Born in Kingston Upon Thames on January 14th, 1999, Declan Rice upset the football odds by becoming a Premier League star despite being released by Chelsea, aged 14.

Soon after, West Ham’s academy took a chance on the rangy midfielder, with Rice earning the role of club captain and earning a spot in the England squad. However, he earned a mega money move to Arsenal in the summer of 2023 - with the Gunners forking out an estimated £105 million to sign him.

Rice, now one of the highest earning players at the Emirates Stadium, has been a revelation since arriving at the club and he has been key to Arsenal's title challenge. How highly is he hated and can he lead the Gunners to Premier League glory? Only time will tell.

How Much Is Declan Rice Worth? 

Presently, Rice earns an estimated £250,000 a week at Arsenal and that figure would make him one of the highest paid players in the Premier League.

Going off his current salary, that equates to £12.4m a year, while it has been estimated elsewhere that his net worth is a staggering £26 million. This figure is only an estimate though, with no exact knowledge of his wage and earnings from endorsement deals.

That figure incidentally, does not include hefty bonuses for goals scored and relegations avoided.

With Arsenal bang in contention to challenge for the title, Rice could be in for a nice bonus come the end of the campaign if the Gunners clinch the Premier League crown.

In addition to his earning power on the pitch, Rice has agreed to several lucrative commercial tie-ins with companies keen to be associated with a player whose popularity extends beyond Arsenal's fan-base.

He has an exclusive deal with Adidas, promoting them via his Instagram channel, and has previously appeared in advertisements for Sports Direct. 

Having invested wisely in property – including a sprawling pad in Chigwell, Essex that he shares with his long-term partner Lauren – Rice comfortably has a fortune in excess of £10m.  

Declan Rice West Ham Move

Growing up a Chelsea fan, Rice looked up to the Stamford Bridge superstars of that era, including Juan Sebastian Veron and his childhood hero Frank Lampard.

A decade on however, one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the country positively bleeds claret and blue. Or at least he did prior to joining Arsenal in 2023.

Having forged a close relationship with the Hammers fan-base, Rice was the obvious choice to inherit the captain’s armband from club legend Mark Noble and his influential and committed performances were admired by one and all at the London Stadium.

Twice he was voted West Ham’s Young Player of the Year. Twice he has won their Player of the Year. 

Prior to his move to Arsenal, Rice insisted he was happy to remain a Hammer, putting in weekly displays that has led to his manager describing him as a ‘great ambassador’ and ‘leader’. 

Declan Rice England

After controversially switching his allegiance from the Republic of Ireland to England early in his career, Rice has subsequently become a pivotal part of Gareth Southgate’s national set-up, his manager’s first-choice even amidst some stiff competition. 

Making his England bow in March 2019, Rice has seamlessly transferred his bossing of centre-circles at club level to the international stage and his form and fitness is key should the Three Lions have any hope of lifting the World Cup aloft at Qatar 2022.

Declan Rice Girlfriend

Declan Rice has dated childhood sweetheart Lauren Fryer for eight years, with the couple beginning their relationship in 2016 after meeting at school.

The couple are in a happy relationship and share 20-month-old son Jude, but Fryer and Rice have both received disgusting abuse online over her appearance.

This has resulted in Lauren Fryer deleting all images from her Instagram page, with cyberbullying first starting in December 2023 - less than six months after Rice joined Arsenal.

With comments stating that Rice 'could do better' and 'he has low standards', it's hardly a shock that Fryer has opted to remove her social media posts.

Lauren has 64,000 followers on Instagram but has kept her profile public rather than switching to a private account, and she has received support from several celebrities - including Love Island and reality TV star Liberty Poole.

Here's to hoping that the trolls leave Fryer alone in the coming months and the two can enjoy raising Jude in a loving, committed relationship.

*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

The battle to reach the promised land of the Premier League is a tough one but here are five clubs I'm hoping can defy the odds to regain promotion to England's top flight in the near future...

5) Preston North End

The last time the Lilywhites were in the top-flight Tottenham won the double. That’s how long ago it was. Spurs were successful.

Since then, they’ve bounced around the divisions, spending a large number of years in the second tier but also plummeting to the fourth rung during a particularly grim period in the Eighties. In that regard they are less a ‘sleeping giant’ and more a once great club comatose. 

Which is a genuine shame because historically Preston carry significant weight. 

A founding member of the football league, they were the original Invincibles, winning the inaugural season in imperious style along with the FA Cup to boot.

Currently stuck in mid-table in the Championship, Preston will hope to return to the topflight later this decade. 

4) Derby County

Now languishing in League One, the Rams have given English football stonewall legends such as Steve Bloomer, Hughie Gallagher, Raich Carter and Dave Mackay.

They won two league titles in the early Seventies and have been managed by the incomparable Brian Clough.

Exiting the top-flight in 2008 after enduring a record-breaking miserable campaign that saw them priced as dead-certs to drop in the Premier League betting just a handful of games in, Derby would be welcomed back with open arms for their legacy alone. 

Financial issues left the club in a prolonged period of turmoil, but they are working their way back to where they feel they belong. 

3) Portsmouth

Pompey certainly have the illustrious history, winning back-to-back league titles in the late-Forties.

According to legend they first wore red socks at the suggestion of Field Marshal Montgomery, to honour the fallen of the Second World War.

But really, it’s all about the fans. That’s why we want them back where they belong, competing among the elite and scaring them witless every time they travel down to a packed-out, ferocious Fratton Park. 

After having their heart and soul ripped from them via terrible ownership that promised the world, they have secured promotion to the Championship for the 2024-25 season.

2) Sunderland

The Mackems’ downfall has been fairly recent, the North-East giants residing in the Premier League up to 2017. 

Since then, their veering from calamity to crisis, and back to calamity again has made for a gripping documentary, one that painfully illustrates the game’s cruel streak.

Having bounced back from such adversity, Tony Mowbray’s young side lost to Luton Town in the 2023 Championship Playoffs. The 2023-24 season has been a frustrating one, with the Black Cats a long way off promotion contention.

1) Sheffield Wednesday

After defying football betting odds and avoiding relegation from the Championship in 2023, Sheffield Wednesday have again been embroiled in a battle against the drop in 2023-24. 

We would expect nothing less from a club that for many years now have been specialists in snatching struggle from the jaws of hope.

The second oldest club in world football have won the league four times, last doing so in 1930, but it is fantastic teams forged in more recent times that explains why so many neutrals want them to recover. 

Their entertaining side of the early-Nineties, featuring the likes of Waddle, Sheridan and Bart-Williams holds a special place in a lot of hearts. 

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

The Championship is widely regarded as the most competitive league in football. With each team playing 46 matches, it is a gruelling division that puts even the most gifted players to the test.

Most Expensive Championship Signings

1. Ruben Neves – £15.8 million

2. Britt Assombalonga - £15 million

3. Helder Costa - £15 million

4. Harry Wilson - £14 million

5. Joël Piroe - £14 million

6. Joao Carvalho - £13.2 million

7. Helder Costa - £13 million

8. Ross McCormack – £12 million

9. Benik Afobe – £12 million

10. Scott Hogan – £12 million

It’s common knowledge that the average Championship wage is significantly lower than the Premier League but transfer fees in England’s second tier have certainly increased in recent years.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

• International cricket umpires have an average annual salary of over £70,000

• Cricket boards provide plenty of courses for aspiring umpires to get into the role

• Payment varies on the format, but international umpires also benefit from a plethora of perks 

Regular followers of cricket betting tips will be used to seeing the same cricket umpires. Perhaps you’ve wondered about their salary and how they get into such a high-pressure job.

Even with the use of DRS in international cricket, it’s vital that umpiring standards are high. Poor decisions can ruin the sport as a spectacle. Even with technology, it can become painful viewing.

How much do you know about the life of an international cricket umpire? What salary do they make? Which qualifications do they need?

These people are so often in the spotlight, but they do not get the same adulation as the players they are tasked with overseeing.

If you’re keen on cricket in sport betting online, you’ll hear endless discussions about umpiring decisions. So, let’s take some time to look at their earnings, and what they had to do to reach the elite level…

Cricket Umpire Salary Revealed

An elite international cricket umpire receives a salary of around £72,000. They are paid somewhere in the region of £3,500 for a Test match, and around £2,200 for a One-Day International. Some umpires are believed to earn over £100,000 per year. 

Obviously, the pay for a T20 international is lower still. It might be the glitziest event in cricket betting, but the shortest format also means a maximum of 40 overs in the field for umpires.

Compared with the five-day slog of Test cricket, a T20 should be an easy day out for umpires.

The ICC also hands out a bonus of around £7,200 for the best umpire every year. Umpires can obviously live comfortably on their base salary, but they have an array of perks of the job, including expenses for travel, hotels and food.

The umpires hog the on-screen time in international cricket. Fans, though, will occasionally hear a reference to the ‘match referee’, who oversees the contest and will deal with any disciplinary issues.

There’s just a seven-man group of Elite Panel Match Referees. Their salary is about £35,000. According to Sporting Free, the match referees receive roughly £2,000 for a Test match and £1,100 for an ODI.

How To Become A Cricket Umpire

The ECB provides a clear pathway for aspiring umpires to follow. Starting out with the introductory course, the ECB website makes it easy to apply for and find the courses nearest to you.

Working through stages one, two and three, umpires can enhance their skills, enabling them to work at the top level of club cricket.

That’s where the journey to becoming a cricket umpire gets trickier. Years of experience must be accrued before the leap to county cricket is possible, and even then, the battle for places is fierce.

Just like with club cricketers wanting to feature in the County Championship, there are only so many places, and umpires must be among the best in the country to progress to the county level.

Other nations have a similar set of requirements to make the step to professional umpiring. In Australia and India, umpiring development is in the hands of each state, who will run the courses and examinations.

Active Elite Panel Of Umpires

Cricket fans will be used to seeing familiar faces officiating international matches. It takes a certain level of experience, skill and training to oversee matches in the largest cricket stadiums in the world.

Here are the members of the Elite Panel of Umpires as of August 2021:

• Christopher Gaffaney

• Kumar Dharmasena

• Michael Gough

• Adrian Holdstock

• Nitin Menon

• Paul Reiffel

• Richard Illingworth

• Richard Kettleborough

• Ahsan Raza

• Rodney Tucker

• Joel Wilson

• Sharfuddoula

Famous Cricket Umpires

Cricket umpiring has changed greatly in the last couple of decades. The arrival of DRS, and the surge of T20 cricket has altered their role.

Overseeing matches involving teams on the IPL winners list is now the best route to umpiring fame. It’s also a lucrative avenue for umpires, just as it is for players.

Kumar Dharmasena, a star of the 2019 World Cup Final, is one of the most famous active umpires. Rod Tucker is the longest-standing Elite Panel Umpire, having been appointed in 2010.

Diving into the history of the game, Dickie Bird and David Shepherd are the two most well-known English umpires.

Steve Bucknor, Aleem Dar and Rudi Koertzen would be widely recognised, too. They are the three men with the most Test matches umpired since the Elite Panel was created.

Koertzen had his trademark slow-raising of the finger. Bucknor’s nod of the head meant the end of your innings. When it comes to memorability, though, no one can match the quirkiness of Billy Bowden.

Cricket Umpire Salary FAQs:

How much do IPL cricket umpires get paid?

Payment for IPL umpires depends on experience and standing.

Elite Umpires receive around £2,000 in basic salary per match according to The Daily Hunt, but this is heavily boosted by a much larger payment from the sponsors at the end of the tournament.

Richard Illingworth, Paul Reiffel, and Christopher Gaffaney were three of the Elite Umpires at the 2021 IPL.

The basic salary for the Development Umpires is roughly £600. Again, this is supplemented by money from the sponsors upon the completion of the IPL.

What do ICC umpires make for a Test match?

ICC umpires are paid in the region of £3,500 for working a Test match. Elite level umpires generally stand in eight or more Test matches per calendar year.

These, of course, will take place all over the world. Being an ICC umpire comes with plenty of perks beyond the standard salary, including travel and accommodation.

What qualifications do you need to become a cricket umpire?

Cricket boards around the world will require an exam to be passed before allowing you to become a professional umpire. It will take years of studying and experience before it’s possible to make this step.

Of course, there are sometimes fast track routes for former players and people already involved at the highest level of cricket.

The English Cricket Board has various options for those looking to get started as an umpire.

Each country takes responsibility for training and educating umpires, though international umpires take a refresher course with the ICC every few months.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

‘Is this a library?’ 

So asks away fans at pretty much every ground the moment the atmosphere dips, with Arsenal hearing the enquiry more than most, the Emirates long considered a vast bowl where songs go to die.

Quietest Premier League Stadiums:

• London Stadium - West Ham United
• Vitality Stadium - AFC Bournemouth
• Craven Cottage - Fulham
• Etihad Stadium - Manchester City
• Stamford Bridge - Chelsea

With the Gunners spectacularly rejuvenated under Mikel Arteta however, it’s beginning to feel like an out-dated jibe, and as their team challenge at the summit of the Premier League, it could be argued that the Emirates Stadium has become one of the most boisterous, vibrant arenas in the top-flight.

Which is a lot more than can be said about these five floodlit haunted houses. 

5) Stamford Bridge

Really, there is no excuse for it.

In the modern era the Blues regularly possess a fabulous squad replete with superstars, as evidenced by five league titles in the last two decades.

Furthermore, anyone with even a passing knowledge of football is pertinently aware that historically Chelsea have a hardcore of supporters who are, shall we say, volatile. 

Add in too, a feeling of being harshly treated when sanctioned during Roman Abramovich’s enforced departure and Stamford Bridge should at the very least have an edge to it, an us-against-the-world mentality. 

Instead it’s perfectly possible to take a good book to West London and plough through a few chapters without any fear of interruption. 

Could Mauricio Pochettino bring some hostility back to the Bridge?

4) Etihad Stadium

On European nights, or against arch foes such as United or Liverpool, the Etihad Stadium comes alive, a crackling, electric explosion of noise and passion. 

Elsewhere, when inferior fare come to town, a pie dropped on the concourse of the Colin Bell Stand can be heard in the Kippax.

The reason for this disparity is understandable to a point, with little jeopardy accompanying Pep Guardiola’s remarkable success meaning fans tend to sit back and be entertained.

Indeed, it often needs a terrible refereeing decision or a shock concession to rile the masses from their theatre-going mindset. 

Whether it’s the online betting odds, common sense, or pure gut instinct, we all know Sheffield United are not going to lay a glove on the multiple league winners. Match-goers are no different. Perhaps this is just the price teams pay for such sustained success. 

3) Craven Cottage

By some margin, Craven Cottage is the most picturesque ground in the upper echelons of English football, located right next to a swirling Thames and with some of its Archibald Leitch-inspired features still present. 

One of its stands is Grade II listed for goodness sake.

It’s lovely all told, a place where the National Trust and sport collide, and perhaps due reverence for the surroundings effects even those who inhabit the ground on a fortnightly basis. 

Because if you want to have faint tinnitus on your journey home it’s probably best to head down the road to Brentford.

2) Vitality Stadium

Luton Town’s fairy tale promotion means that Dean Court is no longer the smallest stadium in the Premier League but with a capacity of just 11,300 it’s still bijou, or ‘cosy’ if an estate agent got their hands on it.

Rotherham, Bristol Rovers, Oldham, the list goes on of lower league clubs who have larger dwellings.

Undoubtedly, this greatly explains why sunbathers on Bournemouth beach can relax in peace even on matchdays. 

1) London Stadium

According to our football tips, the Hammers no longer have a significant home advantage.

David Moyes’ side sadly cannot rely on vociferous support because ever since the club moved to a cavernous stadia designed for athletics, inevitably the volume has been turned down on the West Ham faithful.

If ever a cautionary tale existed of a club upping sticks from an authentic ground full of history and heart to a soulless spaceship, and the damage subsequently done, it lies in East London. 

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

• Seven of the ten best Premier League coaches of all time have come from overseas

• Combined, these ten touchline greats have overseen thousands of Premier League victories 

• The greatest of them all was a buccaneering, scary Scot

Selecting the ten best coaches to have ever prowled a Premier League technical area naturally leads us to the number of titles won, the most obvious barometer to determine a manager’s greatness.

Yet there are other considerations too, not least other trophies lifted during the Premier League era.

Best Premier League Managers:

1. Sir Alex Ferguson

2. Pep Guardiola

3. Arsene Wenger

4. Jose Mourinho

5. Jurgen Klopp

6. Rafa Benitez

7. Claudio Ranieri

8. Antonio Conte

9. David Moyes

10. Harry Redknapp

Then there’s the sheer volume of matches won while personality counts also, to reflect the impact an individual has made on the domestic game as it exploded into being the billion-pound, all-engrossing industry we know today.

Lastly, we should not overlook that some managers were not fortunate enough to inherit a big club with huge resources. Punching above your weight is an admirable achievement in itself.

It’s only right and proper if you disagree with at least two of our choices below, so subjective is this list. Here though are our tremendous ten.

*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

• Barry Hearn is a household name in boxing, snooker and darts

• He is credited with founding Matchroom Sport in 1982

• Estimated figures value Barry Hearn net worth at £158 million

While son Eddie is now the main man at Matchroom, Barry Hearn is the founder and he was the face of the company for the best part of 30 years.

Now in his 70s, Barry has used his business acumen to build a sporting empire, and sports betting fans around the world will recognise him instantly.

Eddie Hearn net worth figures are hardly surprising but many will be shocked to see Barry’s figures compared directly to his son’s estimated wealth.

Without further ado, it is time to get stuck into Barry Hearn wealth figures while also looking into his career as a promoter and his life away from the spotlight.

How Much Is Barry Hearn Worth?

According to figures obtained from online sources, Barry Hearn’s wealth is valued at an estimated £158 million in 2024.

If accurate, this puts Barry above Eddie in the Hearn rich list charts – though the combined family net worth figure would be on another level. Some speculate this could be north of £200 million.

Barry Hearn was an excellent businessman and his success with Matchroom is down to hard work and dedication.

The vast majority of Barry Hearn net worth has come from the Matchroom brand, with the company focusing primarily on boxing, darts and snooker.

Barry Hearn House

Now the home of Matchroom Boxing, Barry Hearn bought the enormous Essex property for a reported £200,000 some 30 years ago.

Although now typically associated with son Eddie, the house has remained in the ownership of the Hearn family and it is now more of a commercial property than a family home.

Such is the scale of the property and its grounds, Matchroom Boxing is now the full-time occupier of the residence and the company even hosted Fight Night events during the summer.

Barry Hearn Wife

Barry is married to Susan and the couple have two children together, son Eddie and daughter Katie.

Susan Hearn is into her horse racing, with the Mascalls Stud base operating out of Essex. While it is relatively small fry compared to some of the bigger breeding operations, Mascalls Stud has seen plenty of success.

Barry Hearn Snooker

Barry Hearn’s decision to purchase a Romford snooker hall in the early 1970s paved the way for his success.

With the BBC looking to promote snooker, Hearn took full advantage and began promoting snooker on TV after purchasing Luciana Billiards Halls.

Barry became manager of Steve Davis and he soon became a household name in the sport, helping Davis to blossom into one of the most successful World Snooker champions.

Barry Hearn Boxing

In 1987, Barry decided to branch out into boxing. As a promoter, he managed several British and Irish fighters, including Lennox Lewis and Steve Collins.

Hearn is credited with introducing boxing’s Prizefighter series – a knockout tournament that saw eight boxers compete for glory. It was a fantastic competition for boxing betting fans.

Barry set the foundations for Eddie to take over and the Hearns continue to dominate the boxing promoter game.

Barry Hearn Darts

Darts was next on Barry’s agenda and he became chairman of the Professional Darts Corporation, convincing many of the sport’s top players to join from the BDO.

Hearn played a pivotal role in increasing the attraction of darts around the world and he deserves plenty of credit for the success of major PDC ranking events. He has profited greatly from the increased interest in darts.

Barry Hearn Leyton Orient

Leyton Orient fans will have fond memories of Barry Hearn’s tenure as club chairman, with the entrepreneur heading the club from 1995 to 2014.

Hearn helped to save the club from financial disaster and was heavily involved in Orient’s decision-making during his years at the club.

He remained involved as President of the club until 2018, with Barry citing issues with the club’s new owner as the reason for his resignation.

Barry Hearn Fishing

An established fisherman, Barry Hearn has also cast his line into fishing – helping it to thrive into a viable commercial sport.

According to various reports, it was Hearn who pitched the idea of Fish-O-Mania to Sky Sports and the event has been a roaring success since its formation in 1994.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

The Guineas Festival at Newmarket Racecourse is the first major Flat Racing classic of the year and tends to be one the most defining moments of the year when it comes to discovering the stars of the future.

The historic 2000 & 1000 Guineas races are held in late April or early May each year on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course.

Every year the Guineas betting markets are often very lively affairs throughout the winter months as punters try to speculate who the new crop of big names are going to be.

You can find our horse racing tips here.

2000 GUINEAS DAY (COLTS)

Although some horses are aimed at this race as part of the Triple Crown (Guineas, Derby, St Leger), it takes one hell of a good horse to land all three legs and those who have completed just two of the legs are still highly revered.

Nijinsky was the last Triple Crown winner in 1970 – 50 years ago!

1000 GUINEAS DAY (FILLIES)

The rarely attempted fillies’ Triple Crown (Guineas, Oaks, St Leger) is even harder to win. Only 9 fillies have ever done so – 8 of those were before 1955. The last filly to win it was Oh So Sharp in 1985.

Which brings us onto who have been the greatest ever Guineas winners in living memory? Here are five horses who we feel are worthy of such an accolade.

Nijinsky (1970)

The American-owned Nijinsky became the first horse since Barham (1935) to win the Triple Crown of the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger, a feat that no horse has repeated since.

Such was Nijinsky’s racing prowess, that it took him just five starts to achieve racing immortality.

Canadian-bred Nijinsky was ridden by the champion jockey, Lester Piggott, and crossed the finish line with 2½ lengths to spare over Yellow God.

Fourteen three‐year‐olds went to post in the mile event with Piggott keeping Nijinsky on the outside as Yellow God and Amba Rama duelled for the lead. Nijinsky surged to the front after six furlongs and there was no catching him.

Bookmakers promptly made him the 7/2 favourite for the Derby straight after the race, which in hindsight now was manna from heaven for punters.

Oh So Sharp (1985)

Ridden by Steve Cauthen and trained by Henry Cecil, Oh So Sharp snatched victory right on the line in the Guineas, winning by a short head.

She then went on to win the fillies Triple Crown, consisting of the 1000 Guineas, the Oaks and St Leger.

Sent off the 2/1 favourite for the 1000 Guineas, the filly appeared to have very little chance three furlongs from home, but Cauthen dug deep, tapping into all her reserves and she scorched through to force a three-way photo finish with Bella Colara and Al Bahathri.

The bookies thought Bella Colora and Lester Piggott had won it, but after a photo-finish that felt like an eternity, Oh So Sharp was declared the winner.

The “Kentucky Kid”, Steve Cauthen, still maintains that Oh So Sharp was the best filly he ever rode.

Nashwan (1989)

The Shadwell Farm-bred Nashwan was one of the greatest middle distance horses in a generation.

The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned colt won the 2000 Guineas on his seasonal debut in 1989 under Willie Carson, before the pair followed up with the Derby.

Nashwan won both his starts as a two-year-old but was pretty much under the radar when it came into the run up to the Guineas.

However word spread that he was tearing up the gallops and he was backed down to the 3/1 favourite on the day, going on to win the race by a length.

He then went on to win the Derby, Eclipse and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in what was a memorable summer for Major Dick Hern and Willie Carson.

Sea The Stars (2009)

Sea The Stars was undoubtedly one of the greatest racehorses to grace the turf since the turn of the millennium and it is pretty hard to believe that his racing career spanned just 15 months in all.

In the 2009 2000 Guineas, Sea The Stars, from the John Oxx stable in Ireland, arrived with a swooping finish under Mick Kinane to beat the 3/1 favourite, Delegator, by a length-and-a-half, with Gan Amhras back in third.

He was instantly installed as short as 5/2 for the Derby forthwith.

During his preparation for the first Classic of the season at Newmarket, Sea The Stars suffered a setback in the March and the bookmakers ultimately sent him off at 8/1 on Guineas day, suspecting he might not be quite ready.

How very wrong they were after he showed an electric turn of foot to score under Mick Kinane.

Sea The Stars went on to claim the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, the International Stakes, the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe over the course of the next five months before retiring with eight victories from nine career starts.

Frankel (2011)

Frankel produced one of the greatest performances ever witnessed on a British racecourse when running away with the 2000 Guineas in 2011.

After already clocking up five consecutive victories, Frankel came into the 2000 Guineas as the hot 1/2 favourite in the horse racing odds and fireworks were expected.

Frankel burst from the stalls and immediately shot clear of his field. By halfway, the contest seemed was as good as over and the crowd were already clapping him home a furlong out.

Briefly he lost a tiny bit of momentum close home, but the race was already in safe keeping at that point and he ended up having six lengths to spare over Dubawi Gold and Native Khan, with a further 11 lengths back to the also-rans.

The Henry Cecil-trained superstar won a further eight races after his Guineas victory before retiring in 2012 with a perfect career record of 14 victories from 14 runs.

You can find all our 888sport ante-post betting markets for the Flat season ahead here.

*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

• The Championship Playoff Final first took place in 1987, with Charlton beating Leeds

• Crystal Palace are the most successful team in football’s most lucrative match with four wins

• Read below for the history of the Championship Playoff Final

The Championship Playoff Final is not only a big occasion in football betting. It is arguably football’s most lucrative fixture, and in seasons where two teams have sewn up the automatic spots, the opportunity to enter the playoffs gives clubs and fans hope. 

It helps retain competitiveness deep into the campaign. Teams can get rolling over the closing weeks of the season and ride that wave to Wembley, and perhaps to the riches and glamour of the Premier League. 

This format also gives something else to ponder in Championship predictions. Here’s all you need to know about the Championship Playoff Final.

How Do The Championship Playoffs Work?

Teams finishing third, fourth, fifth and sixth in the Championship qualify for the Playoffs. This opens up the season for those who can’t quite catch the best Championship teams.

From then on, it’s a straightforward matchup of third versus sixth and fourth versus fifth.

These are two-legged ties, with the lower seed playing at home in the first leg. This gives the team with a better league position home advantage to finish the tie, which is generally considered to be beneficial. 

As is commonplace for two-legged ties like these, the winner is determined by aggregate score. The two scores are simply added together. There are no away goals to consider in the Playoff Semi-Finals.

If they are level after 180 minutes, and at the end of a long season, it goes to extra time. This in the standard format of two 15-minute halves. Should the scores remain level through this period, a penalty shootout will decide the tie.

The winners of the semi-finals meet at Wembley. All of the Football League Playoff Semi-Finals usually take place across a bank holiday weekend in May.

If tied after 90 minutes of the final, it’s once again straight to extra time and penalties. The winner goes into the Premier League next season, while the loser remains in the Championship.

Championship Playoff Final History

The 1990 Playoff Final was the first to be played in the current format. The 1987, 1988 and 1989 Playoff Finals were played across two legs. In fact, the first ever Playoff Final required 270 minutes of action.

Each getting a 1-0 win in the two-legged tie, Charlton and Leeds were forced into a replay at St Andrew’s. The Addicks were victorious in the one-off game, which served as an example for how the Playoff Final would work from 1990 onwards.

Played at the old Wembley from 1990 until 2001, Cardiff was home to the Championship Playoff Final from 2001 until 2006. The Millennium Stadium hosted the three heaviest wins in the history of the Playoff Final.

Although only hosting for a few seasons, the Millennium Stadium saw some of the bigger Playoff moments.

In 2004 and 2005, for instance, Crystal Palace and West Ham snuck into the Playoffs in sixth, but both went on to win the final.

Palace had a change of manager to thank for their turn around, while the Hammers were lucky to have this format, having been 12 points off third-placed Ipswich.

The Playoffs don’t always reward the teams who have been thriving in live betting throughout the season.

The Final returned to Wembley in 2007, and there have been further examples of this with Blackpool gaining promotion from sixth in 2010, and Watford missing out in 2013 despite being just two points off the automatic spots.

Luton, who won the 2023 Playoff Final, were 11 points clear of sixth across the 46-game regular season.

The last decade has generally seen teams finishing third or fourth win the final. Blackpool in 2009-10 were the last team to finish sixth in the table and earn promotion. 

Championship Playoff Final Winners List

The Championship Playoffs are a different test from the 46-game grind. It’s a question of coping under pressure, and of hitting form at the right time.

Having one of the Championship top scorers might not matter if they aren’t on top of their game in May. Here are the teams who have overcome those pressures to win the Championship Playoff Final:

• 1987 – Charlton

• 1988 – Middlesbrough 

• 1989 – Crystal Palace

• 1990 – Swindon Town

• 1991 – Notts County

• 1992 – Blackburn Rovers

• 1993 – Swindon Town

• 1994 – Leicester

• 1995 – Bolton

• 1996 – Leicester

• 1997 – Crystal Palace

• 1998 – Charlton

• 1999 – Watford

• 2000 – Ipswich

• 2001 – Bolton

• 2002 – Birmingham

• 2003 – Wolves

• 2004 – Crystal Palace

• 2005 – West Ham

• 2006 – Watford

• 2007 – Derby

• 2008 – Hull

• 2009 – Burnley

• 2010 – Blackpool

• 2011 – Swansea

• 2012 – West Ham

• 2013 – Crystal Palace

• 2014 – QPR

• 2015 – Norwich

• 2016 – Hull

• 2017 – Huddersfield

• 2018 – Fulham 

• 2019 – Aston Villa

• 2020 – Fulham

• 2021 – Brentford

• 2022 – Nottingham Forest

• 2023 – Luton Town 

Biggest Margin Of Victory In A Championship Playoff Final

Three goals is the biggest margin of victory in a Championship Playoff Final. This was achieved three times in six years with Bolton, Wolves and Watford running out 3-0 victors against Preston, Sheffield United and Leeds respectively.

The highest scoring Championship Playoff Final was before the trio of 3-0s, though. Charlton and Sunderland matched up at the old Wembley back in 1998 and played out a 4-4 thriller.

The Addicks were the eventual winners in a dramatic penalty shootout, securing their second Championship Playoff Final win after toppling Leeds over two legs in 1987.

Of the 3-0 wins, Wolves’ triumph can be viewed as the most emphatic. The Midlands club scored all of their goals before half-time, with Mark Kennedy, Nathan Blake and Kenny Miller getting on the scoresheet.

While Wolves blew the Blades away in 2003, the final between Bolton and Preston two years earlier was a different pattern, despite finishing with the same score line.

Gareth Farrelly’s strike from outside the box gave Wanderers a first half lead. It was a tense affair from then on, though, with both teams enjoying periods of pressure.

Only in the 89th minute did Bolton get an insurance goal. Ricardo Gardner scored a matter seconds later to seal a 3-0 win for Sam Allardyce’s side.

Since 2015, Playoff finals have been nervy affairs. Brentford’s 2-0 win over Swansea in 2021 is the only time a team has won by two clear goals at Wembley with Huddersfield and Luton needing penalty shootouts to win in 2017 and 2023 respectively. 

Which Club Has Won The Most EFL Championship Playoff Finals?

Crystal Palace have won the most EFL Championship Playoff Finals. The Eagles won in 1989, 1997, 2004 and 2013. No other club has won more than two Playoff Finals.

Fulham, Hull, West Ham, Watford, Bolton, Charlton, Leicester and Swindon have each won the EFL Championship Playoff Final twice.

This includes Playoff Final wins before the division was renamed. Fulham have been the most successful club in recent memory, winning the big game in 2018 and 2020.

Palace have been ruthless in finals, winning four of their five appearances. At the other end of the spectrum, Derby, Reading and Sheffield United have lost three Playoff finals apiece. 

While previously seen as a yo-yo club, Palace have consolidated in the Premier League. The 2023-24 season is their eleventh consecutive campaign in the top flight.

How Much Do Clubs Earn For Winning The Championship Playoffs?

There is no direct financial prize for winning the Championship Playoffs.

It is, however, regarded as the most lucrative match in world football. Some estimates suggest that promotion can be worth towards half a billion pounds, with more conservative estimates coming in at £150 million.

Tony Incenzo's Championship Playoff Final Memories

THE Championship Play-Off Final is abundantly described as football’s richest game. It delivers a massive financial carrot via promotion to that elusive top flight promised land.

To quantify, Play-Off Final winners will subsequently pocket a minimum of £140-150 million in 12 months of Premier League membership. The match itself attracts frenzied Championship betting.

On a personal note, this wonderful showpiece provided me with my greatest day as a football supporter. It came when I was in the press box to watch my beloved Queens Park Rangers defeat Derby County 1-0 at Wembley Stadium on 24th May 2014 before 87,348 spectators.

QPR’s decisive goal was scored by Bobby Zamora in the last minute. So I caught up with Zamora for an interview to ask him about his priceless match winning moment…

Bobby, before we talk about your goal let’s look back at the match itself. Rangers went down to 10 men when Gary O’Neil was sent-off after an hour. The scoreline was 0-0 at the time. In-play betting suggested it would be an uphill struggle from there and it most certainly was wasn’t it?

Yes it made things more difficult. It was a very tough game and Derby were a very good side. They were in great form and they were playing some excellent football that season. So we were up against it somewhat with 10 men.

The R’s had to defend really well in that last half an hour at Wembley as Derby were dominating possession weren’t they?

Our defenders were absolutely magnificent. Richard Dunne and Nedum Onuoha were fantastic. They really, really were. It was fortunate enough for us that everyone defensively was on their ‘A’ game and we managed to grind out the victory.

Despite all the pressure from Derby, QPR managed to break away and you sensationally scored the winning goal with 10 seconds of normal time remaining. What do you remember about that moment?

I just wanted to get into the box. Whenever the ball goes wide, it is a case for the strikers to make sure they are in the penalty area. When I was initially running in, I thought I couldn’t get in front of the two Derby County centre-backs as I was a little bit of a distance away from them.

But as it happens, Junior Hoilett crossed the ball a couple of seconds earlier than I anticipated. So I checked back. Then their defender Richard Keogh miscued his clearance and it fell just in front of me.

After many years of training and me staying behind after training for repetition of hitting the target, it just becomes instinctive rather than thinking about it. Thankfully it worked in our favour. It dawned on me afterwards how huge the occasion was and it was nice to be a part of that.

I also chatted to another QPR man who was in the thick of the action against Derby County – Gary O’Neil, who took one for the team with a last man challenge for his red card…

Gary, even for an experienced player like yourself it must have still been a really big game at Wembley?

Oh yeah the Play-Off Finals are the biggest games I’ve ever played in because of what is riding on them. You have worked through the whole season and what’s going to happen in the next year is dependent on 90 minutes.

In my first Play-Off Final with West Ham, I found it difficult to play the game rather than the occasion. So in the second one with QPR, I think I managed to perform a bit better having been there before. I had learnt from how I prepared and got ready for the previous Final.

You were sent-off in QPR’s Play-Off Final against Derby for bringing down Johnny Russell just outside the box in the 60th minute to prevent a goal. What are your recollections of that incident?

I didn’t think it was definitely going to be a red card. That was the reason that I made the foul. I was never going to get the ball – it was three or four yards further ahead of me. So it was one of those situations where you get a split second to make a decision.

For some reason, something told me that it was the right thing to do. But for about the next 30 minutes when I was sat in the changing room, I was pretty sure it wasn’t the right thing to do!

However it turned out to be the right decision in the end as we got the winning goal. It was an up and down day for me.

So you weren’t able to watch the rest of the game after you had been sent-off?

There was a very small TV screen just inside the tunnel. I managed to watch that and I was just praying that the lads could get to penalties, where it would be like the toss of a coin who would win promotion.

Obviously we had Bobby Zamora up our sleeves to score the vital goal – the joker in the pack to come and save us with seconds to go.

What did the other QPR players say to you after the final whistle at Wembley?

They were saying stupid things at the time when emotions were running high. They were saying it was the best red card they had ever seen and all sorts of silly stuff!

In the end, I was lucky that it ended up working out for the best as I could easily have been the villain and the one who cost us promotion. If I could go back in time, I would hope to not be the one who had to make that decision.

I’d leave it for someone else to bring Russell down! But unfortunately, it was only me and goalkeeper Robert Green from there on that could stop him.

*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

• The Commonwealth Cup is the only Group 1 race exclusively for three-year-olds that allows the geldings to compete.

• At 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 143 yards, the concluding Queen Alexandra Stakes is the longest race of the meeting that the horse racing commentators have to deal with.

• Join us for daily betting tips and odds on the 2024 Royal Ascot meeting

Over the course of five days every June, top races galore take place at Ascot racecourse (the Royal meeting), and every year there are new trends and statistics to analyse.

Naturally trends and statistics are only a guide to what is likely to happen - they are not an exact science, but quite often patterns do emerge so it worth looking at races and dissecting their recent history.

This hopefully should lead to you to picking some winners. Below is a full resume of Royal Ascot’s races each day and all the conditions of entry.

Royal Ascot Tips Day 1

Join Alex McMahon for his horse racing picks and predictions ahead of Tuesday's Royal Ascot card...

3.05 Royal Ascot – River Tiber (NAP)

The time gurus will be backing Asadna all ends up but River Tiber brings the best form to the race and he’s my pick for the all-conquering Aidan O’Brien yard.

The Ballydoyle maestro has won the Coventry Stakes a record nine times over the years and the unbeaten River Tiber has a favourite’s chance of making it win number 10.

Ryan Moore will ride and he has spoken very highly of the O’Brien runner – this might even be his best chance in an exceptional book of rides on Day 1 at Royal Ascot.

3.40 Royal Ascot – Highfield Princess (NB)

Highfield Princess was exceptional last season and five furlongs on the straight Ascot course should be right up her street. Connections believe that she is the one to beat…

She is fairly short in the horse racing betting but she is the one to beat on form and the manner of her two Group One victories last year is enough to convince me to stick with her.

John Quinn is one of the best around when it comes to sprinters and he will have her primed to claim her second Royal Ascot success after winning the 2021 Buckingham Palace Stakes.

6.10 Royal Ascot – Ruling Dynasty (Longshot)

Vauban is a warm order to take the Copper Horse Handicap but I quite like Ruling Dynasty for William Buick and Charlie Appleby.

He looked like a potential superstar when winning at Haydock the last day and the Godolphin runner could be much better than his official mark of 97.

By the same token, the favourite has ran to 160 over hurdles and may take some stopping but Ruling Dynasty is my tentative vote and he is a decent enough sports betting price.

• 2.30 - Queen Anne Stakes: Inspiral

• 3.05 - Coventry Stakes: River Tiber

• 3.40 - King's Stand Stakes: Highland Princess

• 4.20 - St James's Palace Stakes: Mostabshir

• 5.00 - Ascot Stakes: Irish Lullaby

• 5.35 - Wolferton Stakes: Poker Face

• 6.10 - Copper Horse Stakes: Ruling Dynasty

Royal Ascot Tips Day 2

Join Alex McMahon for his horse racing picks and predictions ahead of Wednesday's Royal Ascot card...

5.35 Royal Ascot – Gregory (NAP)

John & Thady Gosden could have an absolute weapon on their hands in Gregory and it is my view that he’ll take the world of beating in the Queens Vase on Wednesday evening.

He couldn’t be more suited to the step up in trip according to his pedigree, with his dam winning the Group Two Park Hill over the extended trip.

There are a few St Leger types in the field but Gregory can stamp his authority on the staying division by winning over 1m6f and he is my sports betting NAP of the Day.

2.30 Royal Ascot – Beautiful Diamond (NB)

Beautiful Diamond can get horse racing betting punters off to a flyer on Wednesday and it may be worth siding with Karl Burke to follow up after winning this race in 2022.

A £360,000 purchase at the breeze-ups in April, she bolted up at Nottingham on debut and is bred for speed – she could easily produce something very special indeed.

There are a whole host of unexposed sprinters in the field but Beautiful Diamond ticks more boxes than most and the yard are flying with their 2-yo crop this term.

3.05 Royal Ascot – Lady Eros (Longshot)

A full field of 20 runners go to post for the Kensington Palace Fillies’ Handicap and Lady Eros gets my vote for Oisin Murphy and the Gosdens.

Her form on rattling ground puts her bang there for me and I’m expecting her to run a big race, though you do admittedly need a bit of luck in these big field handicaps.

At the current prices, she is well worth an each way play and could go well. We’re yet to see whether there is any track bias but hopefully she can get the job done.

• 2.30 - Queen Mary Stakes: Beautiful Diamond

• 3.05 - Kensington Palace Fillies' Handicap: Lady Eros

• 3.40 - Duke of Cambridge Stakes: Jumbly

• 4.20 - Prince of Wales's Stakes: Adayar

• 5.00 - Royal Hunt Cup: Awaal

• 5.30 - Queens Vase Stakes: Gregory

• 6.10 - Windsor Castle Stakes: Johannes Brahms

Royal Ascot Tips Day 3

Join Alex McMahon for his horse racing picks and predictions ahead of Thursday's Royal Ascot card...

3.40 Royal Ascot – Al Asifah (NAP)

I was really taken by Al Asifah’s performance in a Listed race at Goodwood earlier this month and the decision to pay the supplementary fee was presumably a straightforward one.

According to Racing Post Ratings, she ran to 115 on that day and that would put her clear of the field on all known form. She is likely to be a short price in sports betting odds.

Jim Crowley will do the steering and he’ll be making her his best chance of the week. It looks like a decent race but Al Asifah could be the real superstar in the line-up.

4.20 Royal Ascot – Coltrane (NB)

The Ascot Gold Cup is wide open with Kyprios missing out and Stradivarius retired and I’m hoping that the Andrew Balding-trained Coltrane can clinch a second Royal Ascot success.

Easily the most consistent horse in the race, he won at the course in May and his form could receive a huge boost if Bring On The Night wins the Ascot Stakes on Day 1.

Aidan O’Brien has talked Emily Dickinson up for some time and Ryan Moore has picked her over Broome but she’ll need to improve considerably to get to Coltrane’s level.

6.10 Royal Ascot – Croupier (Longshot)

Croupier runs off a career high mark of 99 but I still feel there is improvement in this Simon & Ed Crisford gelding and he could go close in the Buckingham Palace Stakes.

Connections deliberated between this and the Royal Hunt Cup but the yard send Awaal to that race instead. To my eye, Croupier should be well suited to the Thursday race.

It would be great to see Edward Ware have a winner at Royal Ascot this year and Croupier is perhaps his best chance of the week and he’s a great horse racing betting price for punters.

• 2.30 - Norfolk Stakes: American Rascal

• 3.05 - Hampton Court Stakes: Valiant King

• 3.40 - Ribblesdale Stakes: Al Asifah

• 4.20 - Ascot Gold Cup: Coltrane

• 5.00 - Britannia Stakes: Benacre

• 5.35 - King George V Stakes: Epictetus

• 6.10 - Buckingham Palace Stakes: Croupier

Royal Ascot Tips Day 4

Join Steve Mullington for his horse racing picks and predictions ahead of Friday's Royal Ascot card...

4.20 Royal Ascot – Tahiyra (NAP)

Irish 1,000 Guineas scorer Tahiyra can beat her contemporaries in Friday’s Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Dermot Weld’s filly was narrowly beaten by the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Mawj in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, but went one better in the Irish equivalent shortly after and with Mawj not in attendance today; Tahiyra is trading at a shade of odds-on to claim her third Group One victory in this prestigious Royal event.

Chris Hayes takes the ride and she can land this before tacking the Pretty Polly or Irish Oaks. She is a very worthy 888 sport NAP of the day.

5.35 Royal Ascot – Arrest (NB)

One-time Derby favourite Arrest can take this 1m4f King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting and give Frankie Dettori yet another send off winner.

The son of Frankel could only finish tenth in the Epsom Classic, but that was far from his true running and he should go close today with the track and going more to his liking.

At odds of 3/1 in our online horse racing betting, the Gosden runner is well worth taking another chance with, especially with King Of Steel being so short in the betting.

6.10 Royal Ascot – Frankness (E/W Longshot)

Funnily enough I’ve seen a few Jeff Smith-owned horses racing on my travels in France recently and all have been knocking on the door but without winning.

Perhaps this long standing owner can have a change of luck on British shores on Friday with his runner Frankness in the five furlong Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes?

Andrew Balding trains this daughter of Frankel and she won nicely a fortnight ago at Goodwood.

Prior to that race she was in fairly close proximity to winning machine Radio Goo Goo at Chester, so her form certainly stacks up. At 16/1 she’s got to be worth an each-way flutter.

Danger: Jer Batt

*For those of you that prefer a bet on Cheltenham, check out our Festival 2024 odds here*

• 2.30 - Albany Stakes: Soprano

• 3.05 - Commonwealth Cup: Little Big Bear

• 3.35 - Duke of Edinburgh Stakes: Al Nafir

• 4.20 - Coronation Stakes: Tahiyra

• 5.00 - Sandringham Stakes: Unless

• 5.35 - King Edward VII Stakes: Arrest

• 6.10 - Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes: Frankness

Royal Ascot Tips Day 5

Join Steve Mullington for his horse racing picks and predictions ahead of Saturday's Royal Ascot card...

4.20 Ascot – Deauville Legend (NAP)

Deauville Legend, winner of the Bahrain Trophy, Great Voltigeur and who placed fourth in the Melbourne Cup last year, can also add this Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes to his impressive C.V.

Trained by James Ferguson, Deauville Legend went down by just a head in the King George V Stakes last year, so there should be issue with him coming here and performing first time up.

Ridden by Danny Muscutt, the gelding can go well at a general price of 7/1 and I nominate him as our 888sport NAP of the day.

Danger: Hukum

6.10 Ascot – Stratum (NB)

You certainly need staying qualities to win the very last race of the Royal Ascot meeting – the 2m5½ Queen Alexandra Stakes and Willie Mullins’ Stratum has done it all before and can do so again.

He’s also a horse that has regularly featured in the Cheltenham races betting odds down the seasons.

Winner of this race in both 2021 and 2022, Stratum basically just wears them all down for lack of stamina in the closing stages of this race.

Browsing through the rest of the field, I simply cannot pick another horse who can hold a torch to Stratum here in terms of staying prowess. 

Danger: The Grand Visir

5.00 Ascot – Summerghand (E/W Longshot)

Leave him out of your handicap deliberations at your peril, but Summerghand pops up with a victory or two each season when you least expect it and today could well be one of those going days.

The form figures for his last five races hardly look inspiring, but further delving will show you that the nine-year-old was only a handful of lengths away from the winner in all of them.

David O’Meara’s 16-time scorer returns after a welcome 38-day break and he could run well fresh at a nice each-way price for those placing their horse race bets online with us.

Dangers: Bielsa & King’s Lynn

• 2.30 - Chesham Stakes: Pearls And Rubies

• 3.05 - Jersey Stakes: Covey

• 3.40 - Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Stakes: Kinross

• 4.20 - Hardwicke Stakes: Deauville Legend

• 5.00 - Wokingham Stakes: Summerghand

• 5.35 - Golden Gates Stakes: Lion Of War

• 6.10 - Queen Alexandra Stakes: Stratum

Guide To Royal Ascot 2024

When Is Royal Ascot 2024?

The 2024 Royal meeting gets underway on Tuesday 18th June, with the fifth and final day taking place on Saturday 22nd June 2024.

Royal Ascot Dress Code

The dress code varies at Ascot from enclosure to enclosure but most people tend to dress up for one of the biggest flat racing events of the summer.

Royal Ascot Tips Today

You can find all our 888sport Royal Ascot tips, including the NAP of the day on our informative horse racing blog.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*