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Author: Harry Howes

Rugby World Cup 2023: Who will win the tournament in France?

Posted on by Harry Howes

If you’re worried about an incredible summer of sport coming to an end, don’t worry – the Rugby World Cup means that autumn promises to be just as good.

We’re less than two months away from the tournament kicking off in France and after reaching the final back in 2019, England will be desperate to go one step further this time around.

But with a new coach at the helm and plenty of strong competitors to be wary of, it won’t be an easy ride. Ahead of the World Cup commencing on 8th September, we’ve taken a look at England’s chances, as well as the likely contenders to reach the final on 28th October.

Can England win the Rugby World Cup?

The good news for England is that they’re on the kinder side of the draw and have a fairly easy looking pool that they should comfortably get out of. The bad news is they haven’t enjoyed the best few months under new coach Steve Borthwick.

The former lock replaced Eddie Jones back in December but could only guide the Red Rose to a fourth-place finish in the Six Nations, losing three of their matches. Borthwick is still finding his feet and with a mix of experience and exciting prospects in his squad, there’s hope that England can rediscover the form that guided them to the final last time out.

They’ll face Japan, Argentina, Samoa and Chile, with Wales or Jones’s Australia their likely quarter-final opponents should they win their pool. Yet while they’ll avoid all of the favourites until at least the semis, there’s a worry that the tournament will be deemed a failure if they fail to reach the final four.

Captain Owen Farrell was the second-highest points scorer back in 2019 and along with the likes of Manu Tuilagi, George Ford and Elliot Daly, England have a host of options in their backline. And they have a wealth of experience to call upon in the scrum in Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje and Joe Marler.

England are ranked sixth in the world and are undergoing a transitional period so the pressure on them is relatively low. But with the final in Japan still fresh in the memory, a few strong performances in their early games will have them dreaming of repeating their iconic 2003 World Cup triumph.

Who are the contenders?

France are the favourites and with the tournament taking place on home soil, it’s their best opportunity yet to win their first Rugby World Cup. Having lost three finals in their history, including in 2011, they’re looking to go one better this time around.

In Antoine Dupont they have one of world rugby’s best players in their ranks and he’ll be key to them continuing their impressive form. Their defeat to Ireland in this year’s Six Nations is their only loss in the last two years.

Elsewhere, Ireland are ranked number one in the world after sailing through the Six Nations by winning every match. Last summer they became the first touring side since 1994 to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand.

World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van der Flier will lead them from the front while Johnny Sexton will want to go out with a bang ahead of his retirement after the tournament. However, Ireland will be aware that they’ve never reached a World Cup semi-final.

Rugby World Cup France 2023

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New Zealand will always be a contender and they’ll be looking to claim their fourth Rugby World Cup, having won it in 1987, 2011 and 2015. The All Blacks are not as formidable as they once were but they’re still a threat and they’ve won two of the last three Rugby Championships.

Three-time champions South Africa are defending their crown after beating England in the final in Japan. But they’ve not been at the races since and may not quite have enough. Meanwhile, Australia are on the favourable side of the draw. They’ll avoid most of the big boys until the semis and could face England if they win their pool.

Any dark horses?

Argentina are ranked eighth in the world and if they can shock England in their first game, just as they did at Twickenham last November, they’ll build momentum and could spring a surprise.

Few are predicting Scotland to get out of a pool that contains Ireland and South Africa. However, if they land a shock result and progress to the knockouts they’ll feel they can beat anyone.

Wales always show up and got to the semi-finals four years ago, beating Australia to win their pool. Likewise, Japan also topped their pool ahead of Ireland and Scotland when they were hosts so they may be in with a shout at reaching the latter stages.

Rugby World Cup warm-up games

Ahead of the tournament, England will play four warm-up games in order to get in the best shape possible. You can watch them prepare from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages:

●    Wales v England – Saturday 5th August, 5:30pm

●    England v Wales – Saturday 12th August, 5:30pm

●    Ireland v England – Saturday 19th August, 5:30pm

●    England v Fiji – Saturday 26th August, 3:15pm

Rugby World Cup Warm-Ups

Carlos Alcaraz ends Novak Djokovic’s centre court dominance

Posted on by Harry Howes

Another thrilling two weeks at Wimbledon has come to an end and tennis has some new heroes to admire.

Carlos Alcaraz announced himself to English fans as he strolled to his first Wimbledon title, beating Novak Djokovic in an action-packed men’s final. Meanwhile, Marketa Vondrousova was the unlikeliest winner in the women’s final, defeating Ons Jabeur on Saturday.

Andy Murray continued his comeback from the injury but he couldn’t mastermind a fairytale title run as he crashed out to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round.

But there was some homegrown success as Henry Searle became the first Brit to win the boys’ singles since 1962. Neal Skupski claimed another win for the UK as he went all the way in the men’s doubles alongside Wesley Koolhof, while Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid claimed the wheelchair doubles title.

Wimbledon Court 4

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New kid on the block

As Djokovic strolled to a comfortable 6-1 win in the first set, it seemed as though the occasion was too much for Alcaraz in his first Wimbledon final. But once the 20-year-old got in the groove, there was no stopping him.

Having won at Queen’s last month, Alcaraz continued his glittering form on grass and claimed his second Grand Slam title in one of the greatest Wimbledon finals in history.

A tie-break win in the second set followed by a 6-1 trouncing put him in the driving seat, before a Djokovic comeback set up a thrilling final set. And a supportive crowd fired Alcaraz to victory as he made his mark on Wimbledon, setting the tone for what could be years of dominance in the sport.

The world number one dropped just two sets prior to the final and he brushed Daniil Medvedev aside in straight sets in the semis. It was just the fourth grass tournament of Alcaraz’s career and if his showing in the final was anything to go by, there will be plenty more Wimbledon titles to come.

Djokovic has still got it

Despite being 36 years old and in the twilight of his career, Djokovic arguably played the best tennis of his career over the past fortnight. Prior to his five-set showdown with Alcaraz, the Serbian dropped just two sets on his way to the final.

Sunday’s final was the first time Djokovic had tasted defeat on Wimbledon’s centre court since his 2013 loss against Murray. It puts an end to his bid to win all four Grand Slams this year, having already claimed the Australian and French Opens.

Djokovic’s loss to Alcaraz did feel like a symbolic handing over of the torch. However, with 23 Grand Slams under his belt and likely one or two more to come, he isn’t done yet and has made it clear he has no intentions of retiring any time soon.

Wimbledon Women's Semi Final 2022

Vondrousova makes history

It wasn’t just Alcaraz making headlines at Wimbledon this weekend. Vondrousova stunned the tennis world as she became the first unseeded player ever to win the women’s singles title.

The Czech was taking part in her second Grand Slam final and she comfortably beat last year’s runner-up Jabeur in straight sets to put an injury-hit year behind her.

Vondrousova had never previously reached the fourth round at Wimbledon but she swept all before her at SW19, including triumph over fourth-ranked Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals.

Jabeur was bidding to go one better after losing in last year’s final to Elena Rybakina, who she dispatched in this year’s quarter-final. But the nerves seemed to get the better of the Tunisian, who has now lost all three of her major finals.

World No.1 Iga Świątek disappointingly bowed out in the quarter-finals to Elina Svitolina. Meanwhile, British hopes Katie Boulter and Jodie Anna Burrage lost in the early rounds.

End of an era

While Djokovic is showing no signs of slowing down, Alcaraz’s brilliance signalled that a changing of the guard is underway in world tennis. This year’s Wimbledon Championships was the first since 1997 that did not feature either Roger Federer or Serena Williams.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal’s plan to retire next year coupled with Murray’s injury setbacks leaves Djokovic as the only remaining member of the ‘big four’ still at the top of their game.

A few years ago, tennis fans would have been forgiven for harbouring concerns that the sport wouldn’t quite be as good without the likes of Federer and Djokovic battling it out for titles.

However, over the past few weeks, Alcaraz has shown that the future is bright and tennis is in good hands for the next generation.

Sports Personality of the Year: Who are the contenders?

Posted on by Harry Howes

We may only be halfway through the year but as we enjoy a wonderful summer of sport, all the stars we’re enjoying watching will already have one eye on December. Don’t worry, they’re not thinking about their Christmas Dinner – but they may be starting to dream of winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Our biggest star of 2023 will be crowned at the end of the year, joining the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Kelly Holmes and Mo Farah in sporting folklore. There’s still plenty of sport to be played between now and then so things could change very quickly. As we look ahead to the award, we’ve broken down who the contenders could be.

England’s cricketers

While an Ashes win is looking unlikely following a disastrous opening two Test matches from England, stranger things have happened. And if their new-look ‘Bazball’ inspired team is going to turn their fortunes around against Australia, you can guarantee that captain and 2019 SPOTY winner Ben Stokes will be involved.

With the T20 World Cup to come later in the year, it could be an iconic year for English cricket – or one to forget. Despite Ashes disappointment so far, the likes of Joe Root and Stuart Broad look as fresh as ever, so there’s every chance that one of England’s cricketers could make themselves a hero and claim the SPOTY crown.

England v Australia Day 3

The Lionesses

The England women’s football team has gone from strength to strength in recent years and they’ll be looking to follow up their incredible European Championships triumph with a World Cup win this summer.

Should they bring football home once again, a number of their stellar squad will be in the Sports Personality of the Year conversation. Beth Mead won the gong last year after winning the golden boot at the Euros but injury has ruled her out of the World Cup squad.

In her place, new Arsenal signing Alessia Russo will be looking to fill the void, aided by exciting young attackers Lauren James and Lauren Hemp. Meanwhile, stalwarts Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze will be keeping things ticking over at the back.

Frankie Dettori

We know what you’re thinking – how can an Italian be in with a shot at winning? Well, while we’re used to the award being won by Brits, anybody is eligible to win as long as the majority of their sport takes place on these shores.

Dettori has established himself as one of the greatest jockeys in history and he’ll certainly be in contention as he prepares to retire at the end of the season. He’s enjoyed another glittering campaign in the saddle and he recently claimed his ninth career Gold Cup win at Ascot aboard Courage Mon Ami.

Frankie Dettori

The England rugby team

The Rugby World Cup takes place in France later this year and while the hosts are among the favourites alongside New Zealand and Ireland, Steve Borthwick’s England side will fancy their chances at repeating their heroics from 2003.

England reached the final four years ago, where they ultimately fell at the final hurdle against South Africa, and they’ll be keen to make amends this time around. If they do go all the way, one of the members of their squad could add the SPOTY trophy to their collection.

Owen Farrell has been confirmed as captain for the tournament and the Saracens fly-half finished the 2019 tournament as the second-highest points scorer. Meanwhile, if Scotland or Wales win the competition, the award could end up with one of their heroes instead.

Rory Mcllroy

Rory Mcclroy could see himself with an outside shout for the gong, with plenty of golf still to be played this year. An unfortunate second place finish in the US Open was still a good result for the northern Irishman, after missing the cut in the Masters earlier in the year.

Success in the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, followed by helping team Europe to victory later in the year could help Mcllroy to become a main contender for the award.

Other Contenders

Following Manchester City’s historic treble win, there’s every chance one of their many stars could make a claim for the award. And following a resurgence over the last few seasons, few could deny that John Stones is deserving of recognition.

Elsewhere, the likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Lewis Hamilton could come into the thinking if they end the year strongly. Plus, with the Rugby World Cup set to take place later this year, a strong tournament from England as mentioned, or even Wales or Scotland may see a contender or two emerge from their squads.

Summer in Full Swing: British Golf Takes Centre Stage

Posted on by Harry Howes

Back to back weeks of golf on home soil in July

A mouth-watering summer of sport is well and truly underway and if you’re a fan of golf, you’re in for a treat over the next few weeks. That’s because we’ve got not one but two huge tournaments on British soil to look forward to.

First up, the Scottish Open returns to the Renaissance Club from 13th to 16th July, with eight of the world’s top 10 players signed up to take part. And if that’s not enough to get you excited, the fourth and final major of the year gets underway the following weekend as the 151st Open Championship takes place in Liverpool.

Rory McIlroy will be looking to continue his strong form as he targets his first Open title since 2014, which was the last time it was held at Royal Liverpool. But he’ll face stiff competition in both tournaments as he targets his first PGA Tour win of 2023.

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Who are the contenders?

With the majority of the world’s top 10 players set to appear at the Scottish Open, the standard will be incredibly high as the field look to get into the swing of things ahead of The Open the following weekend.

Xander Schauffele came out on top this time last year but he’ll be taken all the way by fellow American Scottie Scheffler, who currently sits top of the world rankings. Wyndham Clarke is also in good shape having won the US Open in June, as well as the Wells Fargo Championship.

Norwegian star Viktor Hovland tied for second with Scheffler in the PGA Championship before going on to win the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village. Elsewhere, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Jordan Spieth, who all sit in the top 10, will fancy their chances.

And with McIlroy expected to be among the frontrunners, a few other British golfers could make home advantage count. Matt Fitzpatrick won the RBC Heritage back in April, while Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose are all in line to play both tournaments.

Cameron Smith triumphed in The Open last year and while the Australian is expected to return again this year, he’s not scheduled to appear at the Scottish Open, as is the case with John Rahm.

Can Rory McIlroy win?

McIlroy has never won the Scottish Open so a maiden title north of the border will give him good momentum going into The Open a week later. The Northern Irishman remains one of the bookies’ favourites as he looks to improve on his third-place finish from last year.

Having come second to Clarke by just one shot in the US Open a few weeks ago, McIlroy is in strong form. He’s already triumphed in the Rolex Series this year, winning the Hero Dubai Desert Classic back in January, while he was also tied for second alongside Harris English in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

McIlroy is targeting his first major win since 2014, where he triumphed in the PGA Championship a month after his first win at The Open. And he’ll be keen to impress once again as he looks to cement a spot in Europe’s Ryder Cup team later this year.

Engage Hospitality

As the best golfers in the world jet to the UK for a blockbuster couple of weeks, you can enjoy the action in style with a range of hospitality experiences at the Scottish Open.

A week later, The Open Championship takes place from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd July. Experience the best hospitality golf has to offer, with on-course locations offering unique access to the players and a world-class range of food and drinks packages.

ICON Legends – Frankie Dettori – Horse Racing Hero

Posted on by Harry Howes

As we kick off our ICON Legend series, what better place to start than with Frankie Dettori, one of British sport’s most iconic figures.

The Italian jockey is hanging up his whip at the end of the racing season following a glittering 36-year career. Dettori burst onto the scene in 1987 and hasn’t looked back on his way to becoming one of the most successful jockeys in history.

It’s a talent that runs in the family. Dettori’s father was a top jockey in Italy and won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket twice in a row back in the ‘70s. And it’s safe to say Dettori has surpassed his dad’s achievements.

He’s won just about everything on offer in British flat racing and he’s dominated overseas, winning countless races in Italy and Ireland to name a few, as well as claiming six victories in France’s famous Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Frankie Dettori

Dettori’s early years

With racing in his blood, Dettori wasted no time in getting involved. He moved to England in 1985 aged just 14 and started working in the Newmarket stables with trainer Lucas Cumani.

Two years later he became an apprentice jockey and he claimed his first winner at Goodwood. It was clear Dettori had something about him from the start and he really caught the eye when he won his first Gold Cup at Ascot with Drum Taps in 1992, a feat he repeated the following year.

And it was in 1994 that he joined forces with Godolphin Racing, enjoying success with their best horses for the next 18 years. If he wasn’t on every racing fan’s radar yet, he soon would be. He was crowned British flat racing champion jockey in both 1994 and 1995, before claiming the title again in 2004.

Frankie Dettori Early years

Magnificent Seven

When you’ve enjoyed a career as long and successful as Dettori’s, it’s hard to narrow down one crowning achievement. But according to the great man himself, his greatest honour in the sport came at Ascot in 1995.

On British Festival of Racing Day, Dettori dominated the track and famously rode all seven winners. The incredible achievement had odds of 25,091/1 and is believed to have cost the bookies around £40 million.

Gold Cup dominance

Some things in sport just go hand in hand.

Usain Bolt and gold medals. Real Madrid and the Champions League. Roger Federer and Wimbledon. And Frankie Dettori and the Ascot Gold Cup belong in that category as well.

He’s won it a remarkable nine times, just two behind record-holder Lester Piggott. Dettori famously rode Stradivarius to a hat-trick of consecutive wins in the race between 2018 and 2020.

And he went out with a bang in his final royal meeting this summer, striding home to secure another Gold Cup aboard the imperious Courage Mon Ami.

The one that got away

Frankie Dettori has ridden a whopping 287 winners in Group 1 races, with 23 of those in British Classics. That total includes seven victories in the Epsom Oaks, with the most recent coming last month.

But there’s one race that has always evaded him. Dettori has won every single Group 1 race on offer in Britain apart from the July Cup at Newmarket. And in a cruel twist of fate, he’s set to miss out on taking part this year after receiving a ban for overuse of the whip at Ascot.

Is the prospect of winning it next year enough to convince the legendary jockey to postpone his retirement for another 12 months?

If he does have his heart set on bowing out at the end of the season, you’ve still got plenty of chances to see him race. Check out our hospitality options at the Ebor Festival at York in August and you can say a final farewell to one of horse racing’s all-time greats.

Can Max Verstappen be stopped at the British Grand Prix?

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Formula One season is in full swing and with nine races already chalked off, the standings are starting to take shape. Max Verstappen only won the championship for the first time in 2021 but he seems to have picked up where he left off last time and has started 2023 in fine form.

But there’s a long way to go and with the British Grand Prix taking place this weekend, Lewis Hamilton will be hoping his fortunes turn around on familiar territory. Ahead of the showpiece event at Silverstone, we’ve delved deeper into how the Formula One season has unfolded.

The story so far

We’re not even halfway through the season but if form has anything to do with it, Verstappen already looks to have one hand on the trophy. The reigning champion has come racing out of the blocks in 2023, winning six of the first eight races and coming second in the other two.

Verstappen has dominated the track so far and was particularly comfortable in Monaco and Spain, winning both races by more than 24 seconds. The 25-year-old is way out in front on 229 points, with Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez in second after winning in both Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan.

Hamilton’s former team-mate Fernando Alonso, who is now with Aston Martin, sits in third having finished on the podium six times so far. Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Esteban Ocon and George Russell are the only other three drivers to have finished in the top three.

Despite Verstappen’s explosive start to the season, there are still 13 races left so a lot can change. But it’s looking like his year at the moment as he targets a third consecutive Formula One title.

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How is Lewis Hamilton doing?

Hamilton is yet to win a race this year but he’s going steady at fourth in the rankings. The seven-time champion finished second to Verstappen in Australia in a chaotic race that was dominated by red flags, crashes and safety cars.

Hamilton also finished runner-up in Spain and finds himself 123 points off top, just below Alonso in third. The 38-year-old hasn’t won the championship since 2020 but prior to this season he vowed that he wouldn’t retire until he’s claimed his eighth title.

He’s currently level in the record books with Michael Schumacher and finishing top would make him the most successful driver in Formula One history.

 The British Grand Prix


The season continues this weekend at Silverstone and there are plenty of exciting races to look forward to, including Japan, Las Vegas and the final race of the year in Abu Dhabi.

But as the British Grand Prix edges closer, all eyes will soon be on Silverstone. The pinnacle of the British Formula One calendar takes place on Sunday 9th July, with Hamilton, Verstappen and co. looking to emulate Carlos Sainz Jr’s win in 2022.

Hamilton managed to finish third on home soil last year, recording the fastest lap in the process. He’ll be keen to add to his record eight titles at Silverstone, with his most recent coming in 2021.

The British Grand Prix will take us to near the halfway point of the season and you can watch the action unfold with one of our hospitality experiences. With our ICON facility, private suites and trackside viewpoints, there’s something for everyone, with food and drink packages on offer for groups of all sizes.

And if you fancy seeing if you can cut the mustard on the track, you can step into the shoes of your racing heroes in one of our state-of-the-art F1 racing simulators.

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British Grand Prix

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A Memorable Royal Ascot 2023 Meeting

Posted on by Harry Howes

Frankie Dettori once again steals flat racing headlines!

We’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news is that Royal Ascot is done and dusted for another year. But the good news is you can relive all the highlights in our comprehensive round up of all the key races!

The royal meeting didn’t disappoint, with legendary jockey Frankie Dettori going out in style in his final Royal Ascot before he retires at the end of the season. If you missed any of the action, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.

Pavilion Restaurant Ascot

Royal Ascot 2023 Round Up

Day 1

The meeting started with the Queen Anne Stakes and Dettori almost immediately stole the show with Inspiral. The four-year-old finished well but ultimately lost out to 33/1 winner Triple Time by a neck.

Another outsider upset the odds in the King’s Stand Stakes as Bradsell pipped favourite Highfield Princess by a length. And in the St James’s Palace Stakes, Ryan Moore claimed his second of three day one winners with Paddington.

Dettori rode the king’s horse Saga in the Wolferton Stakes but he received a suspension for careless riding that could see him miss the Eclipse at Sandown next month.

The ban will only last for nine days so he’ll be able to ride in the July Cup at Newmarket, the only Group 1 race he is yet to win, and he’ll also be back in time for the Ebor Festival at York in August.

Day 2

The American dream was alive and well in the Queen Mary Stakes as U.S horse Crimson Advocate pipped Relief Rally to glory by a nose.

But the rest of the second day belonged to Irish horses as Daniel Tudhope and Rogue Millenium edged the Duke of Cambridge Stakes before Jim Crowley guided Mostahdaf home in the Prince of Wales Stakes.

Day 3

The script writers were in fine form on Ladies Day, with Dettori winning the Gold Cup for a ninth time. The Italian was on board Courage Mon Ami this time around and he said goodbye to the prestigious race in style, beating favourite Coltrane by a length.

The Italian is now just two Gold Cup wins behind Lester Piggott’s 11. Can he be tempted to postpone his retirement and hunt down the record?

Elsewhere, King Charles III had his first winner since taking the throne as Desert Hero claimed the George V Stakes. Yet despite Dettori and the king’s successes, day three’s headlines belonged to Rossa Ryan, who somehow won the Norfolk Stakes with 150/1 shot Valiant Force.

Day 4

Still riding high on his Gold Cup triumph, Dettori continued his winning streak on Friday with Porta Fortuna in the Albany Stakes and Coppice in the Sandringham Stakes. Having missed out on winning the Derby earlier this month, King of Steel took the King Edward VII Stakes ahead of Epsom rival Auguste Rodin.

Meanwhile, there was plenty of Group 1 action on offer as well. Shaquille raced to victory in the Commonwealth Cup while favourite Tahirya comfortably took the Coronation Stakes.

Day 5

Saturday saw the memorable meeting draw to a close in style, with even more shocks coming in the form of winners at huge odds. Namely, Khaadem and Jamie Spencer winning the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes at odds of 80/1 but after the week of racing we had witnessed, many may have thought that it was no longer a surprise!

It was very fitting that the week came to a close with Ryan Moore getting a win on favourite Dawn Rising in the Queen Alexandra Stakes, finishing up the great form he had been having all week.

The Lawn club Ascot

Upcoming Horse Racing

Thankfully, there is still more to come in terms of flat racing over the summer. The next big meeting that we offer packages for here at Engage is the Ebor Festival at York racecourse towards the end of August, a prestigious race where Royal Ascot for historically holds up well!

So if it is some exciting flat racing or some of 2024’s biggest meetings that interest you, make sure to get in contact with us at Engage!

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A Classic at Edgbaston Kicks Off the Ashes

Posted on by Harry Howes

England lose a close first test of the 2023 Ashes

After months of build up and selection headaches, cricket fans up and down the country finally got to see how ‘Bazball’ would fare against Australia in the first Test of this Ashes series.

Ultimately, the result didn’t go England’s way but in one of the most enthralling Test matches in recent history, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic going forward.

Any nerves that had set in at Edgbaston were quickly put to bed as Zak Crawley smashed Pat Cummins for four off the Test’s first ball. That confidence from England’s opener urged on the vocal crowd and set the tone for the rest of the match.

Ben Stokes and co. epitomised England’s new bold, aggressive and all-round entertaining approach as they built up a healthy first innings score. And our new era offered the first signs of unpredictability as well. Stokes shocked fans, pundits and Aussies alike as he opted to declare on 393 before the first day had come to a close.

It proved to be a risky strategy. Australia, led by the stubborn Usman Khawaja who racked up 141, got to just 7 runs shy of England’s total, meaning it was all to play for going into the second innings.

As England went back out to bat, they would have been hoping for more than 273, which left the visitors with a chase just one run fewer than their unsuccessful Edgbaston target back in 2005.

But on a final day that was disrupted by rain, offering ideal conditions for England’s swing bowlers, Australia somehow ground their way to a two-wicket victory thanks to an impressive 55-run partnership from Cummins and Nathan Lyon.

The Ashes Test Cricket

The Ashes 2023

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What positives can England take?

In years gone by, a defeat like this would have resulted in doom and gloom. Although, such is the nature of this new era of English cricket, attention is already focussed on continuing in the same manner next time out.

The match was decided on fine margins. It could have been so different had Stuart Broad’s foot been an inch further back for Khawaja’s no-ball dismissal or if our fielders showed a tiny bit more composure on one of our many dropped catches.

By the time the second Test comes around, Moeen Ali’s blistered finger will have had time to heal, giving England an extra weapon in attack. And while there were some grumblings about Jonny Bairstow’s capability as wicket keeper, four catches in Australia’s second innings will have done his confidence the world of good.

Stokes has already made it clear that he won’t change approach for the Lord’s Test and for good reason. For the first time in a long time, England are bold, exciting and entertaining. It feels as though interest in Test cricket in this country is back to where it should be – long may it continue.

Lord's Cricket Ground

Test 2: Lord’s – 28th June to 2nd July

Next up, Ben Stokes takes his side to Lord’s, where the skipper scored a second innings century and was crowned player of the match last time out in a test that was eventually drawn due to the rain.

The scene of some of the most iconic moments in Ashes history, Lord’s is regarded as one of the most prestigious sporting venues in the world. Can England create magic once again in London?

Hospitality at Lord’s

At The Ivy you’ll enjoy a stunning day of exquisite cuisine at the famous Ivy restaurant in between watching all the thrilling action at Lord’s.

Includes a hot breakfast, premium lunch and afternoon tea at The Ivy, as well as inclusive drinks throughout including access to the Father Time Bar after 4pm. Only available for days one to three of the Lord’s test.

There’s no better place to watch a full day’s cricket than at Lord’s in our ICON facility at the Nursery Pavilion. You’ll be entertained throughout by world-renowned cricket names and ICON includes a full complimentary premium food and drink offering in the Grand Stand.

Secure your own private box at Lord’s for your company to enjoy a premium experience at the home of cricket. Holding up to 18 guests, with a designated seating area, a complimentary bar and a brilliant informal grazing menu.

Royal Ascot 2023

Posted on by Harry Howes

Saddle up, racing fans – it’s almost time for Royal Ascot 2023!

The meeting dates back to 1768 and has always been well attended by members of the royal family. This year’s event marks the first since Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, meaning it will be King Charles III’s first Royal Ascot as our new monarch.

And while the crowds will eagerly be awaiting his arrival each day, it will also be their last opportunity to see racing royalty on the Berkshire track.

Frankie Dettori will ride at Royal Ascot for the final time ahead of his retirement later this year. The veteran jockey made history at the meeting back in 1996, winning all seven races on British Festival of Racing Day. Dettori also famously steered the legendary Stradivarius to a hat-trick of Gold Cup wins between 2018 and 2020.

Royal Ascot
ICON Ascot Jockey

Royal Ascot 2023 schedule

Tuesday 20th June

If you fancy some first class racing, look no further than day one. As ever, the royal meeting kicks off with the Queen Anne Stakes, a Group 1 race named after the queen that founded the famous racecourse way back in 1711.

And the Group 1 races keep on coming, with the King’s Stand Stakes and the St James’s Palace Stakes also on the agenda.

2:30pm – The Queen Anne Stakes

3:05pm – The Coventry Stakes

3:40pm – The King’s Stand Stakes

4:20pm – The St James’s Palace Stakes

5:00pm – The Ascot Stakes

5:35pm – Wolferton Stakes

6:10pm – Copper Horse Stakes

Wednesday 21st June

Day two kicks off with the Queen Mary Stakes before the Group 1 action continues with the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, where Luxembourg and Adayar are expected to go well.

Meanwhile, the mile-long Duke of Cambridge Stakes is also taking place, which no horse has ever won more than once.

2:30pm – The Queen Mary Stakes

3:05pm – The Kensington Palace Stakes

3:40pm – The Duke of Cambridge Stakes

4:20pm – The Prince of Wales’s Stakes

5:00pm – The Royal Hunt Cup

5:35pm – The Queen’s Vase

6:10pm – The Windsor Castle Stakes

Thursday 22nd June

Day three is traditionally the busiest day of the meeting and not just because it’s Ladies Day! All eyes will be on the track for the Gold Cup, with Coltrane and Eldar Eldarov going head-to-head for glory.

The famous race is one of the most prestigious in the world and is the first leg of the Stayer’s Triple Crown. Elsewhere, you can enjoy the Ribblesdale Stakes, whichgenerally features horses from the Epsom Oaks from a few weeks ago, as well as the Norfolk Stakes.

2:30pm – The Norfolk Stakes

3:05pm – The King George V Stakes

3:40pm – The Ribblesdale Stakes

4:20pm – The Gold Cup

5:00pm – The Britannia Stakes

5:35pm – The Hampton Court Stakes

6:10pm – The Buckingham Palace Stakes

Friday 23rd June

If you’re joining us on the penultimate day of Royal Ascot, you’re in for a treat! In the Commonwealth Cup and the Coronation Stakes we’ve got another two Group 1 races to look forward to.

Plus, the King Edward VII Stakes traditionally features horses that ran the Derby at Epsom earlier this month, where Auguste Rodin narrowly beat King of Steel.

2:30pm – The Albany Stakes

3:05pm – The Commonwealth Cup

3:40pm – The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes

4:20pm – The Coronation Stakes

5:00pm – The Sandringham Stakes

5:35pm – The King Edward VII Stakes

6:10pm – The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes

Saturday 24th June

The Saturday at Royal Ascot is the last day of the meeting – but it is by no means the least. The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes is the headline race of the day and it’s part of the Global Sprint Challenge alongside nine other races worldwide.

It follows the Hardwicke Stakes before the world’s longest professional flat race, the Queen Alexandra Stakes, brings the curtain down on yet another magical week of racing.

2:30pm – The Chesham Stakes

3:05pm – The Jersey Stakes

3:40pm – The Hardwicke Stakes

4:20pm – The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes

5:00pm – The Wokingham Stakes

5:35pm – The Golden Gates Stakes

6:10pm – The Queen Alexandra Stakes

Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot dress code

As you’d expect from the royal meeting, the dress code at Royal Ascot is fairly strict. The main thing to remember is to dress to impress, with all enclosures requiring guests to dress for a formal daytime occasion.

Queen Anne Enclosure

Ladies must wear a dress or top and skirt, with shoulder or halter neck straps. There is no minimum length but lace or chiffon fabrics are not allowed.

Trouser suits are also allowed, as long as they match in material and colour, as are jumpsuits that fall below the knee. A hat, headpiece or fascinator must also be worn.

Men are required to wear a full length two or three-piece suit with jackets and trousers matching in material. Morning dress is also permitted.

A collared shirt, necktie and socks that cover the ankle are mandatory. Cravats, bow ties and neckerchiefs are not allowed, nor are trainers, denim, leggings or shorts.

Village Enclosure

Those joining us in our ICON facility will have access to the Village Enclosure. For ladies, the dress code remains the same as the Queen Anne Enclosure. Sheer or strapless dresses and tops are not permitted and midriffs must be covered.

Gentlemen must wear a suit jacket or blazer, matched with a full length trouser or chino. A collared shirt and socks must be worn, along with a necktie, bow tie or cravat. As before, trainers, denim, leggings and shorts are not permitted.

Ladies Day dress code

While the dress code doesn’t officially change for day three of Royal Ascot, it’s traditionally known as Ladies Day. In between enjoying the racing and looking forward to the Gold Cup, all eyes will be on the outfits of all the lovely ladies in attendance.

Guests often use Ladies Day as an excuse to make a statement with their outfit, wearing extravagant hats, flamboyant dresses and dazzling jewellery.

Royal Ascot

Manchester City Do The Treble!

Posted on by Harry Howes

Manchester City beat Inter Milan in Champions League Final

Manchester City made history on Saturday night as they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final to secure a famous treble.

Rodri fired home what proved to be the winner in the 68th minute of a cagey affair in Istanbul.

Despite dominating the early proceedings, things didn’t exactly go to plan for City in the first half. Kevin De Bruyne was forced off with a hamstring problem and they struggled to break down the Serie A side, whose energy and intense pressing caused them problems at times.

But Pep Guardiola’s men held their nerve and when Rodri’s composed finish flew past Inter Milan goalkeeper André Onana, they started to believe.

Inter continued to push and but for the crossbar, smart reactions from Ederson and Romelu Lukaku blocking his own teammate’s shot, they would have forced an equaliser.

But City held on to clinch their third trophy of the season. And while they can have no regrets after a dominant campaign, there may just be one thing playing on their minds: how on earth did Nathan Jones and Southampton manage to knock them out of the League Cup and prevent the quadruple?!

Manchester City Etihad Stadium

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How did they win the treble?

After going head-to-head with Arsenal for most of the season, Manchester City eventually won the Premier League by five points to win the first of their three trophies and their fifth league title in six seasons.

Erling Haaland settled into life in England quickly, breaking almost every record that lay in his wake and scoring 36 league goals to win the Golden Boot.

Guardiola’s side then added the FA Cup to their collection last weekend, beating arch-rivals Manchester United in the final thanks to two goals from Ilkay Gundogan.

With only the Champions League remaining, all roads led to Istanbul and to the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, the scene of Liverpool’s iconic comeback against AC Milan in 2005.

City had done the hard work already, comfortably seeing off Bayern Munich in the quarter-final before blowing Real Madrid away in the semis with a humbling 4-0 second-leg win at the Etihad.

But Inter are no pushovers, having qualified from the group stage ahead of Barcelona before seeing off the likes of Porto, Benfica and AC Milan en route to the final.

City were the clear favourites going into the showdown but there were fears that the occasion could prove too much for them, as it did against Chelsea two years ago.

However, their imperious form continued and they finally landed the elusive treble, matching rivals United’s achievement from 1999.

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Where do Man City go from here?

You could argue that as far as Pep Guardiola is concerned, his work at City is done. The 52-year-old has finally added the Champions League to his City CV having not won it since his 2011 triumph with Barcelona.

Guardiola has two years to run on his contract and there’s every chance he’ll carry on and possibly even extend it. Alternatively, he may feel there’s nothing left to achieve and a new challenge could appeal to him.

As for City, their future is bright, even if Guardiola were to move on. In Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden they have a core of young, exciting players that are only going to improve. And they’ll undoubtedly add quality to their squad, with the likes of Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva linked with moves away.

A lot could change for City in the next year or two but two things are for certain, there will be top-quality football on display, and you can watch it all with Engage!

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