New York State

The government has allocated R19.1 billion over the medium term to retain approximately 11 000 teachers in classrooms.

They had a massive falling out after the show was filmed

THE Cross Country Chase is up NEXT on Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival.

We’ll bring you how every horse finished right here below, or check out Sun Racing’s Cheltenham live blog for the latest race updates.

Reuters

Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival has got off to a thrilling start[/caption]

3.20 Cheltenham result

Full results and horse placing to follow…

Cheltenham Festival 2025 schedule in FULL

Tuesday, March 11 – Champion Day

1.20pm: Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ (WINNER: KOPEK DES BORDES)
2pm: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (WINNER: JANGO BAIE)
2.40pm: Ultima Handicap Chase (WINNER: MYRETOWN)
3.20pm: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (WINNER: LOSSIEMOUTH)
4pm: Unibet Champion Hurdle (WINNER: GOLDEN ACE)
4.40pm: Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (WINNER: PUTURHANDSTOGETHER)
5.20pm: National Hunt Novices’ Chase (WINNER: HAITI COULEURS)

Cheltenham Festival betting offers and free bets

Wednesday, March 12 – Style Wednesday

1.20pm: Turners Novices’ Hurdle (WINNER: THE NEW LION)
2pm: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (WINNER: LECKY WATSON)
2.40pm: Coral Cup Hurdle (WINNER: JIMMY DU SEUIL)
3.20pm: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
4pm: BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
4.40pm: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
5.20pm: Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Thursday, March 13 – St Patrick’s Thursday

1.20pm: Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
2pm: Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase
2.40pm: Pertemps Network Final (Premier Handicap)
3.20pm: Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
4pm: Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
4.40pm: TrustATrader Plate (Premier Handicap)
5.20pm: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2025 LIVE: LATEST TIPS AND RESULTS FROM THE GREATEST SHOW ON TURF

Friday, March 14 – Gold Cup Day

1.20pm: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
2pm: William Hill County Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap)
2.40pm: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2)
3.20pm: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
4pm: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
4.40pm: St. James’s Place Festival Hunters Chase
5.20pm: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

How to watch EVERY race at Cheltenham Festival 2025

In the UK, ITV1 will be providing FREE coverage of the first SIX races of each day at Cheltenham Festival this year.

Fans in the UK will be able to live stream ITV’s coverage for FREE via the ITVX app/website.

ITV‘s broadcast of the event will begin at 12.45pm and end at 5pm each day.

Previously, ITV didn’t air the final two races of each day at Cheltenham, but this year, viewers are treated to an extra four races across the festival for absolutely NOTHING.

Racing TV is the only place to watch the Cheltenham Festival in its entirety, but you will be required to purchase a subscription to access the channel.

SunSport’s Cheltenham live blog will provide comprehensive coverage of EVERY race across the festival.

Ezekiel Kipkoech Tarus, a police officer linked to the death of his colleague, is expected to take a murder plea at the Makadara Law Courts on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Milimani Law Courts Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina issued the directives on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, to enable them to complete investigations of his involvement in […]

The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has officially ended its prolonged strike following a return-to-work agreement signed with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Council of Governors (COG). The ministry, in a statement on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, confirmed that clinical officers have been directed to resume duty within 24 hours after signing […]

Alego Usonga Member of Parliament (MP) Samuel Atandi has morphed from being one of the biggest critics of President William Ruto’s administration to being trusted with a key position in the National Assembly. Atandi was among Raila Odinga’s loyal lieutenants who did not shy away from openly rebuking and reprimanding the head of state to […]

Pakistani authorities say separatist militants who have seized a train have killed some of the hundreds of the hostages on board. Security forces have exchanged gunfire with the separatist militants, who are said to be wearing vests loaded with explosives. The militants barricaded themselves inside the train with around 250 hostages, Pakistani officials said – […]

Here’s how to unlock all Boss Powers in Diablo 4 Season 8, and what they do – including the returning Belial’s.

DADS who take paternity leave are being sacked with no legal protection, with 3,700 losing their jobs a year, shocking figures reveal.

Campaigners say the UK’s system is failing fathers, leaving them too scared to take time off to bond with their newborns for fear of losing their livelihoods.

Unlike mothers, who are protected from redundancy during pregnancy and maternity leave, dads taking statutory paternity leave have no such safeguards.

Labour MP Lola McEvoy yesterday told Parliament the lack of legal protection means some fathers “can’t even take what they’re entitled to” because they fear it will cost them their jobs.

She said:  “Fathers, mothers and babies need time together. They need time to bond, time to heal, time to adjust to the earth-shattering experience of becoming a parent together.”

The only way for dads to get redundancy protection is to take shared parental leave, but analysis from campaign group The Dad Shift found fewer than 2 per cent of fathers used it last year.

The group, alongside Pregnant Then Screwed, also found 3,700 fathers lose their jobs after taking statutory paternity leave, despite only being entitled to two measly weeks off – the least generous allowance in Europe.

The figure is based on 2018 modelling by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, updated using a survey of 5,500 parents and polling on job losses among new fathers.

Ministers have stopped short of backing a legal change in the Employment Rights Bill, despite calls to guarantee redundancy protection from the moment a father tells his employer he is expecting a child until the baby is 18 months old.

A government spokesperson said they are expanding day-one rights for paternity leave and conducting a wider review of statutory parental leave to ensure the system supports working families.

Campaigners say this doesn’t go far enough and are calling for urgent action to protect new dads from being unfairly fired.

One South London mum, Juliette, said her partner was made redundant weeks before their daughter was stillborn, leaving them struggling both financially and emotionally.

She believes the company targeted dads for the chop, as all redundancies in her partner’s department hit men with kids—while younger, child-free staff kept their jobs.

Juliette said: “I haven’t seen anything regarding protecting men from abusive redundancy based on children related leave.”

George Gabriel, co-founder of The Dad Shift, said “the stories of dads losing their jobs for taking just two weeks off to bond with their babies and support their partners are absolutely gut-wrenching.”

ONE of the few professions where a diminutive stature is a massive advantage is horse racing.

Here we get to know the world’s tallest jockey Jack Andrews, whose success just goes to show that anything is possible.

PA

While most jockeys need a leg up to get on a horse, Jack is taller than them[/caption]

Who is Jack Andrews?

Jack Andrews is a professional jockey who’s renowned as the tallest in the world.

Born into a family deeply involved in horse racing, Jack initially wasn’t keen on riding.

However, he discovered his passion as a teenager when he began schooling his parents’ horses.

In horse riding, “schooling” refers to the process of teaching horses to respond to commands, perform specific movements and behave properly under saddle.

But a rapid growth spurt between the ages of 17 and 18 left him thinking a career in the saddle might be just a tall tale.

In spite of his unusual height for the sport, Jack has reached the pinnacle of jump racing.

Dietary challenges

His unusual stature means he faces additional difficulties in maintaining the low weight required.

He follows a strict diet, carefully monitoring his food intake to remain competitive.

In 2023, Jack told Sun Racing: “I don’t know of anyone riding under rules who is taller than me.

“But I’m very self-critical and constantly trying to make myself better, especially with my riding.

“The biggest compliment anyone can give me is that I don’t look big on a horse.

“But for my diet, I have to have a daily routine to keep my weight down. Gaining weight is an issue but I keep it under control.

“I’ll have a coffee on my way to work then a yogurt, fruit and some granola for breakfast.

“Lunch is a yogurt bar and a banana, while dinner is some protein like chicken and another yogurt – I eat every meal, just not a lot.

“That being said, when I have a cheat day and go out I eat properly! I don’t pick salads, that’s for sure. I go all out.”

PA

Christian and Geri Horner celebrating their horse Lift Me Up winning the Willoughby De Broke Open Hunters’ Chase with Jack on January 20, 2025[/caption]

Height

The 26-year-old stands at an impressive six feet four inches (193 cm).

Jockeys are typically around five feet two inches tall.

This makes Jack over a foot taller than the average pro racing rider.

Point-to-point success

Jack has been particularly successful in point-to-point racing.

He was crowned the national Men’s champion jockey for the 2019/2020 season, which was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

PA

Jack towers over Geri[/caption]

He followed in the footsteps of his older sisters Gina and Bridget, both of whom are former Ladies champions in point-to-point racing.

Cheltenham Festival

Jack made headlines when he first participated in the Cheltenham Festival.

His appearance in 2023 marked him as the tallest jockey to ever race at the historic event.

Riding 66/1 long shot Anightinlambourn in the National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup, he drew attention for both his riding skills and towering presence.

And he’s back for the 2025 Festival, riding Geri and Christian Horner‘s horse Lift Me Up.

Career highlights

Throughout his career, Andrews has shown versatility and skill, riding for various trainers and on different horses.

One of his favourite horses has been Proximo, on which he has won six races.

His success and unique physical attributes have made him an intriguing figure, challenging the stereotypical image of jockeys.