Seven years ago a rangy young Slovenian took his first professional victory, outsprinting bona fide climbers Wout Poels and Enric Mas atop the gruelling Alto da Foia climb, the highest peak in the Algarve.
That Slovenian went on to be the dominant force of modern cycling, certainly the best rider of the 21st century and increasingly non-contentiously, the best rider of all time.
But all eras must come to an end and while Tadej Pogacar, now 27 and in his prime, shows no sign of being conquered, the next generation are coming. And this weekend’s Strade Bianche, one of the most thrilling of all the Classics, may be the time they shine.
One of them, 19-year-old Paul Seixas, is unnervingly similar in many ways to the four-time Tour de France champion – and recently took his own maiden pro victory on the very same Alto da Foia, before soloing away Pogacar-style to a dominant win at Faun Ardeche.
And in years to come the teenager from Lyon will be able to call on a similar financial might to the super-teams, as his Decathlon CMA CGM squad bid to become a top-three team in the next three seasons, having dispensed with long-time sponsor AG2R La Mondiale.
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Last year’s European bronze medallist, Seixas is one of the most exciting talents in a sport which all too frequently churns through brilliant young things and discards them when they fail to live up to expectations. French cycling abounds with such cautionary tales, most recently with the permanently unlucky Thibaut Pinot and yesterday’s hopeful, David Gaudu.
But if Seixas can keep his feet on the ground – perhaps not the best metaphor for a man whose best attribute is pedalling up into the clouds – he may yet end a French Tour de France drought going back decades, and challenge the indomitable Pogacar.
Potentially starting at Strade Bianche. The sweeping white roads of sterrato – gravel – of the Tuscan hills play host to one of the most romantic races on the cycling calendar, not quite a Monument but almost monumental in its grip on the sporting imagination.
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Pogacar crashed last year but still powered back to win (AFP via Getty Images)
Three of the last four editions have been won by Pogacar, both times soloing away into the distance, disappearing in a plume of white smoke, and striding up the punishing Via Santa Caterina to glory in Siena’s honey-coloured city centre.
But there is positive news for the challengers. This year’s parcours is slightly shorter, at 203km, and features 18km less gravel than last year, in a bid to open up the race slightly and avoid yet another Pogacar procession.
And he is not infallible: last year he made a rare mistake on the sterrato,put under pressure by Britain’s Tom Pidcock on a descent, and slid out. Pidcock – the champion in 2023 – waited for the blooded and bruised Slovenian but may have regretted the sportsmanlike gesture as he ultimately finished second, nearly a minute and a half behind Pogacar.
But the 26-year-old is at his best in Classics like Strade Bianche and remains a serious threat this weekend, even after a disappointing 48th-place finish in last week’s curtain-raiser, Omloop Nieuwsblad.
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French teenager Seixas beat Pogacar’s former teammate Ayuso to the line on stage two of the Volta ao Algarve (AFP via Getty Images)
The Briton is the undisputed core of Pinarello Q36.5, the second-tier outfit pushing to disrupt the hegemony of big-budget squads like Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
What they lack in resources they make up for in ambition and fighting talk: Pidcock’s coach Kurt Bogaerts told Dutch outlet Wielerflits this is “one of the races that [Pidcock] gets out of bed for”, and added: “Tom has a good sense of his capabilities, and then it’s a matter of waiting to see how the opposition reacts. We’re going to try to do that again.”
This is Pogacar’s first outing of the season and his form is unknown. While it’s unlikely he’ll have an off-day, the rest of the peloton can still dream of glory in Tuscany, with the season wide open before them.
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Strade Bianche is a race for the Classics specialists, but also the mavericks. Swashbuckling Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe may be in the mix; at the very least he will put in a romantic, possibly doomed attack. Wout van Aert will be there too, but on the basis of his crash-ridden, disrupted winter and season so far, it will be disappointment again for the Belgian star.
Puncheur Ben Healy – another born racer – is a major contender after a stellar 2024, in which he wore the yellow jersey, won a stage of the Tour de France, and came third in the World Championships.
Pogacar has not raced since winning his fifth Il Lombardia title in October (AP)
A race like Strade Bianche suits the Irishman’s unpredictability, as it does moustachioed cowboy Quinn Simmons. The American is another capable of keeping pace with Pogacar on difficult Classics terrain, most recently at Il Lombardia last October, and if he takes to the start line with his hair flowing in the breeze – indicative of an impending attack – he could be a major threat too.
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Seixas may have company in the young super-talent category, in the form of Pogacar’s teammate Isaac del Toro who on any given day can shine too. Here it is likely to be in the Slovenian’s shadows, as he is expected to serve as the springboard for a race-winning attack, but he has outsmarted and outmuscled teammates before, notably Juan Ayuso at last year’s Giro d’Italia.
All this may be wishful thinking, but even if it takes years to arise, the results of this spring may well set in motion the beginnings of a new era in cycling.
The decision of organisers RCS to make the parcours easier compared to some in previous years could reverse the trend of the past decade towards tougher and tougher racing, with inevitable results.
And even if brutally hilly courses are here to stay, the likes of Seixas are not content to let Pogacar run amok. Instead the talented teenager plans on taking the fight to him, come what may – and that may be just the shake-up cycling needs.
May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Kyler Murray in attendance during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
It’s the second-to-last batch of Minnesota Vikings rumor mill before free agency, which starts on Monday with the “legal tampering” process. There is no shortage of hearsay regarding the purple team.
Three Vikings storylines gained steam before free agency opened.
This week, it’s all about Kyler Murray and a couple of Vikings pass-catchers.
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Minnesota’s Quarterback, Receiver, and Tight End Buzz — Intensified
The Purple Rumor Mill for March 7th, 2026.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) drops back during action against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Sep 8, 2019. The rookie first overall pick maneuvered the pocket and looked downfield while making one of his early NFL starts during the season-opening matchup. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports that afternoon.
Rumor: The Vikings are the odds-on favorite to land Kyler Murray.
Sportsbooks offer odds on nearly everything in 2026, and Murray’s next destination has entered that mix.
NBC Sports’ Mike Florio wrote on Wednesday, “The Cardinals will release quarterback Kyler Murray next week. Where will he land? DraftKings has the Vikings as the early favorites to sign the first overall pick in the 2019 draft, at -110. The Jets are next at +175, with the Dolphins at +320 and the Browns at +450.”
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“The Falcons, at +500, are one of the most intriguing options, given their talent elsewhere on offense. As mentioned over the weekend, however, new president of football operations Matt Ryan (a 6’5″ former quarterback) will have to be content to ride with an undersized signal caller.”
At the moment, Minnesota sits in the pole position to land Murray, likely via a one-year prove-it arrangement at the league minimum.
The Vikings also lead the way in other betting markets like Kalshi, and they do so overwhelmingly. Murray to Minnesota — probably sometime next week — is no longer a hot take. It’s probably going to happen.
Rumor: Jalen Nailor will have a robust free-agent market.
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When the calendar flipped to January, Vikings fans had little clarity on Nailor’s free agency outlook. One path involved a modest return to Minnesota for roughly $4 million per season. Another involved a crowded market. As early March unfolds, the latter scenario appears likely.
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis scribed Tuesday, “More than 10 teams are eyeing Vikings receiver Jalen Nailor, according to league sources. Nailor recently turned 27 and will be one of the more coveted free-agent wide receivers next week. Even though he has caught only 69 NFL passes and never reached 450 yards in a season, multiple evaluators think he has the potential to become a priority signing.”
“The Vikings don’t want to lose Nailor. The coaches — especially receivers coach Keenan McCardell — have watched him progress into one of their best developmental stories. He can absorb a complex playbook. He is a willing run blocker. He possesses vertical speed, and he displays separation ability, too. One NFC executive posited that he could see Nailor producing an 80-catch season in the near future.”
That blurb points toward a player approaching a meaningful payday.
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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (1) accelerates upfield for yardage during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Nov 16, 2025. Nailor turned a short reception into extra yards while Minnesota pushed the drive forward late in the division rivalry. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images in front of the home crowd.
Lewis added, “Nailor’s contract will match that level of production. He could be in line for a three-year deal worth an average annual value of between $12 million and $15 million, league sources said.”
“By comparison, Giants receiver Darius Slayton signed a three-year contract worth $36 million a couple of seasons ago. Minnesota isn’t likely to spend big at receiver, given that it has plenty of other needs.”
Nailor’s days in Minnesota feel numbered.
Rumor: T.J. Hockenson will accept a paycut.
Lewis also chimed in on Minnesota’s broader free-agency outlook, including a potential adjustment to Hockenson’s contract.
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“The Vikings are prepared to make difficult decisions to alleviate their salary-cap concerns. Don’t expect a big-name free-agent splurge like last year. The Vikings are $40-plus million over the cap, and while that isn’t dire, it is significant. Pay cuts: Minnesota wants to lower the cap number for tight end T.J. Hockenson. He is amenable to lowering it, but the outcome is largely a matter of how low the Vikings want to go,” he wrote.
Before news of a potential pay cut emerged, Hockenson was widely expected to be traded, released, or undergo a standard restructure that would involve salary shifts without reducing his overall pay. Now, an outright pay cut is on the table.
Beyond Hockenson, Minnesota has Josh Oliver, Gavin Bartholomew, Ben Yurosek, and Bryson Nesbit under contract at tight end through 2026.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Commanders at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Dec 7, 2025. Hockenson reacted emphatically as teammates gathered around following the second-half score that energized the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images during the fourth-quarter surge for Minnesota as fans roared inside the stadium.
Realistically, none of these players seems ready to be a TE1 this season unless they show significant improvement during training camp. This situation could lead Minnesota to explore free agent options such as Isaiah Likely, Darren Waller, or Cade Otton.
The upcoming NFL draft in April also offers an opportunity to find a solution. Several intriguing tight end prospects are expected to be available in the early rounds, with Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon and Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt having impressed scouts at the NFL Combine last week.
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A source told VikingsTerritory this week that Minnesota “will rip up” Hockenson’s contract and totally redo it, suggesting the paycut is on the way.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic is underway, and Team USA is pulled away from Brazil for a lopsided opening win on Friday night. The Americans will face Great Britain on Saturday night in Houston as pool play continues. Team USA has put together its most star-studded roster in the history of the tournament, led by captain Aaron Judge and highlighted by stars including Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., Kyle Schwarber, Pete Crow-Armstrong and more. The rotation, meanwhile, is headlined by Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes.
Will that be enough to take down the defending champions? Team Japan opened play with a dominant 13-0 win over Chinese Taipei on Tokyo on Friday. Shohei Ohtani hit a grand slam as part of Japan’s 10-run second inning, and his Dodger teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched 2 ⅔ scoreless innings.
Team USA, Japan and the Dominican Republic — with a powerful lineup that features Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. among other stars — are considered the favorites to win the tournament.
The Dominican Republic shook off a slow start and eventually broke things open in the country’s opener against Nicaragua on Friday. Junior Caminero, Julio Rodríguez and Oneil Cruz all homered for the D.R. as the team scored 12 runs.
The 20-team tournament is running from March 5-17 at four locations: Miami; Houston; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Tokyo. The Championship Game will be played on March 17 at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins. Pool play is a round robin double-elimination tournament. The top two teams in Pools A and B will meet in the quarterfinals in Houston, while the top two teams in Pools C and D will meet in the quarterfinals in Miami. The semifinals and finals will again be played in Miami. After pool play, the rest of the tournament is single elimination.
All 47 games of the 2026 WBC will be broadcast by Fox and affiliated networks, including FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes and Tubi. Games can also be streamed on fubo (Try for free).
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(All times are Eastern)
WBC Pool Play
Wednesday, March 4 Australia 3, Chinese Taipei 0
Thursday, March 5 Korea 11, Czechia 4 Australia 5, Czechia 1
Friday, March 6 Japan 13, Chinese Taipei 0 Cuba 3, Panama 1 Venezuela 6, Netherlands 2 Mexico 8, Great Britain 2 Puerto Rico 5, Colombia 0 Dominican Republic 12, Nicaragua 3 USA 15, Brazil 5 Chinese Taipei 14, Czechia 0
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Saturday, March 7 Korea vs. Japan (5 a.m., FS1) Colombia vs. Canada (11 a.m., FS2) Nicaragua vs. Netherlands (12 p.m., Tubi) Brazil vs. Italy (1 p.m., Fox Sports App) Panama vs. Puerto Rico (6 p.m., FS1) Israel vs. Venezuela (7 p.m., FS2) Great Britain vs. USA (8 p.m., Fox) Chinese Taipei vs. Korea (10 p.m., FS2)
Sunday, March 8 Australia vs. Japan (6 a.m., FS1) Colombia vs. Cuba (12 p.m., FS2) Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic (12 p.m., Fox) Great Britain vs. Italy (1 p.m., Tubi) Panama vs. Canada (7 p.m., FS2) Nicaragua vs. Israel (7 p.m., Tubi) Brazil vs. Mexico (8 p.m., FS1)
Monday, March 9 Korea vs. Australia (6 a.m., FS1) Colombia vs. Panama (12 p.m., FS2) Dominican Republic vs. Israel (12 p.m., FS1) Brazil vs. Great Britain (1 p.m., Tubi) Venezuela vs. Nicaragua (7 p.m., FS2) Cuba vs. Puerto Rico (7 p.m., FS1) Mexico vs. United States (8 p.m., Fox)
Tuesday, March 10 Czechia vs. Japan (6 a.m., FS1) Israel vs. Netherlands (7 p.m., Fox) Canada vs. Puerto Rico (7 p.m., Tubi) Italy vs. United States (9 p.m., FS1)
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Wednesday, March 11 Canada vs. Cuba (3 p.m., FS2) Italy vs. Mexico (7 p.m., Tubi) Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela (8 p.m., FS1)
WBC Quarterfinals
Friday, March 13 TBD vs. TBD in Miami (6:30 p.m., FS2) TBD vs. TBD in Houston (8 p.m., Fox)
Saturday, March 14 TBD vs. TBD in Houston (3 p.m., FS1) TBD vs. TBD in Miami (9 p.m., Fox)
WBC Semifinals
Sunday, March 15 TBD vs. TBD in Miami (8 p.m., FS1)
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Monday, March 16 TBD vs. TBD in Miami (8 p.m., FS1)
WBC Championship
Tuesday, March 17 TBD vs. TBD in Miami (8 p.m., Fox)
That ban had been in place since 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the eve of the Winter Paralympics four years ago, although it was softened the following year to allow athletes to compete as neutrals.
The Russian flag has not been flown at a Paralympic Games or shown on the medal table since Sochi 2014, firstly because of the country’s state-sponsored doping scandal, before the Ukraine war led to those further sanctions.
Voronchikhina, 23, finished 2.47 seconds shy of the gold medal-winning time set by Sweden’s Ebba Aarsjoe in the standing downhill event in Cortina, while France’s Aurelie Richard took silver.
Because of the outright ban of all Russian athletes from the Beijing Games four years ago, Voronchikhina is competing at her first Paralympics, despite being a two-time world champion in the Para-alpine skiing events.
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She will compete in five further disciplines during these Games.
After returning to competition in January, Voronchikhina won four medals at her first World Cup in Saalbach, Austria, before double slalom gold in Feldberg, Germany, later in the month.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ decade-long run of playoff appearances came to an abrupt end in Week 15 last season. The Chiefs came up short at Arrowhead Stadium in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes sustained a season-ending ACL injury when he scrambled to try and pick up some yards in the game’s final minutes.
At the time, the Chiefs said Mahomes would “begin his rehab process immediately,” though his availability for the start of the 2026 season remained uncertain. On Thursday, FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer provided an encouraging update about the three-time Super Bowl MVP’s recovery schedule.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes grabs his knee after being injured during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo.(AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
“His pain threshold is different, his work ethic is different,” Glazer said during an appearance on the “Dan Patrick Show.”
“So at first they were like, ‘Oh, you know, start of the season.’ I would probably hedge on him being [back] sooner than that. By far. Because he just attacks things.”
Glazer also noted that doctors were able to perform the procedure before significant swelling set in, which may have accelerated Mahomes’ recovery timeline.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) receives assistance for an injury during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo.(Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)
“The initial reports were kind of on the fringe there, but I want to tell you, Patrick’s different,” Glazer added.
“He got (the surgery) before it swelled up. So, that was on a Tuesday. I believe it was either Thursday or Friday that week, he was already in the Chiefs’ training room doing rehab. And he had already got his knee bending at 90 degrees at that point. He’s just different, he heals differently.”
In a message posted to social media after sustaining the injury, Mahomes thanked fans and said he would put his “Trust in God.”
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up before a game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
“Don’t know why this had to happen,” Mahomes wrote. “And not going to lie, it’s hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I will be back stronger than ever.”
The Chiefs finished the 2025 season at 6-11. Earlier this week, the team traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for a package of future draft picks as part of their offseason roster retooling.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Three days after a 7-5 loss to the San Jose Sharks, which came after splitting games with the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals, the Canadiens emerged from the trade deadline the same group that went into it — unchanged in terms of their roster and still searching for the consistency they carried into the Olympic break.
Coach Martin St. Louis didn’t have a problem with general manager Kent Hughes’ lack of trade deadline activity.
“I feel good,” St. Louis said. “For me, everybody tries to improve, and there’s got to be moves that make sense for the group. But at the end of the day, the most important things you need at this time of the year are details. So, I don’t care who you add, who you subtract; if you don’t have details, it doesn’t matter. So, we’re chasing details.”
They remained elusive after a 6-5 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
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“We shot ourselves in the foot again tonight,” he said. “That’s becoming the norm a bit. We’re stubborn. Too many turnovers. And against a team with that speed and skill, you pay cash.”
Samuel Montembeault extended his season-long struggle in net, allowing the game’s first shot twice.
The first one, which came 20 seconds in, was repealed after an offside challenge. It was retaken only 19 seconds later, counting this time for Cutter Gauthier.
Through the rest of the night, Montembeault made brilliant saves from in tight to keep the Canadiens within striking distance, but whiffed on the long ones for three of the goals against.
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A fourth got tipped right in front of him with the Canadiens up 5-4 and trying to defend their lead in the final minute of regulation.
That wasn’t on Montembeault, and neither was the loss.
The word Cole Caufield used to describe the Canadiens’ performance?
“To me, it’s a mindset, it’s not necessarily structure,” the coach said. “When you turn pucks over, there’s no structure that will defend turnovers. So, to me, that’s that. Obviously, closing the game five-on-six, we couldn’t do it again tonight. I’m looking for guys that can do it. And we have a structure, and we got out of the structure today. We gave a free shot to Trouba, and chaos can happen off that. We’re going to keep talking about it, and I’m looking for guys that can do it.”
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On Montembeault, St. Louis said, “I think everybody has a part in the goals. It’s not all the goalie. Obviously, his part is magnified, but there’s another five guys in front of him that can do a better job.”
The Canadiens will try to do that for Jakub Dobes on Saturday against the Kings.
They enter the road-trip closing game with a record of 33-18-10, 76 points, in the first wild-card position in the Eastern Conference, one point out of third in the Atlantic Division, with two games in-hand and four points up on the playoff bubble-hugging Columbus Blue Jackets.
Canadiens react to Hughes standing pat at the trade deadline
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“I told you guys going in, we really feel confident in our group. If we were to add a player, we obviously would’ve welcomed him in, and it would’ve had an impact. But we feel confident with what we have in here. We’re capable of beating anyone if we do what we’re capable of doing. Our game isn’t in the best place. Fortunately enough, we’ve done a pretty good job of putting ourselves in a good position, but that can change fast. We have a ton of confidence in this group up or down in a game, but for now, we just need to get to correcting some details and getting back to what we’ve done well for most of the year.”
“I feel like Kent and (Canadiens president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton) are two of the best in the league, and we’ve got all the faith in them, and they’ve kind of added throughout the year. Not necessarily today, but they’ve done a good job of filling holes throughout the year, and we believe in our group, and it’s on us now to come together and have a strong final push here and get into the playoffs.”
“I wasn’t all that surprised. You never really know, but I kind of assumed we were not going to make any moves. Luckily, we (kept the group intact), and we’re happy about that. But now we’ve got to pay it forward back to them.”
“I think it’s always a stressful day. You have no idea what’s going on, and you have no idea if it’s the last time you see a teammate or something like that, so you know it’s pretty stressful. I think they believe in our group and what we can do, and that’s up to us to prove them right. It’s just like last year; we didn’t do much, and we found a way. But the lack of details right now is frustrating, and it’s been a couple games in a row, and we’ve got to clean it up. We’ve got a good opportunity to do that tomorrow. We love the group that we have in here, it’s just finding ways to finish it because we put ourselves in a really good spots and this is a result we’ve had to swallow a couple times now.”
Bet365 are offering a bet £10 get £30 welcome bonus for new customers signing up for Cheltenham Festival.
It’s a simple promotion for new customers signing up to one of the best betting sites for Cheltenham 2026.
The Bet365 Cheltenham offer stands out due to its flexibility – new players can deposit and bet between £5-£10, with free bets awarded at 300 per cent of their first wager.
• Deposit and bet £7.50 – Receive £22.50 in free bets.
• Deposit and bet £10 – Receive £30 in free bets.
This means those on a lower budget can still claim a welcome bonus tailored to their needs. Free bet credits can be used on Cheltenham odds or any other sports markets on Bet365’s website or online betting app.
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However, they must be used within seven days of being credited.
Is there a Bet365 bonus code for Cheltenham 2026?
No, there is no need to enter a bonus code when signing up to Bet365 for Cheltenham.
All you have to do is click through to this link or any links to Bet365 on this page, then sign up and deposit using a valid payment method before placing your qualifying bet.
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New Bet365 feature ‘Position Payout’ for Cheltenham
Bet365’s new Position Payout market offers a simpler alternative to traditional Each Way betting and will be available on selected races at Cheltenham Festival.
Instead of dealing with place terms or fractions, bettors can see exactly what they will be paid for every finishing position before placing their stake.
Each horse displays fixed returns for finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th (and sometimes more, depending on the race).
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The higher your selection finishes, the bigger the payout. The transparency of knowing what you’ll win for each potential place removes the need to calculate 1/5 or 1/4 odds and makes it easier to understand potential returns.
Position Payout is a pre-race, fixed-odds market that can be included in multiples, with Cash Out available before the off.
However, it won’t apply to ante-post Cheltenham bets or Best Odds Guaranteed markets, but for festival races where big fields create place uncertainty, it provides a clearer, more straightforward betting option.
Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) – BOG is a popular racing promo, whereby if the starting price (SP) is higher than the odds taken, Bet365 pays out at the bigger price.
Bet Boosts – Selected runners at Cheltenham receive enhanced odds. Each day, there will also be a Super Boost. For example, Constitution Hill was boosted to an industry-best 6/4 on the opening day of the 2025 festival.
Racing Value – ‘First past the post’ payouts now include ante-post bets, ensuring you still get paid even if your horse is later disqualified.
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Position Payout – Go to any Cheltenham race that offers the Position Payout feature. Each selection will display a return for finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. Place your bet, and the higher your selection finishes, the higher your payout.
Winnings Boost – Navigate to the selected classification or specific race and add your selection to the bet slip. Click the ‘Winnings Boost’ option at the bottom and your return will be adjusted to include the increase to your winnings.
Each Way Extra – Each Way Extra gives you the option to increase or decrease the number of places in a race when you are betting Each Way on selected races.
My Horses – Track your favourite horses and receive alerts.
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Colossus Bets – Engage in pool betting with the chance to win a share of a large prize fund.
Live Streaming – Watch all Cheltenham races live via Bet365’s website and betting app.
Racing Replay Archive – Review past performances to analyse form before placing a bet.
Responsible gambling
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Cheltenham Festival is an exciting time for punters, but it’s essential to gamble responsibly.
The same applies whether you’re using online bookmakers, online casinos, slot sites, or any other gambling platform.
Bet365 provides safer gambling tools to help players stay in control, including:
Deposit limits – Set a spending cap.
Reality checks – Receive pop-up alerts on betting time.
Time-outs – Take a short break (24 hours to six weeks).
Self-exclusion – Ban yourself from betting for six months or longer if needed.
If you or someone you know needs support, here are some UK organisations offering free, confidential help:
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Holloway, 34, first did the point-down against Ricardo Lamas in 2016, while he repeated it against Dustin Poirier last year in becoming the first fighter to defend the BMF title.
In every fight Holloway has initiated the point-down, he has been up on the judges’ scorecards and closing in on a win, meaning he has given opponents one final opportunity to steal victory.
“My coaches aren’t a fan of it, they want me to circle away, stay away and be smart for the 10 seconds,” said Holloway.
“But they come up with great game plans and we execute it to that point. So let me have my 10 seconds of fun, you know. If I’m on the wrong end, then so be it.”
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Fans imitate the gesture during meet-and-greets with Holloway, while fellow fighters have also copied it during bouts.
Charles Oliveira, who faces Holloway for the BMF title at UFC 326 in Las Vegas on Saturday, has even been filmed training for the edge-of-your-seat exchange which follows the point-down.
Holloway has created a set of rules for any fighter, including Oliveira, planning to initiate the point-down.
“If you’re winning the fight, you are the person who can call the 10 seconds. And then when you call the 10 seconds, you cannot step back, or shoot or clinch,” said Holloway.
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“The other guy, if he obliges and then shoots or clinches, whatever, because he’s on the losing side already.”
Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois collide in Manchester in two months’ time in what a sparring partner of both men calls a ‘barnstormer.’
Champion Wardley takes on challenger Dubois in one of the year’s standout heavyweight bouts, with extreme power in each corner and questions for both men to answer.
Wardley was elevated from interim to full WBO champion, and is looking to satisfy fans with a dangerous first defence. The best way to do that is by facing a genuine knockout puncher – something his record arguably lacks so far.
Speaking to Seconds Out, fan favourite heavyweight Johnny Fisher looked back on his experiences sparring both men.
“Great fight. Fabio – I’ve seen his rise. I’ve sparred him many times in the earlier days, four, five years ago. Daniel, obviously I’ve been around him in the Sims gym, been around and sparred him before that as well. It’s a fantastic match-up.
“People have written off Fabio Wardley many times. That’s probably not a wise thing to do, so I’m not going to do that. And Daniel Dubois – unbelievable, electric power that I’ve felt myself … It’s a barnstormer.”
Fisher, who did not make a prediction, went on to praise Wardley more.
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“[Fabio] is everything that we see that he is – a warrior. His mental toughness, coming back from looking like you’re in trouble, to swinging and getting someone out of there… He’s also a great boxing technician, we’ve got to give him credit for that fight with Parker as well – not just knocking someone out, showing the skills to be a world class heavyweight.”
Here is an up-to-date list of all NFL Players from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California.
Consequently, players taken in the upcoming draft will not be included until they have seen the field.
The League does not officially recognize players who appeared only in preseason exhibition games.
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Long Beach Poly is a prep football powerhouse, ranked as the No. 1 pro football player-producing high school in the state, and the second NFL football player-producing high school in the nation.
California has produced a total of 3,331 NFL players from 793 schools, with 264 pros currently active.
See where all the other schools in the Golden State rank here, with links to their respective players.
