Latest news with #DerekRyan
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Book'em Danno Wins True North With Late Surge
Book'em Danno Wins True North With Late Surge originally appeared on Paulick Report. Atlantic Six Racing's Book'em Danno showed strong closing ability to register a pair of stakes wins as a sophomore and utilized a similar tactic Saturday to notch his first stakes score as a 4-year-old, running down Mullikin in deep stretch with a strong outside move to capture the Grade 3, $400,000 True North on Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course. Advertisement The Derek Ryan-trained Book'em Danno, who ran a competitive fourth in the tightly contested Grade 1 Churchill Downs in May last out, continued a run of success at the Spa that includes a victory in last year's Grade 1 Woody Stephens. He earned a victory for the second consecutive Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, with jockey Paco Lopez keeping him off Concrete Glory's early speed in leading the seven-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.21 seconds and the half in 44.72 over the sloppy and sealed main track. WinStar Farm's Mullikin, winner of the Grade 1 Forego in his last Saratoga start in August, was urged up by rider Flavien Prat to take command entering the stretch. When straightened for home, Lopez set down Book'em Danno and gave strong right-handed encouragement with plenty of daylight to the outside. The duo linked up in a thrilling final furlong duel, with Book'em Danno pulling ahead near the wire to register the victory by 1 1/4 lengths in recording a 1:14.64 final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs for older runners. Mullikin, a multiple graded stakes winner for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, finished 2 3/4- lengths clear of Crazy Mason for runner-up honors. Nutella Fella was a nose better than mutuel favorite Nakatomi, who tossed his head at the start and spotted the field five lengths. Surveillance and Concrete Glory completed the order of finish, while Full Moon Madness scratched. Advertisement Book'em Danno won for the eighth time in 14 starts and added to his millionaire status by increasing his career bankroll to $1.36 million. The Bucchero gelding, bred in New Jersey by Gregory J. Kilka and Bright View Farm from the Ghostzapper mare Adorabella, returned $6.60 on a $2 win bet. 'He's had some bad luck in his races where he got beat a head and a neck, but I really wasn't afraid of anybody today,' Ryan said. 'The six [furlongs] is a little short for him; six and a half, seven is his trip. Paco gave him a great ride. He loves to be on the outside. I've been preaching that for the last year, and I finally got someone who will do it for me. So, I was very happy. I said, 'Sit third, but make sure you're on the outside.' 'He'll run on anything,' Ryan added. 'Good horses, they said they'll run on a tin roof. He's just a good horse.' Book'em Danno earned a career-best 104 Beyer in August at Saratoga last summer via a third-place finish in the seven-furlong Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, defeated 1 1/4 lengths by Domestic Product. On Saturday, Book'em Danno garnered a winner's circle trip on one of racing's most prestigious days. Advertisement 'It was a great, great effort.,' Ryan said. 'He [Lopez] rode him perfect, just like I wanted, sit on the outside, sit off the pace, and turning for home go get 'em. I couldn't have gotten a better ride, and Paco's riding like a demon right now. It's unbelievable, as good as he's riding. He came up [to Monmouth Park] one Sunday, took the day off and came up and worked [Book'em Danno]. He rode his sister, and he worked him as a 2-year-old but he's been out of town. He's been driving me crazy to ride this horse ever since. It's working out.' Ryan said he is unsure of the next target yet but was appreciative of what Book'em Danno has done for his career. 'I would be retired and be in Saudi Arabia if it wasn't for this horse,' Ryan said. 'I was ready to take a job out there. But, then he came along, and it all worked out.' Mullikin, one of four Saratoga Grade 1-winning entrants, has finished on the board in seven of his last eight starts, including second in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile presented by TwinSpires at Aqueduct to cap his 4-year-old year one start after running third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar. Advertisement 'I had a good trip today, just second best,' Prat said. Crazy Mason, ridden by Manny Franco for trainer Gregory Sacco, again earned black type after winning the Grade 2 Carter presented by NYRA Bets last out in April at the Big A. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
June Bank Holiday weekend in County Leitrim: Five things to see and do
This June Bank Holiday weekend, there'll be plenty to do see and do in doors and outdoors in the land of the grey ridge. We picked out five of the most exciting events on taking place this weekend: Cowboys and Heroes The organisers want it to be known as 'The Electric Picnic of Country Music'. A bold statement. But when you have a lineup that includes stars like Derek Ryan, The Tumbling Paddies, Declan Nerney and Una Healy, Robert Mizzell, Patrick Feeney, and Paul Kelly (pause for a breath), plus discos, dance lessons and several rising country starlets, then you have every right to sport that moniker. Now in its tenth year, Cowboys and Heroes is one of the Ireland's premier country music festivals. This weekend, thousands of lads and lassies in check shirts and Crosshatch jeans will again flock to Drumcoura City, Ballinamore, for the latest iteration of this three-day hooley. Tickets are scarce. Get them at Carrick Carnival There's plenty to do in Carrick-on-Shannon on any given weekend – particularly for the herds of stag dos that roam the town all year round. This weekend, there'll be fun for all the family when the annual Carrick Carnival pitches up in town. Starting on Thursday, May 29 and stretching right on until June 8, the Carrick Carnival offers everything from food tasting, to live music, face-painting, a dog show, a puppet show, a teddy bear's picnic and so much more. ADVERTISEMENT Lot's to do in Carrick this weekend – just don't disturb the stags in their natural habitat. Ballinamore Vintage Day If you're into old cars and tractors but not too keen on country music, Ballinamore Vintage Day may be just thing for you. Taking place in St Felim's Grounds on Sunday, June 1, from 12pm to 4pm, attendees can view some of the finest vintage cars and tractors in the region, as well as craft displays, face painting, live music with DJ Johnny McGovern and Kevin Logue, a free children's bouncing castle, an autojumble and much more. Except to see revellers from the aforementioned Cowboys and Heroes country music festival somewhere along the way. All proceeds from the Ballinamore Vintage Day will go towards the oncology unit in Sligo University Hospital and Parkinsons Association Ireland. Glencar-Manorhamilton Mothers and Others cycle to America Here's a novel one. Cycling to America is impossible, for obvious reasons. That hasn't stopped a group from the Glencar-Manorhamilton Gaelic4Mothers&Others team cycling the distance from Manorhamilton to New York to raise funds for their trip to the States, where they will be the sole Leitrim representatives at annual Festival of Football at Rockland GAA, New York. The group of 20-odd players will start the final leg of their 4,941-kilometre trip on Saturday, May 31 Osta Café in Manorhamilton. They are inviting locals to show up on the day to cheer them on or donate to their fundraiser at Seán MacDiarmada Summer School 'The World Today 'Different Perspectives'' is the theme of this year's Seán MacDiarmada Summer School, which will be addressed by First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill MLA. Now in its seventeenth year, Seán MacDiarmada's native Kiltyclogher will again host the summer school named after Leitrim's most famous revolutionary. This year's even features a keynote address from First Minister O'Neill, with other notable speakers including Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley TD, and the acclaimed writer and commentator Michael Harding. The 2025 Seán Mac Diarmada Summer School will commence on Friday, May 30, with the official opening ceremony at 6pm at the Mac Diarmada homestead in Kiltyclogher.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK SMEs eager to invest but await Spring Statement for economic clarity
UK small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are eager to invest but are exercising caution as the Spring Statement approaches, according to independent funder Bibby Financial Services (BFS). Research by BFS revealed that 87% of SMEs plan to invest in 2025, though many are postponing major decisions until after the statement on 26th March provides clearer economic guidance. The findings come from BFS's Q1 2025 SME Confidence Tracker, which surveyed 1,000 UK SMEs. The data shows a growing optimism among businesses, with 66% expecting sales to increase in the next six months. However, the upcoming Spring Statement of the UK Government on 26 March 2025 has many businesses on edge, with nearly half (48%) delaying major investment decisions until after the Chancellor's announcement. Nearly 63% of SMEs believe that a lower interest rate environment would bolster their confidence to invest. The shadow of the Autumn Budget still lingers, with more than half (52%) of SMEs feeling less inclined to invest in the short term, particularly due to the hike in employer National Insurance contributions. As a result, the number of businesses with no investment plans has increased to 13% from 8% in Q3 2024. BFS UK managing director Derek Ryan said: "UK businesses are showing a clear appetite to invest, but many are taking a wait-and-see approach ahead of the Spring Statement. 'Following the National Insurance contributions announced in October, business leaders are craving stability before they deliver investment plans. Without this, the government's plan to kick-start economic growth is at risk." The BFS data further highlights the link between investment intentions and the use of external finance. Among those utilising external finance, only 6% have no investment plans, compared to 14% for self-funded businesses. Additionally, SMEs without external finance face higher levels of bad debt, with non-payment losses averaging £45,000 ($58,380), in contrast to £25,000 for those with external financial support, according to the data. Ryan added: 'Our SME Confidence Tracker highlights a clear split in the fortune and outlook of businesses using external sources of finance, compared with those who are self-funded, illustrating the importance of the Chancellor's plans for reform to make it easier for businesses to trade and raise finance. "Notably, findings demonstrate the need for stability in stimulating investment among small businesses to drive economic growth. The Chancellor has a golden opportunity to get the ball rolling in her Spring Statement later this month. 'After a challenging first Autumn Budget, sights are firmly set on how further changes may impact ambitious businesses across the country." "UK SMEs eager to invest but await Spring Statement for economic clarity" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
USA Today
14-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UNC basketball sits in good spot in latest Bracketology
UNC basketball sits in good spot in latest Bracketology Where does UNC basketball stand in Bracketology? Apparently, Joe Lunardi has Texas as the last team in the tournament right now. — Derek Ryan (@longhornderek) March 14, 2025 North Carolina picked up a HUGE win on Thursday, beating Wake Forest with a strong final few minutes in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. Not only does it set up a third game against rival Duke but it also helped North Carolina's spot on the bubble. Going into the ACC Tournament, North Carolina was on the outside looking in as a 'first four out' team per most bracket projections. Two wins later and some big losses by other bubble teams and North Carolina has moved into the field of 68. ESPN's Joe Lunardi made an update to his Bracketology on Thursday night at 6 p.m., moving UNC into the field as one of the 'last four in' teams. That's a big jump as not only are they in that section but they are essentially team 67 in the field. UNC jumped a few teams and now sits in that 'last four in' section behind San Diego State and Xavier. They are ahead of Texas who took down Texas A&M on Thursday. UNC would be in a "First Four" game next week in Dayton. Now, while a win over Duke would essentially seal it for the Tar Heels on Friday, they still have to feel good about their chances right now. It feels like the perfect combination of teams ahead of them losing and UNC winning two games. The easiest way to make it and now sweat is to beat Duke. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
