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Author: Harry Howes

Scottie Scheffler dominates The Masters to claim second green jacket

Posted on by Harry Howes

Following four days of thrilling golf at Augusta, we have a new Masters champion. Scottie Scheffler was the clear favourite going into the tournament and he didn’t disappoint, winning by four strokes to reclaim his title from last year’s winner Jon Rahm.

Rookie Ludvig Aberg almost pulled off a shock as he secured second place, while Tommy Fleetwood was the UK’s finest performer. Rory McIlroy struggled to get going, while five-time winner Tiger Woods finished bottom of the pile.

Scheffler claims second green jacket

Having started the tournament as the clear runaway favourite, it was no surprise to see Scheffler being presented with the green jacket on the 18th hole at Augusta. The 27-year-old was clearly emotional and it was touch and go whether he would finish the competition with his wife due to give birth.

The world number one dazzled on the final day to finish 11 under, four strokes clear of second-placed Aberg. Scheffler won the competition for the second time in three years, having finished three clear of McIlroy back in 2022.

Scheffler led by just one stroke going into the final day and continued where he left off on Sunday as he eventually broke into a four-stroke lead. But it wasn’t all plain sailing as a disappointing bogey on the seventh saw Aberg and Collin Morikawa draw level.

But three consecutive birdies saw Scheffler edge ahead and after that there was no stopping the 27-year-old. Having already won the Arnold Palmer and Players Championship this year, he’s in the form of his life.

This year’s Masters was just the second major title of Scheffler’s career but the world number one will be targeting further success, starting with the PGA Championship next month, which he tied for second in last year.

TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 15: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland putts on the 7th green during the second round on day two of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 15, 2016 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Jan Kruger/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

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Aberg shines on major debut

Scheffler’s imperious performance in the final round made his victory an inevitability – but there was almost a shock winner. On his debut in a major tournament, Aberg finished seven under and was just four strokes behind the eventual champion.

The Swede was looking to become the first Masters debutant to win since 1979 and he’d have been the second successive underdog story following Brian Harman’s shock US Open glory last year,

Aberg is just 24 years old but he has excellent pedigree and was picked by Luke Donald for Team Europe in the Ryder Cup back in the autumn. He showed his class at Augusta and was putting pressure on Scheffler throughout but a double bogey on the 11th saw him drop back.

He finished just ahead of a third-placed trio that included Max Homa and surprise 2021 Masters winner Morikawa. The pair finished alongside Tommy Fleetwood, who made a late charge for the green jacket in his best ever Masters finish.

He’s yet to win a major title but has come second in the US Open and Open Championship previously. He’s now finished in the top 10 in three consecutive majors and will fancy his chances at finishing top of the pile before the season comes to a close.

McIlroy’s Grand Slam woes continue

Ahead of the Masters, McIlroy maintained hope of finally completing a career Grand Slam. The prestigious tournament is the fourth and final major he needs for his collection but he ultimately finished 22nd in this year’s edition, four shots over.

McIlroy has won all three of the other majors, although he’s not tasted victory in one since his PGA Championship and Open Championship double 10 years ago. The world number two never really got going at Augusta and ultimately finished 15 strokes behind Scheffler.

His 71 on the opening day was his lowest at the Masters since 2018 but he followed it up by failing to get a single birdie in the second round. McIlroy went into the final day with slim championship hopes as he needed to make up a 10-stroke deficit but Scheffler’s form made it an impossible task.

Following a disappointing showing, McIlroy is well aware of where he needs to improve as he looks ahead to the rest of the season. But while there are plenty more tournaments waiting to be won during the rest of 2024, he’ll already be dreaming of claiming the elusive green jacket in a year’s time.

Watch golf in style with Engage

If the Masters tickled your fancy, we’ve got plenty of opportunities to watch golf from the best seats in the house this year. Take advantage of our exclusive hospitality packages at the Open Championship, the Scottish Open and the PGA Championship.

And if you want to show off your skills, why not join us for one of our ICON Golf Days? Enquire today to book your place.

Looking ahead to a summer of cricket

Posted on by Harry Howes

Cricket and summer go hand-in-hand in England and a manic period of top-class action is on the horizon. We’re very much in the calm before the storm, with an explosion of both domestic and international cricket around the corner.

With England scheduled to play in all formats, as well as the return of The Hundred and the T20 Blast, here’s everything you need to know.

A busy summer awaits for England

After a thrilling summer of cricket last year that saw England narrowly miss out on reclaiming the Ashes, we’re set for another exciting few months. England will be busy in all formats both on home soil and further afield.

First up, they take on Pakistan in a T20 series in May that will serve as a warm-up for the World Cup the following month. Four matches at Headingley, Edgbaston, Sophia Gardens and The Oval await, which should give Matthew Mott and Jos Buttler a good idea of how the squad is shaping up.

Pakistan will provide a strong test in anticipation of the tournament, where England will be hoping to retain their crown. The two sides met in the final last time out, with England coming out on top in Australia.

Following the World Cup, which takes place in the West Indies and United States, it’s the return of Bazball. Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes and co. will bring their exciting style back to wow cricket fans in two home Test series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.

They’ll be looking to win the Richards-Botham Trophy for the first time, which is awarded to the winner of their Test clashes against the West Indies. It replaced the Wisden Trophy, which was the prize up until 2020.

The pair last met in this format across 2021 and 2022, with West Indies coming out on top. They claimed the series after winning the third and final Test, with the first two matches drawn. This time, it’s England’s turn to host, with the three matches in July taking place at Lord’s, Trent Bridge and Edgbaston.

Following that, England will then take on Sri Lanka in another three Test matches. First up they’ll play at Old Trafford in August, before heading to the capital in September for matches at Lord’s and The Oval.

Sri Lanka last played a Test in England in 2016, which the hosts comfortably won. England also won the following two Tests between the two, which took place in Sri Lanka.

The fun doesn’t stop there as England will end the season with a white-ball series against old foes Australia. The two will meet in the World Cup group stage and they’re set for a rematch, with a quickfire triple T20 series across five days at the Ageas Bowl, Sophia Gardens and Old Trafford.

They’ll then meet in five ODI matches, where Australia will be heavy favourites having claimed the World Cup at the backend of last year. They start at Trent Bridge before heading north to Headingley and Riverside. The series then goes to Lord’s before finishing at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol.

England's Test Cricket team play at Emirates Old Trafford

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Can England retain the T20 World Cup?

The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup heads to the West Indies and United States in June and England are looking to claim a record third title. They’re the reigning champions, having beaten Pakistan in the final two years ago thanks to a 52 not out from Stokes.

They’ll be hoping to improve their white-ball performances following a disappointing ODI World Cup display last year. England finished seventh with a poor showing in India, winning just three of their nine games.

The tournament has expanded from 16 teams to 20 and England have been drawn in Group B. They come up against fierce rivals Scotland in their opening match on 4th June before they face their biggest group test against the Aussies in their second game.

England will also come up against Namibia and Oman. The top two from each group progress to a Super 8s group, where again the top two will progress to the semi-finals. There’s a lot of cricket to play before the final in Barbados on 29th June – will England make it there? Fingers crossed!

It’s party time with the Hundred and T20 Blast!

If you’re a fan of cricket with a party atmosphere, we’ve got good news – it’s not long until The Hundred and the T20 Blast get back underway. The Hundred is heading into its fourth edition and the new 100-ball format has proved to be a smash hit with cricket fans.

Last year saw Southern Brave finally win the women’s title, having lost the previous two finals to Oval Invincibles. Meanwhile, Oval Invincibles claimed their first men’s title, conedming Manchester Originals to their second consecutive final defeat.

Join us for all the double header action at Lord’s and The Oval, including the final on Sunday 18th August.

The T20 Blast is also nearing a return and we’ve got exclusive hospitality packages available for all of Middlesex’s games at Lord’s. Plus, you can join us in the best seats in the house for Finals Day at Edgbaston on 14th September.

Everything you need to know about the Grand National 2024

Posted on by Harry Howes

The world will be watching Aintree on Saturday afternoon as some of horse racing’s biggest stars go head-to-head in the Grand National. While all eyes will understandably be on the iconic showpiece race, the three-day festival gets underway on Thursday.

Racing fans both in Liverpool and watching on TV will be treated to 21 thrilling races, with hundreds of horses and jockeys looking to make a name for themselves. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the event.

The Grand National

Having first taken place in 1839, the Grand National has become one of the world’s most prestigious races over the last 185 years. Run over around 4 miles and 2 Β½ furlongs, horses will need to navigate 30 testing fences before reaching the winning post.

Countless famous horses and jockeys have been victorious in the race over the years, with Red Rum arguably the most well known of all. The Irish horse notably won back-to-back races in 1973 and 1974, before coming back to complete the hat-trick in 1977. Remarkably, Red Rum finished second in the two intervening years.

Following animal rights protests disrupting the race last year, there have been a number of changes implemented to ensure the safety of the horses. The field has been reduced from 40 to a maximum of 34, which minimises the risk of horses falling.

The race will now begin from a standing start instead of a rolling one, while the first fence has also been brought forward slightly. Both of these measures will reduce the speed of the horses during the start of the race. Similarly, fence 11 has been reduced in height, as has the drop on the landing side.

This year’s Grand National will get underway at 4pm, rather than the traditional 5:15pm start. Reigning champion Corach Rambler is looking to become the first horse to secure back-to-back nationals since Tiger Roll five years ago.

Derek Fox rode to victory a year ago, edging 2 Β½ lengths clear of runner-up Vanillier, who is back to try and go one better than last time out. The pair will face stiff competition from the Willie Mullins trained I Am Maximus, who won the Irish Grand National in 2023.

Grand National race schedule

Thursday 11th April – Opening Day

1:45pm – The Close Brothers Manifesto Novices’ Chase
2:20pm – The Boodles Anniversary 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle
2:55pm – The William Hill Bowl
3:30pm – The William Hill Aintree Hurdle
4:05pm – The Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase
4:40pm – The Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase
5:15pm – The Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat

Friday 12th April – Ladies’ Day

1:45pm – The Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices’ Chase
2:20pm – The William Hill Handicap Hurdle
2:55pm – The TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle
3:30pm – The My Pension Expert Melling Chase
4:05pm – The Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Chase
4:40pm – The Cavani Sartorial Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle
5:15pm – The Alder Hey Handicap Hurdle

Saturday 13th April – Grand National Day

1:20pm – The William Hill Handicap Hurdle
1:55pm – The Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle
2:30pm – The William Hill Handicap Chase
3:05pm – The JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle
4:00pm – The Randox Grand National Steeple Chase
5:00pm – The My Pension Expert Maghull Novices’ Chase
5:35pm – The Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race

Grand National hospitality

Giddy up and enjoy the racing from the best seats in the house with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages. We offer three different options. The Tiger Roll Suite is a marquee that offers views of the parade ring, a four-course lunch, complimentary drinks, premier course admission and plenty more.

Meanwhile, you can enjoy the same benefits plus restaurant entertainment and a private balcony in the Sunloch Restaurant. Finally, the Horse & Groom is Aintree’s very own pub that’s situated above the weighing room and overlooks the parade ring.

Enquire today to enjoy a three-course pub lunch, reserved grandstand seating, a complimentary bar and a Jockey Club tipster. All of our hospitality packages offer car parking, afternoon snacks and the best views the racecourse has to offer.

Grand National Horse

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Grand National dress code

If you’re wondering what to wear in our hospitality suites, look no further. Aintree racecourse operates a smart casual dress code, although they encourage visitors to dress to impress. No offensive fancy dress is permitted, nor are any sports team colours or kits.

How to get to Aintree Racecourse

If you’re planning on driving to the festival, Aintree racecourse is located on the A59, just a mile from the M57 and M58. Follow the A59 to Liverpool and the yellow signs will direct you to the car parks. Spaces for the car parks can be booked online.

For those travelling by train, frequent Merseyrail services from Liverpool Central station will get you to Aintree station in just over seven minutes. The station is located opposite the racecourse.

Can Rory McIlroy secure the Grand Slam at The Masters?

Posted on by Harry Howes

You know summer is just around the corner when the major golf championships come back. Luckily, we’re in for a treat because The Masters returns to Augusta next week for its 88th edition.

The world’s best golfers will flock to Georgia for four days of top-class sporting action, with one superstar set to receive the iconic green jacket. The Masters kicks off at Augusta National Golf Club next Thursday, with the final day taking place on Sunday 14th April.

The tournament features the smallest field of all four majors as it’s an invitational event, with strict conditions around who can compete across the four rounds of 18 holes. It kicks off a succession of major competitions each month, with the PGA Championship coming up in May before the US Open in June and the Open Championship in July.

Jon Rahm is looking to defend his title having come out on top last year, although he’ll face stiff competition from the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. If you fancy seeing the best golfers on the planet up close, there’s still time to take advantage of Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages.

You can join us in The Foundry at Rae’s Creek or in Augusta Country Club, with both facilities located just minutes from the action. Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a premium bar and TV screens so you don’t miss a second of the action.

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Masters Hospitality

Who are the favourites?

The runaway favourite ahead of the tournament is world number one Scheffler, who’s enjoyed a strong start to 2024. The American has already won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship and became the first ever player to win the latter in consecutive years.

Scheffler won The Masters back in 2022 – it remains his only major win and he’ll be hoping to continue his form and add another one to his collection. Standing in his way will be McIlroy, who is yet to claim the green jacket at Augusta.

McIlroy came second to Scheffler in the 2022 competition and The Masters remains the only major that he’s yet to win. Although he’s claimed the other three, he’s not won one since landing the PGA Championship and the Open double back in 2014. Can he end his drought in Georgia next week?

Meanwhile, reigning champion Rahm will fancy his chances at defending his crown. The Spaniard is ranked third in the world and finished four strokes ahead of runners-up Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson a year ago. It would be just his third major title having claimed the US Open three years ago.

Who are the dark horses?

Hideki Matsuyama is an outsider for this year’s Masters title but he’s got history, having come out on top back in 2021 despite being ranked 25th in the world. He became the first ever Japanese golfer to win a major championship as he finished one stroke clear of Will Zalatoris.

Elsewhere, the likes of Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele will be hoping to upset the odds and win The Masters for the first time. Both golfers finished just one stroke behind Tiger Woods as he shocked the world by claiming a fifth title back in 2019.

The biggest sports events in the Middle East in 2024

Posted on by Harry Howes

Football, Formula One, Boxing and countless other sports are growing in popularity throughout the Middle East and with plenty of exciting events to look forward to this year, we’ve taken a look at the biggest events coming up.

Formula One

The new F1 season is alive and kicking, with Max Verstappen picking up where he left off last time out. The three-time winner has stormed to victory in two of the three opening races, including in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

There are plenty more races to go and racing fans in the Middle East will get to see the decisive moments at the tail end of the season. The current campaign will come to a close in December, with the Qatar Grand Prix on 1st December, followed by the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 8th December.

Verstappen won both races last year on his way to winning the final seven events of the season. He’ll be looking to repeat the feat this time around and claim his fourth consecutive F1 championship.

Boxing

Combat sports have taken the Middle East by storm in recent years, including plenty of thrilling boxing fights that have taken place in Saudi Arabia. Next up is Tyson Fury’s highly-anticipated bout with unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

The pair are set to come face-to-face in Riyadh on Saturday 18th May, with Fury looking to inflict Usyk’s first ever professional defeat. The Ukrainian has won all 17 of his fights, including twice against Anthony Joshua. One of those fights took place in Saudi Arabia, which was also the setting for Fury’s victory against UFC star Francis Ngannou last October.

The undercard of Fury vs Usyk is packed full of boxing stars, including Jai Opetaia. The Australian is set to face Mairis Briedis to defend the cruiserweight belts he won from him two years ago. Elsewhere, Joe Cordina will face Anthony Cacace in a featherweight world title clash.

Golf

Much like with Formula One, the golf season’s climax takes place in the Middle East with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. As the β€˜Race to Dubai’ comes to a close, the world’s top players will compete to be crowned the DP Tour champion from 14th to 19th November.

Danish golfer Nicolai HΓΈjgaard came out on top last year, beating runners up Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland and Matt Wallace. Previous winners include Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, though the latter hasn’t tasted victory in Dubai since 2015.

The competition comes a week after the penultimate event of the tour, which sees the Abu Dhabi Championship get underway from 7th to 10th November.

Tennis

The NextGen ATP Finals returns to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in December and will pit the tennis stars of the future against one another. The competition is open to the best players aged 20 or under and will take place from 18th to 22nd December.

Carlos Alcaraz won the NextGen finals back in 2021 and it took him less than a year to win the US Open. The Spaniard went on to claim his second Grand Slam last summer, beating Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final. Similarly, Jannik Sinner won the NextGen final back in 2019 and earned his maiden Grand Slam at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Football

The Asian Cup took place in Qatar earlier this year and the hosts made home advantage count as they went all the way, winning the competition for the second time in a row. They beat Jordan 3-1 in the final, with Golden Boot winner Akram Afiff scoring a hat-trick of penalties to secure the trophy.

The Saudi Pro League has gone from strength to strength since splashing the cash to bring in some of the world’s biggest football stars. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez and Sadio Mane have all swapped Europe for the Middle East.

Al-Hilal, whose squad includes Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ruben Neves, are currently 12 points clear of Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr at the top of the league. The pair will meet in the semi-final of the Saudi Super Cup next week.

The biggest summer events to look forward in 2024

Posted on by Harry Howes

The evenings are getting lighter, the rain is slightly less frequent and it’s almost time to put the big coat back in the loft. It can only mean one thing – summer is just around the corner.

As well as holidays, ice creams, beer gardens and all the other joys summer brings, we’ve also got plenty of exciting events to look forward to in the coming months. From sport to music, we’ve got it covered, and you can enjoy it all from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages.

Wimbledon

Perhaps the most iconic British sporting event, summer wouldn’t be complete without Wimbledon. Strawberries and cream, Pimm’s, Henman Hill and the best tennis players in the world.

We’ve got a wide range of hospitality options to choose from and you can join us for the final, where you may well witness Novak Djokovic cement his place as the most successful player of all time.

The Serbian has won 24 Grand Slams and can edge past Margaret Court by winning in SW19. He’ll be looking to make amends having lost in the final last year to rising star Carlos Alcaraz.

Cricket

Last summer we were treated to one of the most thrilling Ashes series in history and, thankfully, there’s loads more cricket action to look forward to this year.

England face both the West Indies and Sri Lanka in home Test series, with Ben Stokes and co. looking to bounce back from a disappointing trip to India earlier this year. They’ll also be taking on Pakistan and Australia in white ball series either side of the T20 World Cup in June.

Domestically, The Hundred continues, with the final taking place at Lord’s in August. Meanwhile, the T20 Blast gets back underway in June if you fancy some high-energy action with a party atmosphere.

British Grand Prix

The midpoint of the Formula One season sees the British Grand Prix once again take place at Silverstone, its permanent home since 1987.

Max Verstappen raced to victory for the first time last year on the way to a record-breaking third successive championship win. Join us trackside this year as Lewis Hamilton looks to win the grand prix on home soil for a record ninth time in what will be his final season with Mercedes.

ICON hospitality at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix 2023

Golf

This summer sees the Open Championship return to Royal Troon in Scotland for the first time since 2016. Brian Harman stunned the golfing world by winning the competition last year. This time around, Rory McIlroy will be looking to win it, 10 years after his one and only title.

The Scottish Open and the BMW PGA Championship will also take place later this year – enquire today to make the most of our hospitality options.

And if you fancy showing off your skills, why not join us for our ICON golf days at The Grove? Enjoy food and drink on every hole, expert tips from professionals and a whole lot more.

Royal Ascot

After the thrills of Cheltenham earlier this month, the horse racing fun keeps on coming and summer events don’t get much better than Royal Ascot.

As punters dress to impress and place their bets, it’s a chance to see members of the royal family, as well as racing royalty as the world’s best horses and jockeys go head-to-head.

Make the most of our Royal Ascot packages and enjoy eight Group 1 races, including the iconic Gold Cup, which was won by Frankie Dettori in his final appearance at the festival last year.

ICON Ascot Jockey

Henley Royal Regatta

The Henley Royal Regatta has been a staple of British summer for 185 years, with more than 300,000 excited rowing fans expected in Oxfordshire for this summer’s edition.

Rowers from all over the world will flock to Henley for six days of competitive action, with over 300 races set to take place. The racing action is enough to keep you entertained but to top it off, you can take in the event in our exclusive hospitality areas, with food, drink and plenty of entertainment on offer.

Concerts and festivals

Festival season is almost upon us but if you don’t feel like pitching a tent and getting your wellies out of the shed, you can still sing your heart out as the world’s biggest artists head off on tour.

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour continues this year and you can dance along in style in London, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Cardiff. Meanwhile, you can also catch Bruce Spingsteen, Take That, Green Day, Coldplay and Liam Gallagher. Plus, Adele is set to spend most of August wowing her European fans at her residency in Munich.

If you missed out on Glastonbury tickets, don’t worry – there are still top festivals in London to look forward to. Head to BST in Hyde Park to see the likes of SZA, Kings of Leon, Stevie Nicks, Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue. Elsewhere, Hampton Court Palace Festival and Kew the Music are also back for another year.

Music Event Diary

Everything you need to know about Salon PrivΓ©

Posted on by Harry Howes

Classic car fans, assemble – everybody’s favourite luxury car show is returning to London next month. The Salon PrivΓ© is heading to the Royal Hospital Chelsea for three days in April, giving car lovers the chance to take a closer look at some of the finest classic cars around.

The spectacular lawns will be transformed into a stunning presentation of luxury automobiles. From Aston Martins from the β€˜60s to new and exclusive cars debuting at the show, attendees will have the chance to treat themselves to anything that catches their eye.

As well as the wonderful range of cars to enjoy, visitors to the Salon PrivΓ© can also take advantage of our exclusive hospitality packages, which offer a three-course lunch on days one and two, as well as a family-friendly buffet on day three.

As well as a complimentary bar to keep you refreshed in between exploring the thrills that the event has to offer, you can also enjoy a relaxed, comfortable environment, with attractions and performers guaranteed to keep you entertained.

The Salon PrivΓ© at Royal Hospital Chelsea is set to be an incredible event and if you enjoy it and fancy some more, we’ll be doing it all over again for the grand finale at Blenheim in August.

Day 1 – Thursday 18th April

The opening day of the Salon PrivΓ© will be a celebration of Porsches as we toast the 50-year anniversary of the 911 Turbo. For one day only, guests can peruse a vast collection of Turbos through the ages lined up along the lawn.

Thursday also represents the first day of the Concours de Vente. Learn the histories of all the classic cars on offer and, as they’re all for sale, there’s the opportunity to purchase the items as well.

Day 2 – Friday 19th April

While day one is dedicated to Porches, the second day is all about McLaren. Join us for Ladies’ Day and discover the biggest variety of McLaren models ever seen in London.

Meanwhile, the Concours de Vente continues for those in the market for a new car, or simply those interested in taking a look. There will be 75 classic cars for sale, including Bentleys, Ferraris and Aston Martins.

Day 3 – Saturday 20th April

The last day of the event, but certainly not the least, is Supercar Saturday. Enjoy a luxury display of supercars on the lawn in a collaboration with SCC Private Members Club.

The final day will also see awards presented to the models in the Concours de Vente, with attendees able to vote for their favourite in the β€˜People’s Choice’ award. It’s also the last chance to see the best new cars and motorcycles debuting at the Salon PrivΓ©.

Salon PrivΓ© dress code

While the Salon PrivΓ© is a high-end event, they prefer to keep things relaxed and encourage a sophisticated dress code without being too formal. Gentlemen are advised to wear a comfortable suit or blazer with chinos, along with a pair of brogues.

Ladies are encouraged to don chic attire like a summer dress, trousers or a jumpsuit. They’re also advised to wear shoes that they can comfortably wear to walk on gravel paths and lawns. For this reason, wearing stiletto heels is not recommended.

ICON Legends – Rachael Blackmore – The Queen of Horse Racing

Posted on by Harry Howes

As the sun sets on another thrilling week at Cheltenham, it would be remiss of us not to honour one of the festival’s greatest jockeys as we continue our ICON Legends series.

Rachael Blackmore has made history throughout her career, often breaking records by becoming the first female to win countless races and accolades. The Irish jockey grew up on a dairy farm riding ponies and had her first amateur win at the age of 21.

Since turning professional in 2015, Blackmore has gone from strength to strength, riding her first winner just six months into her career. And after adding to her long list of Cheltenham winners last week, we’ve taken a look back at some of her greatest achievements.

Cheltenham Festival glory

The Cheltenham Festival wouldn’t be the same without Blackmore celebrating in the winner’s enclosure and she was back there again last week. The 34-year-old has ridden 16 winners there since 2019, smashing records on the way.

She’s made a habit of setting standards for female jockeys and in 2021 she became the first woman to be the leading rider at the festival, winning six races including the Champion Hurdle.

And the following year she picked up where she left off. Aboard A Plus Tard, Blackmore became the first female Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in 2022, dominating with a phenomenal finish to win by 15 lengths.

It wasn’t the first time that Blackmore and A Plus Tard celebrated together at Cheltenham. Her maiden festival victory came in 2019 aboard the gelding in the Chase Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Last week saw another incredible Cheltenham Festival and once again, Blackmore wowed spectators as she rode to victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Her Queen Mother Champion Chase win aboard Captain Guinness came as something of a surprise. They set off at 17/2 but were able to take advantage when clear favourite El Fabiolo pulled up, opening up the field.

Grand National history maker

In a sport traditionally dominated by men, Blackmore has paved the way for women and she continued in this vein in 2021 as she became the first female jockey to win the Grand National, three years after her first appearance.

Blackmore made history aboard Minella Times, navigating the iconic Aintree course perfectly, having started the race as the 11/1 fourth favourite. Despite there being no fans present due to the pandemic, Blackmore remained focussed throughout to see off the challenge of runner-up Balko des Flos.

Minella Times was the first Grand National winner for trainer Henry de Bromhead, who also trained Balko des Flos, ridden by Aidan Coleman.

Honeysuckle heroics

Some of the best stories in sport are built on partnerships and for Blackmore, her career could have been so different without the incredible Honeysuckle. The dynamic duo won 17 of their 19 races together under the tutelage of de Bromhead.

It was with Honeysuckle that Blackmore completed another of her iconic β€˜firsts’, becoming the inaugural female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2021. Not content with winning it once, the pair repeated the feat the following year.

Between them, Blackmore and Honeysuckle have won both the Irish Champion Hurdle and the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle on three separate occasions, as well as the Punchestown Champion Hurdle twice.

Regarded as one of the greats, Honeysuckle’s career came to an end last year. It was fitting that Blackmore took the reins for a final time as the pair raced to victory in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham to secure their fourth win together at the festival.

For Blackmore, there have been no whispers of retirement and fingers crossed she’ll continue to make history and be a role model for aspiring jockeys for many more years to come.

Six Nations Week 5: Ireland retain title on a dramatic Super Saturday

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Six Nations came to an end over the weekend and rugby fans were not disappointed. We were treated to a thrilling Super Saturday that ultimately saw Ireland crowned champions for the second year in a row.

England had faint hopes of winning the title at the start of the day but their dreams were dashed before they’d kicked off and they were ultimately stunned by France in dramatic circumstances. Meanwhile, Wales’s woes continued as they picked up the infamous wooden spoon.

Six Nations Table

 TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPDBonusPoints
1Ireland540184420
2France53116115
3England5302-5214
4Scotland52030412
5Italy5212-34111
6Wales5005-5144
Six Nations 2025 Hospitality

Ireland beat Scotland to secure Six Nations

Despite having their Grand Slam dreams ended by England the week before, Ireland entered Super Saturday in the driving seat. They went into their clash against Scotland knowing that one point would clinch them a second successive Six Nations title.

Fittingly, they secured the championship just in time to party the night into St Patrick’s Day. But the Scots didn’t make things easy in a cagey affair that finished 17-13.

Ireland went into the break just 7-6 up and braced themselves for a battle to reclaim their crown. And luckily for their expectant home crowd, they rallied in the second half and managed to break down a stubborn Scotland defence.

Tries from Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter got them over the line and while the Grand Slam wasn’t to be, they clearly didn’t dwell on it as they secured a fifth Six Nations title since 2014.

Scotland went into the game dreaming of a first Triple Crown since 1990 but the visitors weren’t able to add to Huw Jones’ solitary try, despite a formidable performance.

France’s late late show sinks England

England broke Irish hearts with a last-gasp kick in week four but the roles were reversed in Lyon at the weekend. England were a point ahead late on but Thomas Ramos’ ambitious halfway line penalty secured a 33-31 win for the hosts.

The dramatic win saw France leapfrog England and finish in second place in the table. England had fought back from 16-3 down, with two Ollie Lawrence tries putting them in the ascendancy. Both sides added further tries but it was Ramos who ultimately stole the show.

After Ireland had secured the title earlier in the day, it was a battle for second place and France had the edge in their first home victory since the World Cup. Despite finishing third, England showed good resilience throughout the tournament having trailed at half-time in every match.

They’ll be looking to build on their performances, with Steve Borthwick now with a clearer picture of how he wants to shape his squad ahead of the Autumn Nations series later this year. For France, they’ll be delighted to finish as runners-up having started this year’s competition slowly with defeat to Ireland before they were held to a surprise draw by Italy in week three.

France edge past Wales in tight affair

After being held to a draw by Italy, France put that disappointing result behind them with a comfortable win against Wales. They led by just three points at the break but kicked on to win 45-24 thanks to a masterclass from Nolann Le Garrec.

Fans in Cardiff were treated to eight tries but the home faithful will be mightily concerned looking at the table. Wales are bottom with four defeats from four and they’re in danger of their first whitewash since 2003.

It was Wales’ 11th defeat in their last 12 Six Nations matches and another one against Italy in their crunch clash this weekend will consign them to this year’s wooden spoon.

For France, the victory saw them record their highest-ever points tally in Wales. They now find themselves fourth in the table but are just a point behind Saturday’s opponents England and they’re still mathematically able to win the Six Nations, although it remains unlikely.

Italy condemn Wales to wooden spoon

The opening game of Super Saturday saw Italy and Wales go toe-to-toe in a bid to avoid this year’s wooden spoon. Remarkably, it was Italy who came out on top, condemning Wales to the booby prize for the first time in 21 years.

Wales lost all five of their matches in this year’s Six Nations, including a full throttle affair in Cardiff at the weekend. They were 11-0 down at half-time but a respectable second period gave them hope as they ultimately lost 24-21.

George North’s Wales career ended in disappointment as he was carried off the pitch with injury in his final game before retirement. But he maintains that Warren Gatland remains the right man for Wales, with question marks surrounding the coach’s future.

Italy finished fifth in the table in what was their most successful Six Nations in history. They went unbeaten in three matches for the first ever time and it’s the first time since 2015 that they haven’t finished bottom of the pile.

Tennis: Novak Djokovic crashes out of Indian Wells

Posted on by Harry Howes

While it wasn’t the most damaging defeat of his career, Novak Djokovic will be slightly frustrated at his early exit from Indian Wells.

The Serbian lost to 20-year-old Luca Nardi in the third round to continue his barren run in 2024. He’s yet to win a tournament this year, which isn’t ideal preparation for the remaining Grand Slams.

The quarter-finals get underway on Thursday and Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner is the favourite to go all the way. He’s yet to drop a seat in the tournament and he comes up against Jiri Lehecka in the final eight.

Should he progress, the likes of Daniil Medvedev will be standing in his way, as will Carlos Alcaraz, who won the tournament a year ago. Andy Murray was also among the stars to take to the court at Indian Wells but the Brit was beaten by Andrey Rublev in round two.

On the women’s side of the draw, world number one Iga ŚwiΔ…tek is in good stead to claim her second title. She comes up against Caroline Wozniacki in the quarter-finals.

ŚwiΔ…tek could face stiff competition from Coco Gauff, who is strong on home soil having claimed her first Grand Slam at last year’s US Open. Both Indian Wells finals take place on Sunday.

Can Medvedev defend his Miami crown?

There won’t be much time for recovery from Indian Wells as all the big hitters will be flying east for the Miami Open. Djokovic will be in action and the six-time winner is looking to go all the way for the first time since 2016.

Having looked strong at Indian Wells so far, Medvedev will be confident of defending his crown having seen off Sinner in the final a year ago. Sinner, meanwhile, will be desperate to turn his fortunes around. The Italian has lost two of the last three finals in Miami.

Murray is also set to take part and will harbour dreams of adding a third title to his collection, having won in 2009 and 2013. However, Rafael Nadal is unlikely to make it following his decision to pull out of Indian Wells.

ŚwiΔ…tek’s only Miami title came two years ago and a strong finish at Indian Wells will put her in a strong position for the competition in Florida. Reigning champion Petra KvitovΓ‘ is out of action for the foreseeable future as she prepares to have her first child.

Gauff is looking to win the tournament for the first time, while Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka is also on the entry list as she looks to continue her strong start to 2024.

Grand Slams are just around the corner

While the tour tournaments are coming thick and fast, all eyes will be on the two Grand Slams on the horizon. The French Open gets underway in May and having missed out in Australia, Djokovic is looking to become the most successful player of all time.

Nadal has made Roland Garros his playground in recent years, winning the French Open an incredible 14 times. He’ll want to play more than anything this year but as he struggles for fitness, there are fears that he’ll call time on his career if he misses out. On the women’s side, ŚwiΔ…tek has won three of the last four French Open titles and she’ll be the favourite to go all the way this time.

Up next after the competition in Paris is the warm-up to Wimbledon at Queen’s Club, before one of the most iconic tournaments in world sport returns to SW19. Djokovic is targeting an eighth title having missed out to Alcaraz last year.

Elsewhere, MarkΓ©ta VondrouΕ‘ovΓ‘ shocked the world last summer as she became the first unseeded Wimbledon champion when she beat Ons Jabeur in the final.

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