English Classics: A Guide To Flat Racing's Five Classics

  • Oh So Sharp in 1985 was the last horse to win the fillies’ Triple Crown

  • The St Leger began its life in 1776 and is the oldest of the Classics

  • The last Triple Crown winner was Nijinsky in 1970

The five English Classics form the bedrock of the annual British Flat racing season and of course are the benchmark on which top horses careers are based.

 

Without these Classic cornerstones there would be no Flat season to speak of. The Classics determine future breeding and the breeding determines the horses that run in them. It’s a constant revolving door.

Flat Racing Classics:

Speaking of the Classics themselves, one famous horse racing saying states that "The fastest horse wins the Guineas; the luckiest the Derby - and the best horse wins the St Leger”.

2000 Guineas

The 2000 Guineas attracts the best UK, Irish and French three-year old milers around, not only for the substantial prize money, but for the Classic status of the race itself.

The Group One race is run over a distance of one mile on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course on the opening day of the two-day Newmarket Guineas Festival.

While the 2000 Guineas is open to colts and fillies, usually only colts contest it as the fillies find it tough against the boys and they have their own equivalent race the day after anyway.

Some horses are aimed at this race as part of a three pronged assault on the season long Triple Crown, which consists of the Guineas, Derby and St Leger.

Naturally you need an exceptional horse to pick up all three races and you won’t be surprised to discover that Nijinsky was the last Triple Crown winner back in 1970 – a record that has now stood for over 50 years.

Early 2021 thoughts: One of the strongest pieces of juvenile form coming in to Guineas is the Dewhurst where St Mark’s Basilica beat Wembley and Thunder Moon. Aidan O’Brien’s charge is a 5/1 chance in our 888sport horse racing betting.

1000 Guineas

Staged on the Sunday of the Guineas weekend, the 1000 Guineas is a highly coveted race. Just like the 2000 Guineas, it is also one of the five British Classic races and the first fillies’ Classic race of the season.

Named after the inaugural prize purse back in 1814, the 1000 Guineas is run over Newmarket’s Rowley Mile which is a tough test for the young fillies. The last two furlongs of the race always sorts out the stars of the future from the also-rans.

The rarely attempted fillies’ Triple Crown (Guineas, Oaks, St Leger) is even harder to win than the male version. Only 9 fillies have ever done so with 8 of those coming before 1955. The last filly to land the esteemed treble was Oh So Sharp in 1985.

Early 2021 thoughts: Pretty Gorgeous was an outstanding filly as a two-year-old and at 5/1 she’s looks top value for this race.

The Oaks

The Oaks is named after an estate which is just to the east of Epsom itself.

It was leased to the 12th Earl of Derby in the 18th century, and between himself and his guests, the idea for a race was devised, leading to the very first running of The Oaks Stakes in 1779.

And as luck would have it the inaugural winner Bridget was owned by none other than Lord Derby!

Enable won the Oaks in a record time in 2017 before going on to land four more Group 1 races that season, including the King George, Yorkshire Oaks and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

In 2020 the Oaks went to the Aidan O’Brien-trained Love who registered a 9L victory in the Fillies’ Classic and broke Enable’s course record in the process.

Unsurprisingly O’Brien is the leading Oaks trainer of all time with 8 victories: 1998, 2001, 2006, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2020, whilst Frankie Dettori is the top Oaks jockey with 5 wins to his name - 1994, 1995, 2002, 2017 and 2019.

Early 2021 thoughts: Obviously if you fancy a filly for the 1000 Guineas then you have to hope she wins the Oaks too. Therefore our horse racing pundits are siding with the 12/1 shot, Pretty Gorgeous.

The Derby

The Epsom Derby is a Group One race for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies run over one mile and four furlongs. It is the most esteemed Classic horserace in Great Britain and the race is steeped in a rich history.

The leading Derby jockey of all time is Lester Piggott who won it an amazing nine times, whilst three trainers have all won the race seven times (Robert Robson, John Porter, Fred Darling).

Aiden O'Brien has trained the winner an impressive eight times in all with six of those wins all coming in the last nine years.

In April 2020 online car retailer Cazoo were unveiled as the new sponsor of the Derby at Epsom, replacing Investec after many long years. The multi-year partnership with the Jockey Club incorporates the whole Derby Festival fixture.

Early 2021 thoughts: It’s very early days to be thinking about the Derby, but pressed for a selection we will go with Wembley who will see his odds slashed should he fair well in the Guineas.

St Leger

The St Leger Stakes is the final Classic of the season and takes place at Doncaster in September each year. The race is confined to three-year-olds.

The race itself is the longest in distance and the oldest in years. Staged over 1 mile 6 furlongs and 132 yards, the race began its life in 1776.

The contest was thought up by Anthony St. Leger, an army officer and politician who lived near Doncaster. The Leger was originally run over two miles, with colts carrying 8st, and fillies 7st 12lb.

The current leading trainer is Aidan O’Brien with 6 wins (2001, 2003, 2005, 2013, 2017, and 2018). The current leading jockey is Frankie Dettori, also with 6 wins (1995, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2019).

Early 2021 thoughts: Santa Barbara is in plenty of flat horses to follow lists for 2021 and the Camelot-filly is our long-range prediction for the St Leger at 16/1.

Horse racing tips for tomorrow and most days can be found on our 888sport blog.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Matt Dunham / AP Photo*

April 26, 2021
Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

Steve Mullington
  • ">
    • Body

    Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

    He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.

    Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?

    He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations. 

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    Eurosport Snooker – Watch Snooker On Eurosport

    • Eurosport has comprehensive snooker coverage

    • Snooker fans can live stream snooker on the Eurosport Player

    • Ronnie O’Sullivan and Jimmy White are among the Eurosport commentary team

    Although a sport still looking to grow around the world, snooker betting is a popular pastime for bettors. Just like other sports, though, following snooker isn’t as simple as flicking on a channel and knowing it’ll be there.

    Snooker can be found on an array of platforms. Eurosport, however, has become thought of as the home of the sport, despite it frequently appearing elsewhere.

    Some of the biggest events with an impact on snooker world rankings are on Eurosport, and their coverage is littered with some of the sport’s biggest names.

    When it comes to watching snooker live or streaming snooker on a smartphone or tablet, Eurosport is often the answer fans are looking for.

    It is the place to see the most famous snooker referees, and enjoy the world’s best go head-to-head. Eurosport’s snooker coverage is second to none.

    Throughout this article, we will look at the cost of following snooker on Eurosport, the commentators involved and how fans can live stream snooker.

    Eurosport Snooker Commentators

    Eurosport swung hard when building their commentary team. The beloved Jimmy White and the sport’s GOAT, Ronnie O’Sullivan, are both part of the Eurosport snooker commentary rotation, and O’Sullivan even had his own show with Eurosport.

    Joe Johnson and Neal Foulds are two of the other snooker commentators on Eurosport. Johnson is a former world champion, and a well-respected voice of the game with a plethora of experience.

    Foulds is perhaps lesser known, but long-time snooker fans will be familiar with him, having worked for ITV and BBC.

    White still plays occasionally. He’s most commonly in the studio these days, however. O’Sullivan, of course, is active on the tour, and only pops in for media work when appropriate.

    The Rocket is the all-time leader in century breaks (and by an absolute mile), and there’s a good chance he finishes his career with more world titles than anyone else.

    Eurosport Snooker Live Streaming

    Eurosport snooker live streaming is available on the Eurosport Player. An annual pass for the Eurosport Player in the UK costs just shy of £40.

    Paying monthly on an annual pass will come in at £4.99 per month, while those not keen to commit long-term can spend £6.99 on a monthly pass.

    The Eurosport Player is their answer to Sky Go, a platform for fans to watch their programmes on the move on a phone or laptop or to get a stream on their computer.

    Being able to use the Eurosport Player can be particularly beneficial for those committed fans hoping to double-screen through a major tournament.

    Live streaming has become a staple of sports coverage in the 21st century. Eurosport are no different, and the Eurosport Player is a great option.

    https://www.888sport.com/blog/football-prediction

    They have a raft of on-demand videos and the ability to replay complete matches, or dive into content for all sorts of different sports.

    Eurosport Snooker Schedule

    Crucially, the Eurosport snooker schedule includes rights to the World Championships. This is an honour shared with the BBC, though many snooker fans will opt for the coverage on Eurosport.

    The Eurosport website will usually make it clear what’s coming up on the Eurosport snooker schedule. Failing that, Wheresthematch.com is a great platform for snooker fans to find out what snooker is being shown on Eurosport.

    This website has a comprehensive list of television and streaming options for an array of sports, making it incredibly useful whichever sport you are looking for.

    Eurosport screened the 2020 UK Championships as recently as December 2020. They also showed the 2020 Masters on their live television channels and the Eurosport player, according to Metro.

    Snooker fans can have no complaints about the Eurosport schedule. Some events are shared with the BBC, but Eurosport have made a phenomenal effort to cover the biggest tournaments in the snooker calendar.

    Snooker Live TV Eurosport

    Eurosport is the place to be for live snooker. Even with a long list of sports channels available, finding live sport isn’t always straight forward. Eurosport prioritises snooker and will always make the biggest matches available on TV.

    Highlights will be screened often, too, and other snooker shows can be found on the various Eurosport channels.

    The World Championships are the highlight of live snooker. Eurosport’s offerings go far beyond that, though. Fans can tune in at pretty much any team of the year and find snooker action.

    If it’s the Eurosport Player and you’re tuning in as you commute or settling down for an afternoon on the sofa, Eurosport makes it easy and enjoyable to watch the latest live snooker.

    Eurosport Snooker Rival Channels

    Unlike more popular sports, snooker still has strong representation on terrestrial TV. This means the subscription model of Eurosport is competing with BBC and ITV.

    BBC will be the go-to for many casual snooker fans. Tuning in for the World Championships with the recognisable voice of John Virgo and various former world champions in the studio, fans know what they are getting with the BBC.

    Of course, some will not be willing to stump up the cash for Eurosport.

    ITV has picked up some more snooker events in recent years. These will often be found in the depths of ITV4, with the company still in the shadow of BBC and Eurosport.

    Eurosport Snooker FAQs

    Where can I watch snooker live online?

    The Eurosport Player and BBC website offer live snooker coverage online. This extends to highlights packages and full-game replays.

    How can I watch Eurosport snooker on my TV?

    Eurosport snooker is available through a subscription package. Using the Eurosport player on a phone, tablet or laptop and plugging into the TV through an HDMI can also work.

    Is Eurosport free?

    Snooker fans have to pay for Eurosport. However, the Eurosport channels are available for free to anyone already paying for a BT or Sky package.

    How much does the Eurosport app cost?

    The Eurosport Player, which allows snooker fans to live stream, costs £39.99 for a year. This can be paid at £4.99 per month for a year-long deal or a monthly pass is available for £6.99.

    This includes the ability to watch sport on multiple devices, HD quality and plenty of on-demand videos.

    Can I watch snooker on Eurosport Player?

    Snooker is available to watch on Eurosport Player. Live action, replays, highlights and more are available on the Eurosport Player. 

    *Credit for the main photo belongs to Aijaz Rahi / AP Photo*

    April 26, 2021
    Snooker
    Body

    Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

    He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

    Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

    Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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    NPFL – Nigeria Professional Football League

    • The Nigeria Professional Football League was founded in 1972
    • 20 teams compete in the top flight of Nigerian football
    • Enyimba are the most successful team in the league’s history with eight NPFL titles

    The Nigerian Professional Football League isn’t exactly a big name in football betting. It is, however, a league rich with history, with loyal fans and which has been home to some players who have proven themselves around the world.

    https://www.888sport.com/blog/football-prediction

    It’s also a less straight forward football prediction than many of its peers across the planet. League titles have been relatively spread out in recent seasons, a far cry from the supremacy of PSG, Bayern or Juventus.

    NPFL:

    Not many will be looking at the NPFL for their bet of the day, but this is a league with pedigree, and which as recently as 2012, was ranked higher than the Scottish Premiership.

    From history to format and stadia, here’s a run through the Nigerian Professional Football League.

    When was the NPFL formed?

    The Nigerian Professional Football League was formed in 1972. Almost celebrating its 50th birthday, the league has been through various different names over its existence.

    Known as the Nigerian Football League initially, this name ran for only a few years before a change in 1979. A tweak was made to become the Nigerian Football League – First Division, a name which stuck around for just over a decade.

    It became the Nigerian Professional League between 1990 and 1993 before seven years as the Nigerian Premier League. From 2000 to 2003, it was the Nigerian Premiership, and then reverted to Nigerian Premier League until 2012/13.

    At the top of the Nigerian football pyramid, the rebrands haven’t necessarily coincided with the structure of the competition. Although now called the Nigeria Professional Football League, its format is much the same as years’ past.

    NPFL Format

    A standard 20-team league, the Nigeria Professional Football League is the platform for the best teams in the country to compete. Four teams are relegated from the NPFL every year, which drop into the Nigeria National League below.

    The Nigeria National League is split into separate groups. Of these groups, four teams are promoted to the NPFL every year.

    When it comes to continental qualification, this can vary from year to year depending on the league’s strength at a given time. This is obviously what fans are familiar with in Europe.

    As of 2020/21, the top two teams in the Nigerian Professional Football League at the time of abandonment earned a place in the preliminary round of the 2020/21 CAF Champions League.

    The winners of the Nigeria Federation Cup and the third-placed team in the league (by points per game) went into the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

    In the 2019/20 edition of the competitions, no Nigerian team made the group stage of the Champions League, and only one team reached the knockout phase of the Confederation Cup.

    Nigerian clubs have made the Champions League final on seven occasions, though Enyimba’s two triumphs in the early-2000s are the only times a team from the Nigeria Professional Football League has held the trophy aloft.

    Heartland are the most recent Champions League finalists, losing to TP Mazembe in 2009.

    NPFL Teams

    Enyimba and Kano Pillars are two of the biggest teams in Nigeria. Their rivalry is the headline fixture in the Nigeria Professional Football League, and they are the only two teams to not finish outside the top eight in 12 seasons.

    Teams are scattered around the country for the 2020/21 campaign. Uyo is represented by two clubs – Dakkada and Akwa United – while struggling MFM are the only team from Lagos.

    Unsurprisingly, the majority of teams are bunched towards the coast. Adamawa United are isolated out on the east of the country, a long way from any of their opponents.

    Most Successful NPFL Team

    With eight titles, all of which have come since the turn of the century, Enyimba are the most successful NPFL team. In the league’s history, though, five other teams have won three or more championships.

    Rangers International are second with seven titles. Their success, much like Liverpool, was concentrated in the 1970s and 1980s, with only one title coming since 1984.

    Enyimba have been the dominant force in the 21st century, with Shooting Stars and Heartland winning their combined 10 titles before 1998.

    Kano Pillars are the only team who can get close to Enyimba in recent years. All four of their triumphs have come since 2008, including only the third threepeat in NPFL history from 2012 to 2014.

    Biggest Stadiums In NPFL

    Katsina United FC have the honour of having the biggest stadium in the Nigeria Professional Football League. The Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina has a capacity of 35,000.

    There are other larger stadia in the country, including Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, which can house over 60,000 fans, but this isn’t used for club matches. New Jos Stadium has a capacity of 44,000, and will become the home of Plateau United.

    Other sizeable arenas in the top flight of Nigerian football include Aper Aku Stadium, which is the home venue of Lobi Stars. Aper Aku Stadium currently has a capacity of 15,000 and was renovated back in 2007 to host the cup final.

    Famous NPFL Players

    Though not laden with names that would have been in the proposed European Super League, some recognisable players have been through the Nigeria Professional Football League.

    Former Leicester forward Ahmed Musa top scored back in 2010 and re-signed with Kano Pillars in April 2021.

    Although collecting just three caps so far, Mfon Udoh has twice claimed the NPFL golden boot.

    Arsenal legend Nwankwo Kanu started his career with Heartland, scoring 15 goals in 25 appearances before starring in Europe with Ajax in the mid 1990s.

    Mudashiru "Muda" Lawal, tied with Kanu for fifth-most Nigeria caps of all-time, played his entire career in Nigeria.

    NPFL Table

    With five different champions since 2010, the NPFL can make for interesting viewing.

    The four relegation spots means more turnover of teams than many European leagues, and since 2003, only one team has successful defended their league title.

    The Nigeria Professional Football League table can be found here. 

    *Credit for the main photo belongs to Eugenio Savio / AP Photo*

     

    FIRST PUBLISHED: 26th April 2021

    April 26, 2021
    Football
    Body

    Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

    He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

    Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

    Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

    Sam Cox
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