Latest news with #KevinBlake
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
ITV racing pundit correctly predicts 8,000-1 Derby tricast in big race
Kevin Blake made his selections from studying the runners' stride patterns and applying the data to suggest the outcome of the £1.5million race at Epsom An ITV Racing pundit pointed viewers to an 8,000-1 Derby tricast on Saturday by correctly predicting the big race 1-2-3. Kevin Blake has devised his own stride data to analyse horses' ability to pick out runners' positive and negative characteristics ahead of the Derby. As a result he was prepared to dismiss the challenges of the likes of favourite Delacroix and stablemate The Lion In Winter and the 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court, who was a late non-runner, based on his data. He summarised his selections for ITV, saying: 'I think this is going to be a high pressure Derby that really examines stamina so number one is what is Aidan O'Brien's apparent third string debatedly Lambourn because he is the one that is guaranteed to stay. I think he is going to stay further than and mile and a half in due course. He'll be forward, he'll make use of that stamina. 'Number two is Tennessee Stud. He was third to Delacroix at Leopardstown, went there very much needing the run. He was a Group 1 winner over a mile and a quarter at two. He will stay, he'll love the ground. He's come forward really well from run at Leopardstown so he's my second choice. 'And Lazy Griff at a massive price, again from the Chester form. He stays really well and that is key.' READ MORE: Derby 2025: Leading hope Ruling Court forced out of £1.5m race by wet weather Blake's assessment proved right up to the mark as Lambourn led from start to finish to come home ahead of Lazy Griff and Tennessee Stud. The tricast paid £8,294.72 and the trifecta £3,431.20, at great cost to the bookies. Coral spokesperson Dave Stephens said: "It may have been the threat of considerable rainfall that sparked the support for the proven stayer Lambourn, but even without a notable downpour, the Cheshire Vase winner controlled the race from start to finish, and an SP of 13-2 confirmed that he was not without support on the biggest betting day of the Flat season," said Coral's David Stevens. "Whilst the winner alone was not the worst result in the Derby book though, further pain was inflicted by Kevin Blake, who incredibly put up the tricast on ITV's The Opening Show, an outcome that paid a whopping £8,294.72 for £1, and plenty of viewers followed Kevin's advice, to our considerable cost.'
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Genius ITV Racing pundit hits bookies for over £1MILLION with outrageous 8,249-1 Epsom Derby bet
GENIUS ITV Racing pundit Kevin Blake helped punters hit the bookies for over £1MILLION - with his outrageous 8,249-1 tip. Race planner Blake - who a few years ago put up an 1 ITV Racing pundit Kevin Blake helped punters hit the bookies for over £1million with his unbelievable Epsom Derby bet Credit: PA With a load of the big guns failing, it was tough enough finding 13-2 winner Lambourn. But Blake tipped up the One odds compiler at Coral called the trixie - a bet where you pick the first three finishers in that exact order - the greatest punt he had seen in 25 years. It turned what was a winning race for the bookies into a huge losing one. And the firm's David Stevens said: "It may have been the threat of considerable rainfall that sparked the support for the proven stayer Lambourn, but even without a notable downpour, the Cheshire Vase winner controlled the race from start to finish, and an SP of 13-2 confirmed that he was not without support on the biggest betting day of the Flat season. "Whilst the winner alone was not the worst result in the Derby book though, further pain was inflicted by Kevin Blake, who incredibly put up the tricast on ITV's The Opening Show, an outcome that paid a whopping £8,294.72 for £1. "Plenty of viewers followed Kevin's advice, to our considerable cost." And Paddy Power's Paul Binfield said: "The actual result was fine as our traders thought that the winner was likely to hit the frame and, in addition, he was towards the bottom half of our field book. Most read in Horse Racing "However, an extra place on the race as well as Kevin Blake brilliantly tipping the tricast meant that it was a small losing contest for us." Commenting on the punt on the coverage, co-presenter Oli Bell said: "I've heard from the trading floor at Coral that they have lost over a million pounds on the tricast on your selections." While Blake said: "I was due one!" More to follow. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . 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 chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Genius ITV Racing pundit hits bookies for over £1MILLION with outrageous 8,249-1 Epsom Derby bet
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GENIUS ITV Racing pundit Kevin Blake helped punters hit the bookies for over £1MILLION - with his outrageous 8,249-1 tip. Race planner Blake - who a few years ago put up an 800-1 treble at Cheltenham Festival - somehow picked the first three home in the Derby. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 ITV Racing pundit Kevin Blake helped punters hit the bookies for over £1million with his unbelievable Epsom Derby bet Credit: PA With a load of the big guns failing, it was tough enough finding 13-2 winner Lambourn. But Blake tipped up the Aidan O'Brien-trained winner plus runner-up Tennessee Stud at 33-1 and third-place Lazy Griff at a monster 50-1 when speaking on ITV's The Opening Show. One odds compiler at Coral called the trixie - a bet where you pick the first three finishers in that exact order - the greatest punt he had seen in 25 years. It turned what was a winning race for the bookies into a huge losing one. And the firm's David Stevens said: "It may have been the threat of considerable rainfall that sparked the support for the proven stayer Lambourn, but even without a notable downpour, the Cheshire Vase winner controlled the race from start to finish, and an SP of 13-2 confirmed that he was not without support on the biggest betting day of the Flat season. "Whilst the winner alone was not the worst result in the Derby book though, further pain was inflicted by Kevin Blake, who incredibly put up the tricast on ITV's The Opening Show, an outcome that paid a whopping £8,294.72 for £1. "Plenty of viewers followed Kevin's advice, to our considerable cost." And Paddy Power's Paul Binfield said: "The actual result was fine as our traders thought that the winner was likely to hit the frame and, in addition, he was towards the bottom half of our field book. "However, an extra place on the race as well as Kevin Blake brilliantly tipping the tricast meant that it was a small losing contest for us." Commenting on the punt on the coverage, co-presenter Oli Bell said: "I've heard from the trading floor at Coral that they have lost over a million pounds on the tricast on your selections." While Blake said: "I was due one!" More to follow. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. 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 chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Genius ITV pundit hits bookies for over £1MILLION with outrageous 8,249-1 Epsom Derby bet
GENIUS ITV Racing pundit Kevin Blake helped punters hit the bookies for over £1MILLION - with his outrageous 8,249-1 tip. Race planner Blake - who a few years ago put up an 800-1 treble at Cheltenham Festival - somehow picked the first three home in the Derby. 1 With a load of the big guns failing, it was tough enough finding 13-2 winner Lambourn. But Blake tipped up the Aidan O'Brien-trained winner plus runner-up Tennessee Stud at 33-1 and third-place Lazy Griff at a monster 50-1. One odds compiler at Coral called it the greatest bet he had seen in 25 years. And the firm's David Stevens said: "It may have been the threat of considerable rainfall that sparked the support for the proven stayer Lambourn, but even without a notable downpour, the Cheshire Vase winner controlled the race from start to finish, and an SP of 13-2 confirmed that he was not without support on the biggest betting day of the Flat season. "Whilst the winner alone was not the worst result in the Derby book though, further pain was inflicted by Kevin Blake, who incredibly put up the tricast on ITV's The Opening Show, an outcome that paid a whopping £8,294.72 for £1. "Plenty of viewers followed Kevin's advice, to our considerable cost." Remember to gamble responsibly
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Murders in Jamaica drop but activists alarmed at rise in fatal police shootings
Jamaican officials have hailed a sharp reduction in murders but rights campaigners warn that tackling crime should not come at the expense of accountability amid an 'alarming' rise in fatal police shootings. Already burdened with the highest homicide rates in the region, Jamaica has recently struggled with a surge in gang-related violence. But the number of murders per capita has been falling this year, with a marked decline between January and April. 'April 2025 has marked another historic milestone. For the second time this year, we have recorded the lowest number of murders in over two decades,' Dr Kevin Blake, the police commissioner, said in a statement. He added that this 'progress is not accidental' but a result of 'careful planning, tireless execution, and a commitment to excellence' by the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Defence Force and their strategic partners. According to Blake, compared to the same period last year, between January and April, there has been an 18% decline in overall major crimes, and murders are down by 37%. 'These are not just statistics. Each number represents lives saved, communities stabilised, and a signal that the tide is turning,' he said. But the human rights group Jamaican for Justice (JFJ) has raised concerns about a corresponding 'significant and alarming increase' in fatal police shootings in the same period. According to Jamaica's police complaints authority, the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom), 111 people were fatally shot by security forces between January and April 2025, compared 44 in the same period last year – a 152% increase. Indecom is calling for strengthened accountability through mechanisms such as body-worn cameras amid an 'elevated increase in use of force by the State'. Their concerns and recommendations are echoed by JFJ, which recently staged a protest against the 'significant and alarming' increase in fatal shootings by police. Joining the calls for more body-worn cameras, JFJ's executive director, Mickel Jackson, said: 'Outside of the numbers, which in and of itself calls for greater scrutiny, we have received complaints, where citizens are giving a different account from the police's official account.' She added that there are instances where amateur videos contradict police accounts of fatal shootings. These 'conflicting accounts', she said, are 'enough to take pause and certainly to advocate for body-worn cameras'. Carla Gullotta, the executive director for the human rights group Stand Up For Jamaica stressed the importance of building relations between the police and people in 'fragile and volatile areas'. Katrina Chin, whose cousin, Andrew Richards, 39, was killed by police in January, also called for greater transparency from police. Indecom is still investigating Richards's shooting, but his family has maintained that he was innocent. Recalling the morning that she watched her cousin's body being removed from his house covered by a sheet after an early morning defence forces raid, Chin said: 'I understand that our country seriously has a problem with crime. We're not denying that.' The JFJ's work, she added, is not anti-police. 'We're just advocating for it to be done the right way. We can't just be so desperate to lower our crime rate that we're willing to kill innocent people,' she said. She added that politicians should be careful that, in their defence of police actions, they are not 'fueling' the view that the police are 'untouchable'. Ahead of the JFJ protest against the increase in killings, for which they asked their supporters to wear black, a counter-protest was launched on social media, which invited people to wear blue in support of the police. Major businesses such as Jamaica's popular pharmacy chain, Fontana, supported the 'blue' campaign. Executive director Kevin O'Brien Chang said he and staff decided to wear blue because the plummeting crime rates are making people feel safer. 'Every day, the police and soldiers put their lives on the line, and they pay the ultimate price,' he said. During the protest, the Jamaican prime minister, Andrew Holness, was pictured in a blue suit speaking to a police superintendent, with local media reporting that he wore blue to support the counter-protest. Addressing concerns about the increasing number of killings by police, Holness reportedly said: 'Obviously, the JCF's increased activities in interdicting criminals and in dealing with the gangs would have caused a significant increase in the loss of life of those who challenged them. But I think the country should also understand that the gang warfare is at a level where we must respond and respond decisively.' Blake, the police commissioner, defended his officers, saying: 'We are a disciplined, modern law enforcement agency with a constitutional mandate to serve and protect all Jamaicans without fear, favour or ill will.' Jackson stressed that everyone, including the police, has the right to defend themselves. But, she added, 'you can support the police and still be pro-accountability. You can support the police and the reduction in murder rates and their efforts, and still call for the body-worn cameras.' The police themselves would benefit from having the independent account from a camera, she said, adding she was disappointed to see the head of government appearing to choose sides, even if that was not his intention. 'A call for accountability should never be seen as anti-police, and this was a moment, in my humble opinion, that I believe that the prime minister of the country should have come out and say that 'I stand with law enforcement officers – but I support the call for increased accountability,'' she said.
