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The Independent
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Friday's racing tips: Preview, odds and best bets for Ascot, York
Friday's racing tips Fireblade (Ascot 15.00) - 1pt win @ 11/2 ( Bet365 ) War Howl (Ascot 16.10) - 1pt win @ 11/4 ( Virgin Bet ) Riot (York 17.30) - 0.5pt each-way @ 10/1 ( Bet365 ) Molten Sea (York 18.03) - 0.5pt each-way @ 4/1 ( Bet365 ) Kinnalargy (Thirsk 15.25) - 1pt win @ 9/2 ( Bet365 ) Curran (Sandown Park 18.53) - 0.5pt each-way @ 11/2 (BetMGM) John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap Tips (Ascot 15.00) Ascot's John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap (15.00) will be a thorough test of stamina, with that notorious uphill climb for the back half of the contest and having an unexposed runner on our side looks worthwhile. That comes in the form of Fireblade, who continues to do well since switching to the in-form Dylan Cunha. Admittedly, his one below par effort this campaign came here over 1m4f in May but he has improved on that in two subsequent starts at around 1m6f. His latest run, when keeping on to be the runner-up at Sandown, suggests that this longer trip and further emphasis on stamina could be right up his street. Contacto could prove to be the big danger to the selection and the presence of that opponent and Sir Mark Prescott's Blindedbythelights, should give the market a solid look despite a relatively small field. After looking at the prices on horse racing betting sites, odds of 11/2 stand out for a Fireblade triump. The Chapel Down Handicap tips (Ascot 16.10) The Chapel Down Handicap (16.10) at Ascot looks like offering us a strong betting market, with several that can have cases made. Among them is War Howl, who successfully dropped back to 7f at Doncaster last time, with a career best effort to win comfortably. A 6lb rise on the back of that does not look excessive and he is taken to successfully follow-up in this slightly better contest. Betting sites have installed War Howl as the favourite with James Doyle taking the ride. Odds of 11/4 are available with Virgin Bet for him to triumph at Ascot. Handicap tips (York 17.30) On the York card, Riot looks to have solid claims in the Handicap (17.30). In a big field, having a draw towards the inside is handy and David O'Meara's charge will emerge from stall four. He's course and distance winner and also handles some ease in the ground, both of which are further positives. His pilot, Danny Tudhope, should be able to get him some cover early on and I'd expect him to be doing his best work towards the finish. He's on a competitive mark and looks worth an each-way play. A price of 10/1 looks appealing for bettors should he find his form in the first face of the day. Elevator Company Handicap tips (York 18.03) Later at York, the Elevator Company Handicap (18.03) is another competitive contest, where a number of runners have claims, including Savrola, It's All About You and Fast Fred. However, with a couple of recent pieces of improved form to her name and slow ground very much in her favour, Molten Sea could provide the answer. The William Haggas-trained filly is proving to be an admirably consistent performer and she is taken to successfully defy another 1lb nudge up the handicap over a trip that suits. Odds of 4/1 are available on betting apps for Molten Sea to deliver in what could be the race of the day. British EBF Novice Stakes tips (Thirsk 15.25) At Thirsk, there's an interesting contest for the British EBF Novice Stakes (15.25), over six furlongs. Three last-time winners line up. Dandy Style, who won over course and distance, Flying Comet, who arrives on the back of a Chepstow success and Kinnalargy, who scored at Redcar on his second start, having been dropped back to 5f. He's back up in trip this time and with a penalty to shoulder but useful claimer Jack Callan takes off 7lb. That Redcar success was the pick of the form on offer here and he is taken to successfully follow up at 9/2. Close Brothers Handicap tips (Sandown Park 18.53) Stamina comes to the fore in Sandown's Close Brothers Handicap (18.53), for runners rated 0-80 over 1m6f. This looks an open contest on paper and over such trips, every pound carried can count. It won't harm, therefore, that Curran has been dropped 1lb since just being collared when trying to make all over a similar trip at Haydock last time. Charlie Johnston's four-year-old sticks to what looks to be his optimum trip and, if able to repeat that latest effort he would go very close. He's another that looks to have strong each-way claims and it would be no surprise if he proves good enough to win it. Please Gamble Responsibly Sports betting can be enjoyable, but it's important to stay in control and gamble responsibly. Whether you are using the best online casino, slot sites, poker sites, or online bookmakers, responsible gambling should always be a priority. All licensed gambling sites in the UK are required to provide tools such as deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion, and self-assessment questionnaires. These are designed to help you manage your activity and protect your well-being. Many operators, including online bookmakers and new casino sites, will offer free bets or a casino bonus. While these can be tempting, it is vital to read the terms and conditions of any offer before taking part. If you are concerned about your gambling behaviour, support is available from: NHS Help GambleAware Gamblers Anonymous We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Mother quits her £50,000 corporate job to work in a factory - and claims she's never been happier
A mother took a 50 per cent pay cut when she left her corporate executive job to become a factory-worker - and claims she's the 'happiest' she's ever been. Budding artist Shany Hagan, 56, was a business development manager, earning £50,000 a year, but decided the salary wasn't worth the 'Sunday scaries' that came with the stressful job. Having worked her way up the ranks during two decades at an electronics company, she realised that a 'stress-free life' and the free time to pursue portrait painting were more important to her than a healthy pay cheque. Shany, from York, swapped her office for a factory floor, where she is paid £24,000 a year, after struggling with menopausal symptoms earlier this year. The mother-of-one had to cope with hot flushes and brain fog, which proved to be the final straw. Shany said: 'I had been in the business for 20 years, and it had always been very stressful.' She added that, no matter how hard someone works, corporate employers will always expect you to do more. While she acknowledged that she coped well when she was younger, Shany's priorities have shifted and she's now keen to spend more time reflecting on herself and her life. 'I've always had a love for painting and now I just want to focus on my passions and myself now,' Shany explained. 'For the first time in 20 years, I can forget about work when I walk out the door at the end of the day.' Shany didn't go to university but managed to secure a good job in her twenties and worked her way up the ladder in business development at an electronics company. The corporate role saw her 'chained to a desk' and working in a high-pressure environment, she said. But she had been motivated by the pressure as she wanted to pay her mortgage off in full on her four-bed cottage. In 2019, she finally paid it off - but then she began to realise she no longer enjoyed the work. Shany said: 'I could cope when I was younger, but it's stressful.' When furloughed during the Covid-19 pandemic, she picked up a paintbrush and discovered she had a love for portrait painting. She had been unable to pursue the passion previously due to an eye condition, but had recently had surgery to fix the issue. As she 'brushed up' on her skills, she even began to donate her artworks to charities - after getting celebrities to sign them. Celebrities including Mel B and Cliff Richard have signed their own portraits which have been sold at auction to raise more than £350,000 in total, she said. After returning to work post-Covid, she realised she was no longer motivated by her former role. She said: 'After I paid off my mortgage, I was done. The work could be stressful, and I couldn't paint when I was stressed.' She began job-hunting and applied for some other management positions, as well as lower-qualified roles including a factory worker. She said: 'I went for a management interview where the interviewer told me "I want you to give this job 100 per cent, I don't want you focusing on your art."' 'I realised then that I wanted to focus on me - so I turned the job down in favour of a factory floor worker job. 'I wanted to be on my feet a bit more, a more physical job, to lose some weight for my health, which I have.' Shany now packs food, labels products, does computer admin and cleaning at her minimum-wage job. Since starting her new role in May, Shany said she has already noticed a difference in her physical and mental well-being. She said: 'I don't get the Sunday evening "scaries" at all, and the people are kind. 'You can actually switch off when you leave. 'And I get to paint in my free time, and help people by selling my paintings. I get to go to big charity auctions. 'I do have to be more careful with my money of course, but the free time is the main thing. 'And my mental health has already improved, I have such a spring in my step now.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Leisure centres in York step in to keep kids busy this summer for under a tenner
LEISURE centres in York are offering a range of activities that don't cost the earth to keep children entertained this summer. Better, the charitable social enterprise GLL which runs four leisure centres across the city, has created a timetable of activities of active sports and fun games. Many of the Better leisure centres are offering a range of swimming sessions this summer including a four-week Summer Swimming Skills Clinic for youngsters between 8-16 years who can swim 25m unaided (£8.70 per session). This includes a 45-minute session over four weeks at Yearsley Swimming Pool on July 26 until 16 August from 1pm to 1.45pm. These short courses are ideal for those who want to learn more than just swimming strokes. Meanwhile, Aqua Splash is on at Yearsley Swimming Pool each Wednesday between 1.20 and 3.10pm and Friday from 3pm to 3.50pm (£7.00 per person) with inflatable obstacle course and fun floats. A dedicated SEN session will run each Friday between 2pm to 2.50pm. The 'Swim for all' sessions are available at York Leisure Centre, Yearsley Swimming Pool and Energise Leisure Centre throughout the holidays at varying times, where families can have fun, build confidence and practice strokes in a relaxed environment (£4.75 for children aged three-years plus, £6.50 for accompanying adults). There are also family fun swims with floats and toys each Saturday and Sunday afternoons at York Leisure Centre and Saturday afternoons at Energise Leisure Centre (£4.75 for children aged three-years plus, £6.50 for accompanying adults) Children up to the age of 15 can also swim for £1 at Better Leisure Centres in York in holidays and at weekends throughout the year before 10am. There are also various sessions to help prevent children from feeling restless as well staying fit and healthy, including racquet sports - badminton, pickleball and table tennis are available to book at York Leisure Centre and Burnholme Sports Centre from £5.95. Outdoor tennis courts are also available at Energise Leisure Centre (£8.95 for one hour). Toddler's World soft play sessions help little ones burn off energy and socialise with friends. At Burnholme Sports Centre, the equipment includes soft play, bouncy castle, building blocks and a variety of other elements that will assist with the development of balance, coordination and social skills. Morning sessions are every Tuesday for under 5s and cost from as little as £3.50 per session. York Leisure Centre also offers Toddlers World and Jungle Run for up to 8 years old, at various times throughout the week. There is also Roller Skating at Energise Leisure Centre for children of five years upwards every Sunday between 4pm and 5pm with additional sessions throughout the summer for just £4.80 for non-members. Dedicated junior gym sessions run throughout the year at varying times at Burnholme Sports Centre, Energise Leisure Centre and York Leisure Centre. The sessions, which allow youngsters to get fit, are aimed at 11 to 17-year-olds. Sessions are £5.80 per session and monthly memberships are available. For details, visit your Better leisure centre or visit to find out what's happening in your area and book online. Prices range by activity and leisure centre.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"Earthy, wild places": Clare Haley's latest landscapes exhibition
A new exhibition is set to showcase the wild beauty of Yorkshire. 'Clare Haley: Light of Yorkshire' features more than 20 original paintings by contemporary landscape artist Clare Haley - her largest collection to date. To celebrate the exhibition, Haley will be releasing ten smaller 'Windows to the Wild' paintings alongside her main body of work, and will also release her first-ever signed, limited-edition print, entitled 'Heading North.' Haley develops her paintings with the help of location photography, imagined places, and research of weather and clouds (Image: Clare Haley) Haley describes her work as "contemporary northern landscapes which mostly appear timeless, of any era - earthy, wild places to become lost in." The exhibition opens at York Fine Arts on Yorkshire Day (Friday, August 1), with a meet-the-artist event to take place on Saturday, August 2 from 1pm to 3pm. The exhibition will run until August 31, and is open from 10am to 5pm, every day of the week. More information about Haley and her work is available at
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Live beehive project at Heslington primary school creates buzz
A new school project is creating a real buzz. Lord Deramore's Primary School in Heslington is one of the first schools to take part in Little Bee Keepers, a fun and hands-on programme from school meals provider Mellors. The programme introduces live beehives to school grounds and aims to teach children about sustainability, biodiversity, and bees' role in the food system. Mellors team members Sarah, Nikki, and Emma helped Little Bee Keepers to take flight; and the scheme is supported by York's Minster Lions, who - acting on their core belief, "community is what we make it" - helped fund the hive and bees. Helen Smith, Year 6 teacher, said: "Our school grounds are extensive and we have been improving them during the past few years to include a hedgehog sanctuary, orchard, and allotment area. "A beehive, we feel, is the next logical project to continue our environmental work." More information is available at
