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Irish Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eurovision 2025 set to be a two-way race as Irish win looks unlikely
Austria's odds of winning this year's Eurovision Song Contest have been cut to 5/2 as the competition gets under way in Basel this week, turning the title race into a two-way tussle. Ladbrokes now predicts that Sweden - with odds of 11/10 - and Austria will duel for top honours come Saturday night. A double Eurovision winner, Austria last took the title in 2014, while Sweden aims to dethrone Ireland as the contest's most dominant by winning a record-setting eighth crown this year. Alongside the two contenders, Ladbrokes has also lengthened France's odds to 10/1 from 7/1. Meanwhile, the UK and Ireland's chances of a win this week are looking increasingly slim, with odds of 66/1 and 100/1 respectively. 'It's looked like Sweden's contest to lose for a long time, but this odds shift is making people think again," said Ladbrokes' Cal Gildart. "Those who phone in to vote for Austria will be hoping their support isn't wasted love." Previously, all signs had pointed towards a Swedish whitewash this year - with the seven-time champions the odds-on favourites to win last month. However, a late surge in support for Austria's entry, 'Wasted Love' by JJ has changed the complexion of the contest just days before the opening ceremony. Outside of the top two, the chance still remains for a smaller nation to snatch a surprise win. With odds of 14/1, Belgium is well-placed to deliver a shock victory, with their entry Red Sebastian and his techno-flavoured single 'Strobe Lights'. After a strong sixth place finish in last year's final, Ireland seeks to replicate Bambie Thug's success in 2025. 'Laika Party', penned by Norwegian singer-songwriter Emmy, fended off tough competition from Bobbi Arlo and Samantha Mumba to win this year's Eurosong. Taking the nomination with 34 points in hand, the song received the top score in both the jury and national vote. Emmy will perform 'Laika Party' in the second semi-final on Thursday evening where she will be hoping to bag a place in Saturday's eagerly anticipated grand final in Basel, Switzerland. Having competed in 46 finals as of this year, Ireland has firmly carved out its place in Eurovision history - but its accomplishments, such as an impressive four wins in the 1990s - have proven to be a double-edged sword over time. With Eimear Quinn's 'The Voice' in 1996 the country's most recent Eurovision win to date, questions have been raised over whether Ireland could ever return to its winning ways. While the title favourites seem to be all but locked in, a return to fighting form in 2024 could mark the beginning of an Irish resurgence in the contest. 2025 Eurovision Song Contest contenders - odds All betting odds taken from Ladbrokes and correct at the time of publication.
Herald Sun
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
2025 The Archer: Trainer Robert Heathcote saddles up Cosmo Centaurus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote knows he'll be up against some 'serious horses' in Sunday's $1m The Archer slot race in Rockhampton but that won't stop him from daring to dream. The Heathcote-trained gelding Cosmo Centaurus will run in the slot for Karla and Peter McPhail in the 1300m race, which costs $70,000 per entry and offers $565,000 to the winner. Ironically it was Heathcote's horse Emerald Kingdom which edged out Apache Chase in the inaugural edition of The Archer in 2022 and guess who held the slot for the runner-up? Yep, it was Karla and Peter McPhail. Both those geldings ended up running in the Stradbroke Handicap that year but failed to make an impression in the 1400m major won by Alligator Blood, who retired last month as a seven-time Group 1 champion. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I got a bit of a surprise when I did get the phone for Cosmo Centaurus but I'm not surprised when you analyse his runs, which have been a lot better than they look on paper,' Heathcote said. 'He's the only three-year-old in the race but I'm a realist. He's coming up against Iowna Merc, Sandpaper and Transatlantic, these are serious race horses.' Cosmo Centaurus won his first two races but then finished ninth in his next two outings before a creditable fourth at his most recent start, the $160,000 Listed Daybreak Lover (1400m) won by Tony Gollan's rising star Boomtown Boss at Eagle Farm on April 19. • Richard Callander's best futures bets for Qld winter, plus Sydney and Melbourne spring 'He hasn't had a lot of luck in his last couple of races and I'm having a horror run with barriers lately,' Heathcote said. 'I mean it makes all the difference. It's just getting to the stage where I'm exasperated with the continual run of bad barriers.' Transatlantic ($3.60), Iowna Merc ($4.20) and Sandpaper ($6.50) lead Ladbrokes' market for The Archer, with Cosmo Centaurus currently paying $26. Heathcote will be hoping for better luck for the barrier draw on Wednesday night and in a 'big plus', six-time Group 1 winner Chad Schofield will fly up from Sydney to ride the three-year-old gelding. 'I think the 1300m on that big track can suit him but the reality is that I have to temper my enthusiasm because he hasn't proven himself against this type of quality,' Heathcote said. 'There's no doubt it's going to be tough but he's a horse who I feel has a very bright future.' Originally published as Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote knows he'll be up against some 'serious horses' in Sunday's $1m The Archer slot race in Rockhampton
