

“There was enough in the pedigree, so we were happy we got him $200,000, fall of hammer,”

Oak Lightning’s ancestry includes Group 1 stars like Redoute’s Choice, Desert Lightning, alongside Al Maher, Platinum Scissors, Hurricane Sky, Gathering, Tom Kitten, and US Grade 1 winner In Italian.

This proven bloodline has Dalziel buoyed by Moody’s pick of the $175,000 Listed event for the initial outing.

The gelding notched two Pakenham trials end of last year and two more this campaign, including a strong 800m success on March 24 after racing wide but powering home easily.

Dalziel and Moody were initially downcast by gate 10 from 11 in the Redoute’s Choice Stakes, yet the 1200m race reduced to six entrants by Friday 1pm due to scratches.

“Moods doesn’t often throw his two-year-olds in the deep end like this, so he’s got a very good opinion of him, he just would have rather draw a good barrier to be a little bit more confident,” Dalziel said.

“It’s a two-year-old race, anything can happen. He might be back a bit, but he’ll hit the line hard.”

Linda Meech partners Oak Lightning, the second elect in wagering behind Farnan colt Drumfire and Home Affairs gelding Gin Twist, a Listed winner.

Visit online bookmakers for the best Redoute’s Choice Stakes betting options.

Abbie McManus has spoken about her life after football, following her retirement in 2023 due to a serious leg injury.

The former Manchester United Women defender has since taken a different path, training as a firefighter.

She said:

“I miss football massively, don’t get me wrong, but everything I miss about it – the routine, the training, being around people as part of a team, the banter… there’s all of that in the fire service.”

She explained that the transition has felt natural:

“There are so many parallels between what football and this gives me… instead of representing our football club it’s all about keeping the community safe.”

McManus revealed she had always considered a career outside football, but the injury forced the decision.

Being told her career was over, she admitted, “was a bitter pill to swallow,” but she chose to move forward.

“I decided to visit some local fire stations. I researched, I asked some questions, I applied, and I got in.”

Despite stepping away from professional football, she hasn’t completely left the game behind. She still plays occasionally and keeps up with matches.

Looking back, she also reflected on her time at the club:

“we were a proper family. We all dug in, and we had such togetherness to help each other.”