Val Dancer aiming for Midlands Grand National win
The Midlands Grand National, first run in 1969, has its place in English horse racing history as the second-longest race in the British calendar, after the Grand National at Aintree.It has produced two former Cheltenham Gold Cup winners - The Thinker in 1986 and Synchronised in 2010 - and a former Grand National winner in Rag Trade, who triumphed 50 years ago.The attendance will not approach Cheltenham levels but an expected 10,000 crowd will create the usual electric atmosphere at the small Staffordshire track."We're looking at having around 10,000 here," executive director Brian Barrass told BBC Sport."That would be around 500 up on 2024 and 1,500 up on 2023."We're expecting the Grandstand and Premier area to sell out on the day. But we have capacity in the Centre Course."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
18 minutes ago
- BBC News
Two Leeds players to watch out for this season
BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators have picked two Leeds United players who will be worth watching out for in the next few Piroe Age: 26 Position: Striker Country: Netherlands Guy Mowbray: The very definition of a wildcard, given that he can look like he can do it all AND the total opposite - sometimes within the same game.I've got a feeling Leeds will have brought in a new striker to start ahead of him before the big kick-off, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him come on as an impact sub to get them a point or two early in the BijolAge: 26 Position: Centre-back Country: SloveniaConor McNamara: Leeds' new centre-back from Udinese is a very interesting signing. I've been wondering for a few years now why a Champions League club has not snapped him one failing seems to be a tendency to mis-time lunging tackles, something he will need to get right in the cut and thrust of the Premier League, but otherwise he appears to have all the attributes - very strong in the air, mobile, and able to ping an accurate long-range pass.I commentated on several of his games for Slovenia at last summer's Euros in Germany, and he did really well in games against strikers such as Harry Kane, Rasmus Hojlund, Alexander Mitrovic, and Cristiano Ronaldo - none of them scored in their games against Bijol during the about more players to watch here
BBC News
18 minutes ago
- BBC News
Two Everton players to watch out for this season
BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators have picked two Everton players who will be worth watching out for in the next few Barry Age: 22 Position: Striker Country: France Guy Mowbray: Having checked his numbers and seen a few clips online, I'm really hoping he can make a big - and quick - impact for be raw certainly, but the talent is undoubtedly there for David Moyes to work about time Everton had a strong centre-forward who can consistently deliver again. Dixie Dean, Tommy Lawton, Joe Royle, Bob Latchford, Andy Gray, Duncan Ferguson... Thierno Barry?And if he doesn't fire - how about Beto to step up as a bit of a wildcard himself?!Harrison Armstrong Age: 18 Position: Midfield Country: England Steve Bower: Given Everton's frustrations in the summer market, Blues fans are hoping one of their own has an opportunity to make an impact.I saw Harrison Armstrong start at Goodison in the FA Cup win over Peterborough in January before a productive loan spell in the Championship with Derby County. Still only 18, he offers versatility in the attacking have to be patient, but he'll be hoping to follow the likes of Ross Barkley and Anthony Gordon in taking his opportunity when it about more players to watch here
BBC News
18 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Having a drink cost me my family'
"Having a drink is what cost me my entire family."It is the first episode of Tommy Fury's BBC documentary and he is explaining why his very public break-up with Molly-Mae Hague boxer, whose profile skyrocketed when he went on Love Island in 2019, is sitting in his self-described "big" house, alone.A graphic pops up to say it is 110 days since Hague and their young daughter, Bambi, Hague announced their break-up in August 2024, Fury immediately began facing accusations of cheating and getting another woman denied all those "disgusting" claims, and he reveals that after having an operation on a long-term hand injury, he began drinking Fury, the father of both Tommy and former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, says he told Hague to leave his son."During this documentary a lot of my hardest times have been documented," Fury tells BBC Sport."[The documentary is about] how to navigate tough times."What's it like behind the scenes of an actual boxing fight."And how difficult it is to balance everything - being a family man, fighter and work life."The documentary follows Fury as he charts his way back from mental health struggles and excessive Englishman credits boxing and his daughter Bambi, "the best thing in my life", with helping him in May this year it was confirmed Fury and Hague had reconciled."Training was my escape. I'd always feel amazing coming out of the gym no matter what was happening, even if my life was falling apart," Fury says."My relationship with boxing is as it's always been. I've still got the same goals, I'm still hungry."I am still up at four or five in the morning running, still training three times a day. The hunger is still there."If it wasn't for boxing, I wouldn't have what I have in my life."Boxing has opened every single door for me. I owe my life to boxing."Watch Tommy: The Good. The Bad. The Fury on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three from Tuesday, 19 August 'Jake Paul knows where I am' Fury's boxing career has followed an unusual Mancunian had two professional fights under his belt when he appeared on Love Island, but with his fame and the emergence of influencer boxing, Fury stepped into that says his goals are still the same, he still wants to be a world champion one day."I am 26 years old, I believe I have the talent to do so, I just need the experience and the time," he Fury's two biggest fights have been against YouTubers KSI and Jake Paul. Paul is a regular competitor in boxing and continues to be one of the most marketable fighters in the beat Paul by split decision in 2023 in a lucrative bout and while his ambitions are to establish himself as a top contender at cruiserweight, he is not ruling out more crossover Englishman was scheduled to fight ex-UFC star Darren Till earlier this year in a boxing match, before Fury pulled out of the returned from an 18-month absence from the ring in May when he beat Kenan Hanjalic in Paul on a six-fight winning streak since facing Fury and bringing boxing to streaming giant Netflix, Fury is open to a rematch."Jake Paul's a unique character. He's doing well. There's no animosity or jealousy there," Fury says."He's making big waves and good luck to him. I'm doing my thing."I'm here, I'm ready but I'm not begging for a fight. I've done my job, I've beat him. I've got the win, he's got the loss."Any day he wants to rectify that, he knows where I am."If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article you can visit the BBC's Action Line for information and support on addiction.
