Latest news with #Moffatt
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Tyson Fury the Grand National winner? Boxing legend aiming for a knockout over jumps with £50,000 horses
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) COULD we soon be talking about Tyson Fury the legendary boxer - and Grand National-winning horse owner? That dream recently took a step closer after it was confirmed the former heavyweight king has moved into jumps racing. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Tyson Fury is moving into jumps racing with a hugely promising horse who could be destined for big things when the season kicks off proper over the winter months Credit: AFP 2 Jimmy Moffatt will be the trainer tasked with turning Fury's horses into serial winners Credit: PA:Empics Sport Big Gypsy King, a three-year-old filly owned by Fury and his manager Spencer Brown, has already had success on the track, winning on the Flat at Chelmsford in May. But now Fury is keen for success in the National Hunt game - after buying two horses for £50,000 and sending them into training with Jimmy Moffatt. Top bloodstock agent Jerry McGrath signed for former Joseph O'Brien horse Cossack Chach at the Goffs UK October Sale in Doncaster last year. Fury and Brown splashed £36,000 on the two-time winner and also bought £14,000 Sea The Clouds, who's already won at Moffatt's local track Cartmel. Bosses at the Lancashire venue - not far from Fury's Morecambe home - are busy planning for the boxer's possible arrival during one of their summer racedays. Fury - who is reportedly eyeing up a mega-fight with Anthony Joshua - has been to Cartmel races before but not with two potential runners of this quality. Speaking to the Racing Post, trainer Moffatt - who landed one of most ridiculous wins ever on The Steward at Newcastle - said: "I met Spencer at Cartmel races last August and he said he wanted to go through Cartmel this summer. "Tyson has not been to the yard yet but there was talk he was going to make an appearance at Cartmel this summer, although I see they're getting busy again now. "I saw him at the track three years ago so he's certainly been there at least once." Moffatt has high confidence Sea The Clouds - who he said was a 'steal' at the price - will love the fast summer conditions. He was beaten just a nose over 2m6f at Cartmel in May - and won at the track for his previous trainer Jamie Snowden this time last year. Coassack Chach, a five-year-old gelding, is 'more of a chasing type and hopefully we'll have a bit of fun with him'. Moffatt added: "We're giving him a couple of months off before starting him for a proper winter campaign. "He's a proper chaser – a great big horse with a big engine." FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Tyson Fury the Grand National winner? Boxing legend aiming for a knockout over jumps with £50,000 horses
COULD we soon be talking about Tyson Fury the legendary boxer - and Grand National-winning horse owner? That dream recently took a step closer after it was confirmed the former heavyweight king has moved into jumps racing. Advertisement 2 Tyson Fury is moving into jumps racing with a hugely promising horse who could be destined for big things when the season kicks off proper over the winter months Credit: AFP 2 Jimmy Moffatt will be the trainer tasked with turning Fury's horses into serial winners Credit: PA:Empics Sport Big Gypsy King, a three-year-old filly owned by Fury and his manager Spencer Brown, has But now Fury is keen for success in the National Hunt game - after buying two horses for £50,000 and sending them into training with Jimmy Moffatt. Top bloodstock agent Jerry McGrath signed for former Joseph O'Brien horse Cossack Chach at the Goffs UK October Sale in Doncaster last year. Fury and Brown splashed £36,000 on the two-time winner and also bought £14,000 Sea The Clouds, who's already won at Moffatt's local track Cartmel. Advertisement Bosses at the Lancashire venue - not far from Fury's Morecambe home - are busy planning for the boxer's possible arrival during one of their summer racedays. Fury - who is Speaking to the "Tyson has not been to the yard yet but there was talk he was going to make an appearance at Cartmel this summer, although I see they're getting busy again now. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing "I saw him at the track three years ago so he's certainly been there at least once." Moffatt has high confidence Sea The Clouds - who he said was a 'steal' at the price - will love the fast summer conditions. He was beaten just a nose over 2m6f at Cartmel in May - and won at the track for his previous trainer Jamie Snowden this time last year. Coassack Chach, a five-year-old gelding, is 'more of a chasing type and hopefully we'll have a bit of fun with him'. Advertisement Moffatt added: "We're giving him a couple of months off before starting him for a proper winter campaign. "He's a proper chaser – a great big horse with a big engine." FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. Advertisement
Irish Examiner
11-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
'Eat or heat': Irish families cut back on food and other essentials as prices surge 4.6%
Struggling families are having to resort to either buying less or more unhealthy foods as new CSO figures show grocery prices are rising at more than double the general rate of inflation. The Central Statistics Office has said that food and drink prices rose 4.6% in the last year, with significant surges in staples such as meat, milk, and butter, compared to the general rise in the cost of living of 1.8%. A kilo of sirloin steak that cost €17.26 on average last year now costs €22.12. The same amount of roast beef has increased from €12.64 to €15.20. The price of lamb is also up significantly as is fish, the CSO said. The average price of a pound of butter stands at €4.83, up €1.10 on June last year, while two litres of milk is up 27c to €2.47. A kilo of Irish cheddar cheese is up 95c to €11.34. The price surges are adding thousands of euro to consumers' annual spend. Budget 2026 It comes as the focus is set to turn to what measures the Government will take to support families in this autumn's budget. While one-off universal measures have been ruled out, advocates have said the Government must act to support struggling households through higher welfare rates and targeted supports. Stephen Moffatt, national policy manager at children's charity Barnardos, said families have been shopping more carefully to look for savings wherever they can as they plan out meals more to stretch the food budget. 'However, when prices continue to rise significantly and incomes don't there's only so much that parents can do,' he said. 'In a way, they've made as many reasonable savings as possible over the past few years, so now many have to start doing things such as you can do buying cheaper and sometimes less nutritious food. It means parents are further cutting back on food themselves.' Food vouchers 'the new norm' Given the pressure on household budgets, Mr Moffatt said families have gone without other essentials to meet rising costs. He said the charity issuing food vouchers has become 'the new norm' over the last two years. 'Given lower income families spend a higher proportion of their disposable income on groceries it will have disproportionate impact on them,' he added. 'They need targeted supports.' Sean Moynihan, CEO of older persons' charity Alone, said that without cost-of-living supports last year, nearly half of older people living alone would have been at risk of poverty. He pointed to recent responses to the charity's cost-of-living survey as showing the plight many are facing. One respondent said: Buying the weekly healthy groceries becomes more and more difficult. Can't afford necessary health supplements… which has impacted my wellbeing… Eat or heat has become reality. Another said: 'I am just more careful what I buy now as I know I can't afford certain things like meat or fish.' Dominic Lumsden, a spokesman for broker Peopl Insurance, said that, anecdotally, they are hearing about pensioners having to leave their food behind at supermarket checkouts because they cannot afford today's grocery prices. 'This is a situation that cannot continue and the Government must do something to tackle grocery inflation so that people can afford to put food on their table,' he said. Speaking in Cork on Thursday, the finance minister Paschal Donohoe said he appreciated that the cost of living continues to be a challenge for many but said the rate of increase in prices in the economy are an 'awful lot lower than it has been in previous years'. 'Every single budget that a government brings forward and that the previous government brought forward does find different ways of helping with cost of living challenges within our society,' he said. 'But we do have to get the balance right. 'We are also living in very uncertain times — we have to be careful with our public finances.'
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Gogglebox's Scarlett Moffatt opens up on day that 'changed her life' leading to TV career
The Gogglebox star shared the day that changed the course of her life Scarlett Moffatt has shared one day that changed the course of her life, leading her into the a career in television. The well-known star initially won hearts on the popular television programme Gogglebox and after leaving in 2016, she sought new ventures. As a winner of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here and a frequent face on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Moffatt recently revealed to her admirers the transformative experience that "changed her life". She shared a TikTok video about one important moment as she wrote: "The day that changed my life!!". In the narration, she recounts: "Story time of how one kind act when I was 16 ended up with me getting a career in tv. Strap yourself in it's a long one." Engaging with her 821k TikTok followers, the star divulged that at 16, she had aspirations to be a dance or primary school teacher; however, her academic path was at risk by poor attendance, reports the Manchester Evening News. Moffatt added: "I was distraught. I came in this day thinking it was possibly my last ever day at this college with my friends and we decided to do what we always did and go for a jacket potato. Now normally my friend would always have her car, and for this day, this is where it starts getting crazy, she didn't bring her car in because there was something wrong with it." Moffatt said she soon met an elderly woman who seemed "a little bit lost" in the park, she had no clue that lending a hand would lead to a remarkable twist. Without recognition of who the woman was or her whereabouts, Moffatt eventually rang a number on the woman's phone belonging to someone at the college. The good turn saw Moffatt reunite the lady with her daughter as she recalled: "Then I went into the college and who was principle I had my meeting with but the very same daughter of that woman that I'd helped. She literally ripped up the agreement of the fact that I had to agree I hadn't played my role in the college because I hadn't been going to social studies." Although Moffatt feared she might lose her place in college, the random act of kindness paid off as she was permitted to continue. But she said: "This is when gets even crazier." She went on to say: "I then explained look the bus sometimes is so full that I end up missing it, it takes one hour and 15 to get home, I have to wait around is there anyway I can swap social studies class." Post class change, she met a friend who turned out to work in TV, reconnecting after college. This connection later unfolded into an opportunity as he was looking for people to be on a new show, Gogglebox. However, after a lack of interest, Moffatt agreed to be part of the show and her career subsequently took off. She confided in her fans: "Honestly if we hadn't have done Gogglebox, I definitely wouldn't be in the career I'm in now. I wouldn't have ended up doing I' a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here or Saturday Night Takeaway and all the wonderful things I've got to do which I still feel like how did I manage this, winging life." She later added: "I just think in world where you can do anything, be kind because you really don't know where it can lead you. "And the support came pouring in. One fan replied: "Good things happen to good people Scarlett kind heart repaid." Another wrote: "Amazing what's meant for you never passes you lovely story." A third replied: "That's an amazing story and just proves that a little kindness can go a long way. Miss you on Gogglebox btw." A fourth commented: "What a lovely heartwarming story Scarlett, thanks for sharing it with us." One person added: "Amazing, remarkable story Scarlett, you were destined for success, with your kind caring nature."
National Observer
29-05-2025
- Business
- National Observer
Provinces 'hold the key' to building more homes, new report argues
While the federal government and cities across Canada are making strides on expanding the housing supply, the provinces still need to get serious about building quality homes, a new report released Thursday argues. No province earned a grade higher than C+ in the report assembled by the Task Force for Housing and Climate, a non-governmental body that was struck in 2023 with backing from the philanthropic Clean Economy Fund. The task force's "report card" evaluated governments based on their policies for building homes quickly and sustainably. It gave the federal government the highest grade in the country — a B — while Alberta ranked at the bottom of the pile with a D+. The rest of the provinces' scores were in the C range. Mike Moffatt, the report's author and founding director of the Missing Middle Initiative at the University of Ottawa, suggested that the provinces have thus far avoided "scrutiny" for their role in perpetuating the housing crisis, while Ottawa and the cities have taken the heat for red tape and high costs. "Provinces really hold the key here. They have the most policy levers and, in many cases, they've actually done the least," he said. The task force is co-chaired by former Edmonton mayor Don Iveson and former deputy leader of the federal Conservatives Lisa Raitt. Prime Minister Mark Carney was one of the group's members before becoming federal Liberal leader. 'Currently, no government is doing enough to get these homes built," said Raitt in a statement accompanying the report. The task force compiled its report card based on its evaluations of government policies to encourage factory-built housing, fill in market gaps, boost density, map high-risk areas and update building codes. The report found plenty of variability even within provinces, said He said both Saskatchewan and Ontario are doing well on building away from high-risk areas but are falling short on increasing density. The report gave British Columbia, Quebec and Prince Edward Island a score of C+ — the highest score received by any province. Moffat said BC's grade suffered because while it encourages density "on paper," its slow permit approvals and high building costs frustrate development. While Alberta is doing well on the pace of housing starts alone, he said, that's mostly due to leadership at the municipal level in Calgary and Edmonton — not provincial policy. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in the provincial legislature in November that the government was "not standing in the way of the private sector to build more affordable housing." She said increasing housing supply would "automatically" bring down costs for Albertans. Moffatt said Smith's stance is "correct" — lowering barriers to development is critical to expanding the supply of affordable housing — but that's "only part of the story." He said Alberta has to take "responsibility" for the housing demand it induces through its successful marketing campaign to lure Ontarians to the province. Moffatt said the province also has to make sure homes are built sustainably and not in the path of wildfires, and can't abdicate its responsibility for filling gaps in social housing. "We need both. We need a strong, robust private sector to deliver housing, but we also need government to come in and fill in the gaps," he said. Moffatt said the provinces are falling behind on mapping flood plains and need to take responsibility for provincial legislation that leads to higher development charges. He noted that the report card was based only on implemented policies and did not capture the impact of proposed legislation such as Ontario's Bill 17, which is meant to speed up permits and approvals, simplify development charges and fast-track infrastructure projects. The report said the federal government's housing accelerator fund, which encourages municipalities to simplify zoning rules to get more shovels in the ground, has made progress but needs enforcement tools to keep cities accountable after they strike funding deals with Ottawa. Moffatt said he hopes to use the report card framework to track progress on housing goals in the future, and to work on separate research to evaluate municipalities' housing policies.
