New York State – Page 170

Coronation Street’s Jack P. Shepherd opens up about soap’s future and admits his contract ‘is up this year’

3 days ago New York State Comments Off on Coronation Street’s Jack P. Shepherd opens up about soap’s future and admits his contract ‘is up this year’

CORONATION Street star Jack P. Shepherd has opened up his future on the soap.

The 37-year-old has been playing David Platt in the ITV soap since joining in 2000.

David Platt, Coronation Street actor, in a denim jacket and hoodie.

Jack P. Shepherd is approaching 25 years playing David Platt[/caption]

The soap star has addressed his future on the cobbles[/caption]

Other long-term stars such as Sue Cleaver are set to depart this year[/caption]

Speaking ahead of his 25th Anniversary in Weatherfield, Jack shared whether he’s open to staying for longer.

He told The Sun and other media at a press day: “I was only in the show three months originally, and then they just kept on sort of ringing my mum up, and my agent saying, ‘Yeah, we’ll extend it.’

“So, yeah, 25 years is a long time, I think, for anyone. But I get year contracts now, I don’t get three-months ones.

“So, I’m only ever here for like, another year, so. It runs out this year, [laughter] so they might not continue it!

“They might go with someone else, but I’m still enjoying it.”

Continuing, the actor addressed whether he’d stay for another 25 years – or stick with year-long contracts.

He said: “I think a contract at a time. You know where you are then.

“I think if they were to say… Well, they couldn’t promise that, could they?

“They couldn’t promise a 25-year contract. They don’t know what’s going to happen.

“So, I think it works in both of our favours just to do the year. But if it did end up being another 25, I don’t mind.

“As long as I’m still happy, that’s all that matters, doesn’t it? As long as you’re still happy.”

It comes as several Corrie stars are set to depart Weatherfield in the near future.

This includes Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw), Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley) and Colson Smith (Craig Tinker).

Viewers saw Yasmeen Nazir’s (Shelley King) final scenes air on March 10.

Elsewhere, Jack has recently landed exciting TV opportunities away from the cobbles.

The Sun revealed he has signed up for this year’s Celebrity Big Brother.

Jack follows in the footsteps of Colson Smith, aka Craig Tinker, who placed third last year.

A TV insider said: “The two lads are great mates, and Colson no doubt told Jack he’d have the time of his life on the show.”

Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025

ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap.

This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama.

Colson Smith – Craig Tinker

The character of Craig Tinker has been axed by bosses after 14 years. After he was told of the news in Autumn 2024, Colson Smith confirmed that would be written out of the show with scenes to air later this year. Craig’s on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, also left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out from the role.

Sue Cleaver – Eileen Grimshaw

After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I’m A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver will quit the show. The Sun on Sunday reported in January that she’s already begun to film her exit scenes. However the character will not be killed off in case Sue opts to make a return in the future.

Luca Toolan – Mason Radcliffe

Bosses decided to axe the teenage character after just 16 months after he first joined the show. Recent scenes saw Mason stabbed by his criminal brothers after his pal Dylan brought a knife in an attempt to defend him.

Sue Devaney – Debbie Webster

In November 2024, we revealed that Debbie Webster is set to be killed off after 40 years on the cobbles. The character will die as part of a heartbreaking long-running dementia storyline.

Charlotte Jordan – Daisy Midgeley

The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We revealed that she will bow out of the ITV soap later this year after four years on-screen. Charlotte told sources that she’s hungry to see what other opportunities await.

Shelley King – Yasmeen Metcalfe

The actress has played Yasmeen Metcalfe on the cobbles for the past 11 years and we revealed in January that she finished filming her final scenes. This follows the departure of her on-screen partner Stu Carpenter.

The actor is also set to compete in an upcoming week of Richard Osman‘s House of Games.

Jack will play against Una Healy, Joanna Page and Emmanuel Sonubi in the BBC quiz.

Saturdays star Una shared a selfie of the group – and host Richard – on Instagram.

She captioned: “So much fun with this lovely bunch of people today for @misterosman House of Games! Coming to @bbctwo soon!”

Shelley King’s final scenes as Yasmeen aired this week[/caption]

Jack’s pal Colson Smith is bowing out as Craig Tinker[/caption]

Daisy Midgeley from Coronation Street, pressured about her baby's father.

Charlotte Jordan’s character Daisy Midgeley will also leave the street[/caption]

Danny Dyer takes a savage swipe at daughter Dani’s ex Jack Fincham as he reveals fury at Love Island bosses

3 days ago New York State Comments Off on Danny Dyer takes a savage swipe at daughter Dani’s ex Jack Fincham as he reveals fury at Love Island bosses

DANNY Dyer has slammed his daughter Dani’s Love Island ex and insisted he “wasn’t what he was on the telly”.

The Marching Powder actor, 47, took a brutal swipe at Jack Fincham, 33, while admitting he hated Dani going on Love Island.

Couple posing in front of an ornate building.

Danny has taken a swipe at his daughter’s ex[/caption]

Danny Dyer, Dani Dyer, and Jack Fincham at a West Ham United game. — Jack Fincham with his ex-girlfriend Dani and her dad Danny

Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham at the Love Island finale. — Jack and Dani won Love Island in 2018

Dani and Jack, 32, won over the nation on the ITV2 show in 2018, with viewers gripped by their honest banter and love story.

The couple split just six months after leaving the Majorca villa, and Dani returned to her pre-Love Island boyfriend Sammy Kimmence.

She welcomed their son Santiago in January 2021.

Later that year her world fell apart when Kimmence was convicted of conning two pensioners out of £34,000 and jailed for three and a half years.

After dumping Kimmence she found happiness with West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen and they now share twin daughters Summer and Star.

Speaking about Jack on the latest episode of podcast Table Manners with Jessie & Lennie Ware, Danny said: “I didn’t really meet him.

“To be honest with you, it turned out he wasn’t what he was on the telly.”

He went on: “If you think about you in a villa, it’s a structured show. There’s no phones, there’s no distractions.

“How real can you be? It’s only when you get out. And so look, they made a go of it. It didn’t work out.”

Danny also blasted “cruel” producers for setting up Dani to believe Jack had cheated on her during Love Island’s Casa Amor.

Jack’s ex Ellie had entered as a bombshell to stir up trouble.

Danny said: “They did a really mean thing on it as well, where they sort of made it look like he was cheating on her. I was fuming. I was like I want numbers, I want f**** numbers.”

Speaking about the episodes, he added: “They pretended he was sleeping outside on a bed, and she was crying her eyes out, and I knew this was gonna happen to me.

“How could you do it to this poor child?

“So, yeah, really hard to watch, but she came out. She really just went with it.

“She got a clothing range. She’s such a beautiful kid.

“I’m so proud. I’m proud of all my babies.”

BITTER FEUD

While in the villa in 2018, it was revealed Jack had a poster of actor Danny on his bedroom wall growing up.

But things turned sour when Danny previously hit out at Jack, who has struggled with addiction and was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving.

Speaking to The Sun at the time, actor Danny branded the pen salesman a “f*****g t**t” and gushed over “amazing man” Jarrod.

He said: “My Dani has bought home some f*****g t**t. Sitting at my table on a Sunday, eating my leg of lamb.

“You can’t tell your children who to fall in love with. You have to go with the the f*****g flow.

“And then she bought home Jarrod Bowen. I earned him. He is a real amazing man.

“So yeah… if all my dreams could come true… all I f*****g want is for a man – or woman, whatever – to worship the f*****g ground my daughter walks on.”

Jack responded to Danny’s comments in 2023.

He hinted at a row that had already happened with Danny, but then quickly deleted his post and said he regretted responding.

In his deleted post, Jack had penned: “A t**t? I’ve never ate a leg of lamb at your house.

“If you have something to say about me, you know how to get hold of me, so don’t say things without expecting consequences because we know what happened last time don’t we Danny Dyer.”

He added in a video: “Do you know what? Normally I’d never ever ever ever react to what someone says about me in the press but the fact is, that certain person, I get asked about every single day no matter where I am.

“I get asked ‘Did you meet her dad? What’s he like?’ And every single time I say ‘What a lovely fella, what a lovely geezer.’

“And I say nothing but nice things, so for a fully grown man in his forties to say to the paper that I’m a ‘f*****g t**t I’m not having that.

“That’s pathetic. You can’t do things like that.”

Danny Dyer and Dani Dyer at the BRIT Awards 2025.

Danny and his reality TV star daughter Dani at the Brit Awards[/caption]

Danny and footballer Jarrod are firm friends[/caption]

Coca-Cola launching limited-edition alcoholic drink that’s hitting stores in weeks

3 days ago New York State Comments Off on Coca-Cola launching limited-edition alcoholic drink that’s hitting stores in weeks

SHOPPERS will soon be able to get their hands on cans of cherry-flavoured Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola.

Pre-mixed cans of the classic JD and Coke drink have been available in supermarkets for some time – but this is a new cherry-flavoured twist.

JD and Coke[/caption]

The brands have said Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola Cherry will be available in single 330ml cans from April.

However it looks like Tesco is already stocking the drink online for £2.20 so you may be able to get a can even sooner.

The Sun has reached out for confirmation on this.

It comes just as Brits start looking forward to the spring weather and tinnies in the park.

Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola first collaborated to make pre-mixed cans in March 2023.

However this is the first time a new flavour has been released.

The drink is being described as the “ultimate fusion of boldness and refreshment”.

“This premium crafted ready-to-drink cocktail brings together the robust flavour of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey with the radiant, tart notes of Coca-Cola Cherry, creating an experience that’s both unmistakably delicious and refreshingly unique,” the description says.

The drink has an ABV of 5%.

It’s made up of 12% Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and 88% Coca-Cola Cherry.

A spokesperson for Coca-Cola told The Grocer they believe the drink will be a “massive hit” with shoppers.

It’s already been shared on the Food Finds UK Official Facebook group, getting fans excited for the drop.

The history of Jack Daniel’s and Coke

Jack Daniel’s and Coke is a classic drink combination ordered in bars across the country.

According to the official website, Jack Daniel’s whiskey and Coca-Cola were reportedly first mixed together in 1907.

It’s not clear who first mixed the iconic pair, but the brands say the two drinks “likely collided somewhere outside Chattanooga, Tennessee”.

More rare Coca-Cola flavours

Coca-Cola has been known in the past to bring out plenty of experimental flavours for shoppers to try.

Recently it stunned shoppers when it launched a collaboration with Oreo.

The unique product combines the flavours of the iconic soft drink with the popular cookie.

The Zero Sugar version is currently available to buy in Tesco for £1.

Last year, Coca-Cola Lemon also returned for what was believed to be the first time since 2006.

The drink is still available to buy from a range of supermarkets including Asda, Morrisons, Ocado and Sainsbury’s.

You can get a 1.75L bottle for £2.49 in Asda, or £2.50 in Morrisons, Ocado and Sainsbury’s.

Alternatively you can get an eight-pack of 330ml cans.

These are selling for £5.40 on Amazon, £5.48 in Asda, and £5.50 in Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.

Coca-Cola launched the similar Diet Coke Citrus Zest in 2007, featuring a combination of lemon and lime flavours.

But this was quietly discontinued in 2018, much to the dismay of loyal fans.

Why are products axed or recipes changed?

ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.

Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.

They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.

There are several reasons why this could be done.

For example, government regulation, like the “sugar tax,” forces firms to change their recipes.

Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.

They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.

For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.

It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.

Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.

Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.

While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.

World’s loneliest elephant has been trapped alone on tiny island for 2 YEARS as he solemnly trumpets looking for friends

3 days ago New York State Comments Off on World’s loneliest elephant has been trapped alone on tiny island for 2 YEARS as he solemnly trumpets looking for friends

AN ELEPHANT has been dubbed the word’s loneliest after has was stranded on a tiny island for two years after being caught in a monsoon.

Footage of the five-year-old elephant, named Sun, shows him wandering around the island, bored and without the company of other jumbos.

Elephant stranded on an island in a reservoir.

Sun, can be seen wandering along the shore of the island, trumpeting his horn and searching for companionship[/caption]

Aerial view of a small island in a reservoir, with a boat approaching.

The vast Prasae Reservoir in Rayong province, Thailand where Sun is trapped[/caption]

Illustration of a lone elephant stranded on an island in a reservoir, Thailand. — Sun wandered onto the eyot for fresh food when a drought caused low water levels in the reservoir two years ago

He can be seen pacing along the shore of the island, trumpeting his horn and searching for companionship.

While searching for fresh food on the eyot, the adult elephant, was caught in a sudden burst of rain in the vast Prasae Reservoir in Rayong province, Thailand in April 2023.

The monsoon caused rising water levels leaving Sun trapped on the island.

Prior to this, Sun was free to roam around the woodland area, munching away at the tree leaves, which he had all to himself – a perk of being the only elephant on the island.

But, after becoming trapped, he has been starved of company, without a single other jumbo in sight – for two years.

Thankfully, the poor, lonely elephant was spotted a couple of moths after becoming stranded on the island.

He has since received food donations from residents who kindly bring the adult elephant supplies, travelling to the island by boat, which has ensured his survival along with eating vegetation.

After two years of being trapped without any company, concerned locals and forest officials are planning to help release Sun from the island.

But nothing but the vast water and beachy land is in sight.

Local forestry official, Pitak Yingyong said: “We brought fruits for Sun. We are accepting donations like food and grass so we can sustain his needs until we can find a way for him to leave the island.

“He must be very lonely and feeling isolated. When he saw us he happily ran over to us.”

However, due to the increasing scarcity of water, officials cannot release supplies from the reservoir.

Officals also expressed concerns that doing so would cause flooding downstream as almost all of the reserves would require dispensing of, to enable Sun a safe route out.

Other rescue methods considered by Government conservationists include using a large boat to float Sun off the island and back into his natural habitat in the forest.

But, logistics prove this option to be too difficult.

Pitak said: “Catching a wild elephant is not an easy task. Using a boat would be very difficult and only possible if he was in a critical condition.

“As it stands, there is no danger to Sun as he has a lot of food. But he is lonely. We may have to wait for the water to decline and we can help him to leave.

“The National Park has to coordinate the plan, but at the moment, it is very difficult. We thought about a boat but it would be a challenge.

“The reservoir holds critical water supplies for three provinces in the Eastern Economic Corridor. We cannot drain it.”

Thailand is home to nearly 3,500 elephants in the wild and the elephant population has increased in recent years.

But, this is a fraction of the estimated 300,000 wild elephants which lived in Thailand at the beginning of the 20th century, showing a dramatic decrease.

Cheltenham Festival 2025 betting offers: Best new sign up offers for Day Two of the racing

3 days ago New York State Comments Off on Cheltenham Festival 2025 betting offers: Best new sign up offers for Day Two of the racing

THE Cheltenham Festival is underway at Prestbury Park.

Here at Sun Racing we’ve put together an extensive list of the top betting offers and exclusive bonuses offers from our commercial partners, in no particular order, to make sure YOU are in the best possible position for the four-day extravaganza.

Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles here

The 10 best bonuses and sign-up offers from our partners

More from Cheltenham

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

Day Two latest and Templegate's tips after snow falls at home of jumps

TOP OFFER

Cheltenham Festival 2025 sign up offer: Get £30 in free bets at bet365

Betfred

Offer: Bet £10 Get £50 in free bets

New Betfred customers can get a mammoth £50 in free bets to spend on sport!

Once depositing and betting £10+ new punters will receive £50 in free bets, credited as:

3 x Sports free bets
2 x Acca free bets

Tote

Offer: Bet £10 Get £40 in bonuses

Tote never fail to disappoint with their new customer offers and this is no different.

New customers to sign up to the bookmaker can claim £40 in free bets and bonuses to spend on Cheltenham!

The bonuses are credited as so:

£20 Tote credit
£10 free sports bet
50 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza

BetMGM

Offer: Bet £10 Get £40 in free bets

BetMGM were really popular last year and this welcome offer should be the same again this year.

New customers can claim £40 in free bets to spend on horse racing when they register and stake £10!

Those free bets are:

2 x £10 Free Bets (min odds 2/1)
2 x £10 Free Accas (trebles & above)

10bet

Offer: Get matched first bet up to £50

10bet have a terrific offer for brand new customers ahead of Cheltenham.

Punters who sign up and deposit up to £50 using promo code ‘SPORT’ will have their stake 100% matched as a free bet up to that £50 max limit!

BoyleSports

Offer: Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets and bonuses

BoyleSports are rewarding brand new customers with £30 in free bets and bonuses for the Festival.

Punters who register a brand new account and bet £10 will receive a £20 in sports free bet and a £10 casino bonus!

talkSPORT BET

Offer: Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets

talkSPORT BET are marking the Cheltenham Festival with this new offer.

New customers who stake £10 will receive £20 in free bets – to be used on the racing Cheltenham!

On settlement of your qualifying bet, you will get a total of £20 in Free Bets!

William Hill

Offer: Bet £10 Get £60 in bonuses

The biggest value of the list, William Hill are giving out £60 in free bets and bonuses when registering and staking £10.

Once that £10 is settled, a £20 Vegas Bonus will be credited to use on selected games.

Then to receive the Sports Bonus of 4 x £10, you must make a minimum stake of £10 (with cash or from your winnings from the Vegas Free Bet, once wagering requirements are met) at odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on any sportsbook market!

So you’ll get:

£20 Vegas Bonus
4 x £10 sports free bets

Betano

Offer: Get up to £40 in free bets

Betano are relatively new to the market and they’re looking to make waves with their offer!

Betano will match your very first stake as a free bet up to £40!

The free bet will be split and credited as two separate bets to add up to the original stake, like so:

50% – any Horse Racing Acca (2+ selections)
50% – Lengthen the Odds

PricedUp

Offer: Get a £20 free bet when you stake £40

Bookmakers PricedUp are rewarding new customers with a £20 free bet when they register a new account ahead of Cheltenham!

Just register and place an opening bet of £40+ and once it has been settled, PricedUp will credit your account with a £20 free bet instantly.

Coral

Offer: Bet £5 Get £20 in free bets

Coral are rewarding new customers with £20 in free bets when signing up and just staking £5!

Once you have placed your first qualifying bet of £5+, Coral will credit your account with 4x £5 free bets to be used on horse racing!

When is the Cheltenham Festival?

The 2025 Cheltenham Festival gets underway on Tuesday, March 11.
It will run between March 11 and Friday, March 14.
The first race will take place at 1.20pm on each day and the last race at 5.20pm.
The championship race will be run at 4pm each day.

When time is each race at Cheltenham?

The entire Cheltenham schedule can be found here.
Seven races will take place each day from 1.20pm until the finale at 5.20pm

What are the championship races at the Cheltenham Festival?

Each day of the Festival, there will be one ‘championship race’ – essentially the highlight of that day’s action.

Those are:

Day one: Champion Hurdle
Day two: Champion Chase
Day three: Stayers’ Hurdle
Day four: Cheltenham Gold Cup

Who is favourite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup?

At the time of writing, Galopin Des Champs is the favourite to win the race
He’s trained by Willie Mullins and won this race in 2023 and 2024

Previous Cheltenham Gold Cup winners

Year	Winner	Age	Trainer
2024	Galopin Des Champs	7	W P Mullins
2023	Galopin Des Champs	7	W P Mullins
2022	A Plus Tard	8	Henry De Bromhead
2021	Minella Indo	8	Henry De Bromhead
2020	Al Boum Photo	8	W P Mullins
2019	Al Boum Photo	7	W P Mullins
2018	Native River	8	Colin Tizzard
2017	Sizing John	7	Jessica Harrington (Ire)
2016	Don Cossack	9	Gordon Elliott (Ire)
2015	Coneygree	8	Mark Brackstock

What TV channel will Cheltenham Festival be broadcast on and can I stream it?

Cheltenham will be available live on ITV and Racing TV.
You can follow all the action on SunSport’s Cheltenham Festival live blog.

Ts&Cs

*Betfred: New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.

*Tote. New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org.Full T&Cs apply.

*BetMGM. New cust only. 7 days to place a qualifying bet of £10 at Evens (1/1) or above for 2 x £10 Free Bets (min odds 2/1) & 2 x £10 Free Accas (trebles & above at min odds per line 1/2). Expires 14/03/25 23:59. Cannot be used on e-sports & non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.

*10bet. New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+

*BoyleSports. *18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £40 in FREE Bets (FB) as £30 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit €10. Min stake €10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. Digital customers only. Min Odds of (3/1). Max stake 20. Available on one bet per selected event. 25% Boost. Boost will be added once all selections have settled. Max boost payout £/€1,000. Offer does not apply to multiple bets. Free/void/cashed out bets won’t qualify. T&Cs apply.

*talkSPORT BET. 18+ New Customers Only. Opt in via mobile or app. Bet £10+ on sports (odds 2.00+). Get 3x£10 Free Bets for set markets, which expire in 5 days. Offer valid from 12:00 on 26/02/2025 until 16:00 on 07/03/2025. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org . Please gamble responsibly

*William Hill: 18+. Play Safe. New players only, using promo code T60. Valid from 13/04/2022. Online play. Get £60 Bonus split between Vegas & Sports in the following manner – (i) Deposit £10 to unlock £20 Vegas Free Bet on Selected Games (72hr expiry, wagering reqs apply); then (ii) bet £10+ (odds 1/2+) with cash (excl. £10 deposit) or Vegas winnings (after wager reqs met). Once settled, receive £40 Sports Free Bets excluding Virtual Markets (4x £10, 7 days expiry). Payment methods & country restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. #ad

*Betano. 18+ New customers only. Opt in and bet £10 on Horse Racing (odds 2/1+) within 3 days of sign up. No cash-out. Get your first stake credited in Free Bets, up to £40, for set horse racing markets. Free Bets expire in 5 days. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org. Please gamble responsibly 

*PricedUp. 18+. New customers only. Place a minimum £40 bet on any selection with minimum odds of Evens (2.00) and receive a £20 free bet upon bet settlement. Free bet expires after 7 days. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply. #ad

*Coral. Eligible UK+IRE players. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cash-out, restrictions & T&Cs apply. 18+ T&Cs Apply. Begambleaware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chase their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare – gamcare.org.uk
GambleAware – GambleAware.org

Read our guide on responsible gambling practices.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.

Cheltenham Festival 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Day Two updates and Templegate’s tips as huge ground decision made amid snowfall

3 days ago New York State Comments Off on Cheltenham Festival 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Day Two updates and Templegate’s tips as huge ground decision made amid snowfall

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL is rolling on at some pace at Prestbury Park as we enter Style Wednesday.

Wednesday got off to a rocky start. as SNOW fell on the Cheltenham race course in the morning to throw a spanner into the works.

Today is headlined by the Queen Mother Champion Chase on what is set to be a thrilling afternoon.

Sun Racing’s renowned tipster Templegate is on hand here all week, and will be bringing you all of the tips for EVERY race.

Complete TV guide – how to watch every race
Full race schedule, guide and timings

CHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS: BEST NEW SIGN UPS

Follow ALL of the latest updates from Cheltenham below…

Fans fear Ronnie O’Sullivan could MISS World Snooker Championship after spotting worrying clue in latest message

3 days ago New York State Comments Off on Fans fear Ronnie O’Sullivan could MISS World Snooker Championship after spotting worrying clue in latest message

SNOOKER fans fear Ronnie O’Sullivan will NOT play in the World Championship.

The best players in the game descend on the Crucible from April 19 to May 5.

Ronnie O'Sullivan of England during a snooker semifinal match.

Fans think Ronnie O’Sullivan may not play at the Crucible[/caption]

Poster advertising 3 coaching sessions with Nigel Bond and a Q&A with Ronnie O'Sullivan.

The poster for the event does not say preparation for the World Champs despite it being the following week[/caption]

O’Sullivan, 49, has not played since the beginning of January and there are doubts over whether he will be in the mix for a record-breaking eighth title.

The Rocket is booked in for an event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on April 8 to 10 – just a week before the World Championship gets underway.

Lucky fans have a chance to watch O’Sullivan and Nigel Bond before they host a Q&A session with supporters.

Promotion for the event says: “Be close to Ronnie and watch him during his preparation for the World Snooker Tour.”

Some fans reckon it spells out uncertainty over O’Sullivan’s spot at the World Championship.

One wrote: “Telling that it doesn’t say his prep for the Crucible.”

Another speculated: “Can we read anything into this not naming the World Champs as the event Ronnie is training for?”

More pleaded: “Are you going to be at the Worlds this year?”

Cheltenham Festival betting offers and free bets

Since his last appearance, O’Sullivan has pulled out of the Masters, German Masters, World Open, Welsh Open and World Grand Prix.

His withdrawals mean he has not managed to qualify for the Players Championship in Telford nor the Tour Championship in Manchester.

After pulling out the World Grand Prix, O’Sullivan said: “I am very disappointed not to be competing.

“I had been eager to make my comeback in Hong Kong and have put in my utmost effort but unfortunately must consider my health.

“I wish to sincerely thank the organisers and all the Hong Kong fans for their support.”

Britain’s oldest drag queen and Brighton Pride legend dies aged 91 as tributes flood in to ‘trailblazing’ performer

3 days ago New York State Comments Off on Britain’s oldest drag queen and Brighton Pride legend dies aged 91 as tributes flood in to ‘trailblazing’ performer

BRITAIN’s oldest performing drag queen has passed away aged 91.

David Raven, better known by the stage name Maisie Trollette, was a feature of the Brighton Pride parade since it started in 1973.

Maisie Trollette, drag performer, in blue and yellow ruffled dress.

Britain’s oldest performing drag queen has passed away aged 91[/caption]

Portrait of David Raven, also known as Maisie Trollette.

David Raven died in the early hours of the morning in Brighton[/caption]

Person in rainbow outfit at a Pride parade.

Maisie Trollette was a feature of the Brighton Pride parade since it started in 1973[/caption]

He died in the early hours of the morning in Brighton, according to The Argus.

The LGBT+ trailblazer dazzled audiences for over half a century.

Born in St Ives, Cornwall in 1933, he grew up in Suffolk training as a grocer, publican and waiter.

David came out in 1959, aged 26 – when being gay was still illegal – and moved to London a year later.

His career began as one half of the drag duo The Trollettes with Jimmy Court.

The entertainer was a regular at venues including The Black Cap and the RVT.

Her performances were also a “staple” at Two Brewers, who released a touching tribute to the late star.

It read: “We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Maisie Trollette.

“David Raven, known by his stage name Maisie Trollette, was a pioneering figure in British drag performance.

“Born in 1933, he began his fabulous career in the 1960s, forming the duo The Trollettes with James Court.

“They captivated audiences at renowned venues such as The Black Cap and the RVT.

“Maisie Trollette’s performances were a staple at Two Brewers, where she entertained countless patrons over the years to a packed house.

“David was deeply committed to philanthropy, raising thousands of pounds for charities nationwide.

“His enduring legacy and contributions to the LGBTQ+ community were celebrated in the 2022 documentary ‘Maisie’.

“David passed away this morning at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of joy, resilience, and unwavering dedication to his craft.

“He will be deeply missed.”

The 2022 documentary Maisie captured Raven in the run-up to his 85th birthday celebrations.

Asked why she kept on performing into her eighties, she replied: “She said: “I’m working because I love what I do.

“Besides, have you seen the prices of bread and coffee?”

The LGBT+ trailblazer dazzled audiences for over half a century[/caption]

Born in 1933, David’s career began as one half of the drag duo The Trollettes[/caption]

Portrait of Maisie Trollette, aged 91, in a red sequined gown.

Her performances were also a ‘staple’ at Two Brewers[/caption]

Worryingly common speech trait ‘could be one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s’

3 days ago New York State Comments Off on Worryingly common speech trait ‘could be one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s’

Hand me the… uh, whatchamacallit?

We’ve all been there – struggling to find the right word.

Slow speech could be a key indicator of dementia[/caption]

This common lapse, known as “lethologica,” tends to happen more often as we age.

Having word-finding difficulties isn’t just frustrating – it can also be an early sign of brain changes linked to the preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s – the most common form of dementia – long before other symptoms appear.

However, a recent University of Toronto study suggests that speech speed, not just trouble finding words, could be a better indicator of brain health in older adults.

Their study involved using artificial intelligence software to analyse the language abilities of 125 health volunteers aged 18 to 90.

Each participant was asked to describe pictures of everyday objects while listening to an audio clip

The clip repeated a word related to the object’s meaning, making it harder to recall the name or find a similar-sounding word.

Participants also took standard tests measuring focus, thinking speed, and problem-solving.

They found that word-finding abilities got worse naturally with age, but were not linked to cognitive decline, a precursor for dementia.

But talking slowly was associated with weaker brain functions, finding, published in Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition, showed.

“Our results indicate that changes in general talking speed may reflect changes in the brain,” study co-author Dr Jed Meltzer said.

“This suggests that talking speed should be tested as part of standard cognitive assessments to help clinicians detect cognitive decline faster and help older adults support their brain health as they age,” he added.

A seperate study, published earlier this month, suggested that people who love a lie-in are at greater risk of dementia.

Dangerous sleep habit

Clocking in enough hours of shut-eye is important for long-term health, scientists at the University of Warwick said.

They cited recent research which urged adults to aim for roughly seven hours of sleep each night.

But going above or below this sleep sweet spot could put people at risk of worrying health issues, researchers warned.

People who sleep longer than seven hours may be more likely to suffer cognitive decline and diseases such as Alzheimer’s, they found.

The study comes after researchers warned that your weekend sleep patterns could be hampering your immune system – making it harder to shift that spring bug.

The NHS recommends that adults aim to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.

Other signs of dementia in the voice

Experts have discovered there are other symptoms of the disease which you can also spot in the way someone speaks.

This is because dementia can damage the parts of the brain that control language.

How and when language problems develop will depend on the type of dementia they have and what stage it is at.

Some of these include:

Using a related word (for example, ‘book’ instead of ‘newspaper’)
Using substitutes for words (for example, ‘thing that you sit on’ instead of ‘chair’)
Not find any word at all
Not struggle to find words, but use words that have no meaning or that are jumbled up in the wrong order
Going back to the first language they learned as a child. For example, if they learn English as a second language, they may forget how to speak it.

There is currently no cure or way of slowing the fatal disease, which robs sufferers of their memory, intelligence and physical strength.

Cheltenham Festival 2025 LIVE: Race results, updates and winners from Day 2

3 days ago New York State Comments Off on Cheltenham Festival 2025 LIVE: Race results, updates and winners from Day 2

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Day Two, Style Wednesday — Snow fell on the morning of the second day of Cheltenham (Picutre: Getty)

Cheltenham Festival 2025 continues this afternoon after a dramatic first day of action at Prestbury Park.

On a remarkable opening day, 25/1 runner Golden Ace stormed to victory in the Champion Hurdle after both Constitution Hill and State Man fell.

And Style Wednesday promises more thrills with the Queen Mother Champion Chase taking centre stage as the Nicky Henderson trained Jonbon chases glory.

Metro’s live blog will have race results, winners and updates throughout the day across all seven races with all the latest betting tips and odds to help you bag a few winners.