I Am Maximus joins Grand National greats by regaining crown to emulate Red Rum

I Am Maximus made history when becoming the first horse to regain the Grand National since the Aintree legend Red Rum in the 1970s.The top-weight, who was backed into favouritism late in the day, was victorious in an incident-packed race, winning again after a memorable victory in 2024.In a race with plenty of early drama that saw last year’s third Grangeclare West part company with Patrick Mullins – who won last year aboard Nick Rockett – at the first, and Panic Attack fall at the third, I Am Maximus tracked the inside path he knows so well in the hands of Paul Townend.As the race began to develop, Ben Jones made a bold bid to supplement his King George win on The Jukebox Man aboard Joseph O’Brien’s Jordans after two out – but a JP McManus-owned challenge was looming and it was the heavily-backed 9-2 market leader who stormed home best from the elbow to win the race for a second time, having also finished second 12 months ago.It was a record fourth win in the race for McManus, who also saw his Iroko go two places better than last year for second – another first in the race for one owner to have the first two home

Lachlan Kennedy breaks 10-second barrier again to become Australian 100m champion

Fireworks boomed over Sydney Olympic Park just before 9pm on Saturday, interrupting the sudden quiet as the men’s 100m finalists waited on their blocks for the starting gun. Within 10 seconds, Lachlan Kennedy had produced his own pyrotechnics by running 9.96sec again to win his first national title by a comfortable 0.2sec.“I needed the win, I needed to be national champ

New York Times investigates reporter Dianna Russini’s Vrabel coverage amid photo uproar

The New York Times Company is reviewing coverage by NFL reporter Dianna Russini involving New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel after photos of the two together at an Arizona resort prompted internal concern, ESPN reported Friday citing people familiar with the matter.Russini, who works for The Times-owned The Athletic, has been sidelined while the review is ongoing, a source said.The images, published this week by the New York Post’s Page Six, show Russini and Vrabel together at a luxury hotel in Sedona, including by a pool, in a hot tub and on a rooftop deck. Some appear to show the pair embracing and holding hands.Both Russini and Vrabel, who are married to other people, have said the interaction was platonic and taken out of context

Gambling is easy, right? Wrong: it turns out betting on sport is designed to disturb you | Barney Ronay

Welcome to How I Beat The Bookies: My Gambling Journey. Yes, my extreme methods can work for you. But only in the usual way. Which is to appear very briefly to work and then not to work at all.First it is necessary to address the latest blow to English football’s otherwise watertight economy

Tyson Fury’s latest return unlikely to save heavyweight era reaching its end

Arslanbek Makhmudov shouldn’t be much of a test but Gypsy King and his battered old rivals are fading away“I’ll make this short and sweet,” Tyson Fury said in a brief video he posted online on 13 January 2025. “I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It’s been a blast and I’ve loved every single minute of it. I’m going to end with this: Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody

‘TikTok effect’ brings sellout crowds and younger fans to Grand National meeting

Ladies’ Day at Aintree draws sellout crowd for first time since 2012 as Jockey Club’s social media strategy pays offHorse-by-horse guide to this year’s Grand NationalThe Aintree morning was still young, and the temperatures frigid enough for a thick coat, when Hayley Bentley arrived at Ladies’ Day wearing only a bridal dress and veil. “I love racing and got my future husband into it,” she explained. “So what better excuse is there to get dressed up for Ladies’ Day and spend your hen party with 23 of your favourite people?”Everywhere you looked that sentiment was being echoed and magnified by 55,000 other racegoers, most dressed in their finest suits and silks, who were basking in the first Ladies’ Day sellout since 2012.Forget the limping economy and the violent headwinds from the war in the Middle East. Liverpool was determined to look its best and party like it was the roaring 20s