Ferrari news: Lewis Hamilton brings Christmas spirit to Maranello
Lewis Hamilton may have ended 2025 drained and frustrated, but the seven-time world champion found a different kind of victory as the year closed - one rooted in gratitude, connection, and Christmas cheer at Maranello.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo looks at how Hamilton’s unexpected festive gesture brought warmth back into the heart of Ferrari after a difficult debut season in red.
LeBron James, Christmas day, and the weight of an NBA tradition
Christmas Day basketball has become one of the most recognisable dates on the NBA calendar, and once again, LeBron James found himself at the centre of it.
In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo looks at how the 40-year-old superstar continues to carry the expectations of a holiday built around the league’s biggest names.
F1 2026 car launches: When will teams present their 2026 challengers?
The 2025 Formula 1 season saw Lando Norris crowned world champion for the first time in his career, but the focus is already shifting to 2026 as teams begin confirming the launch dates for their new cars.
Premier League betting tips: Mason Mount with an assist against Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Man City to draw, and more from Gameweek 18 betting tips
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from the Premier League's TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including a big weekend game between Chelsea and Aston Villa.
NFL betting tips: Detroit Lions to live another day as Kansas City Chiefs roll over, Miami Dolphins win
It’s Christmas week in the NFL and fans of the Detroit Lions will be hoping they are on the nice list as they continue to fight for a postseason spot with just two weeks of NFL action remaining.
Elsewhere, the Kansas City Chiefs must be desperate to put this season behind them – their injury-stricken outfit heads to Minnesota to take on an equally dreadful Vikings side on Boxing Day – and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head to the Miami Dolphins as they look to rescue a season which has quickly spun out of control.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Sam Condy outlines his three favourite picks ahead of a festive week 17.
ITV Boxing Day horse racing tips and best bets for Kempton, Ascot and Wetherby on Friday, December 26
Boxing Day has always been the traditional day for a full programme of football action, so typically the Premier League has stuck two fingers up at that tradition and scheduled just one match, which means many will turn their attention to one of the biggest days in the National Hunt calendar instead.
Sport News Blitz’s horse racing tipster Jeff Mexico has been camped outside Kempton Park since last Tuesday, dressed in his usual festive gear – a pair of camouflage shorts, a boob tube and some winklepickers. He likes to emit ‘stay well clear of me’ vibes.
On top of four races from Kempton, three of those Grade 1s, he has also picked selections from the G1 at Aintree and the G3 at Wetherby. Good luck.
Five teams clinched playoff spots after Week 16 games, concluding December 22
The NFL regular season is reaching its fever pitch, and Week 16 proved to be a decisive turning point for several franchises.
As the dust settles on a weekend of high drama, the playoff picture has gained significant clarity. Five teams have officially stamped their tickets to the postseason, bringing relief to their fanbases and clarity to bettors in states with legal sports betting who are tracking the shifting odds.
The Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and New England Patriots are the first wave of teams to secure their spots. For some, the weekend was about clinching division crowns. For others, it was about survival.
Premier League on Sky Sports: Chelsea vs Aston Villa betting preview and tips
Saturday night football heads to Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea welcome Aston Villa under the lights in a heavyweight Premier League matchup.
With both sides firmly in the hunt near the top of the table, the fixture carries real significance as the season begins to take shape.
Here, Sports News Blitz outlines all the best bets and key stats ahead of the clash.
Premier League on Sky Sports: Man Utd vs Newcastle betting preview and tips
Boxing Day action boils down to a single Premier League match, with Manchester United welcoming Newcastle United to Old Trafford.
The festive fixture arrives with both sides dealing with disruption and frustration, setting the stage for a potentially volatile contest.
Here, Sports News Blitz outlines all the best bets and key stats ahead of the clash.
Four things we learnt from Newcastle vs Chelsea
Newcastle and Chelsea shared the points at St James’ Park in a match that had plenty of talking points, from contentious officiating decisions to standout individual performances.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Charlotte Allsop breaks down four key things we learnt from an entertaining Premier League encounter.
Padel opinion: How padel took over the sporting world in 2025
Women’s Euros. The Ryder Cup. The Club World Cup. 2025 was a huge year for sport, but the one that stole the most headlines was padel.
More courts were built than ever before, the push for female padel players accelerated and professional competitions enjoyed well-deserved commercial success.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s writer Vanely Barumire looks at the biggest winners from the 2025 Padel season.
Horse racing news: Il Est Francais given query rating by Timeform
Timeform have handed last year’s King George runner-up Il Est Francais a query rating (?) ahead of his bid to go one better in this year’s Boxing Day feature, meaning Tom George’s seven-year-old is considered out of form and cannot be assessed with confidence.
Il Est Francais was imperious when winning the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Kempton’s Boxing Day card two years ago, beating a high-class Hermes Allen by 11 lengths and looking like one who could dominate the staying chase division for years to come.
Premier League news: Morgan Rogers double sinks Man Utd as Aston Villa continue title push
Aston Villa beat Manchester United 2-1 on Sunday courtesy of a brilliant Morgan Rogers brace to keep pace with Arsenal and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
Matheus Cunha scored for the Red Devils as an inconsistent season continued for Ruben Amorim’s side. Here, Sports News Blitz writer Robert Bore reviews the clash at Villa Park.
Pre-Match Analysis: Key Factors to Consider Before Betting
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High-pressing tactics in modern football
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Premier League news: Five key takeaways from Everton’s narrow defeat to Arsenal at Hill Dickinson
Everton suffered a 1-0 home defeat to league leaders Arsenal on Saturday as a first-half penalty from Viktor Gyökeres proved to be the difference, but the Toffees will nevertheless be in the top half of the table at Christmas for the first time since 2020.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jon Shea assesses the key points from the clash.
Premier League betting tips: Chelsea to beat Newcastle, Bukayo Saka to score, and more Gameweek 17 betting tips
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from the Premier League's TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including Sunday’s big one between Aston Villa and Manchester United.
NFL betting tips: Philadelphia Eagles to make it two in a row, Los Angeles Chargers to continue fine form
The Philadelphia Eagles are finally back to winning ways, with an astonishing 31-0 win over the Los Angeles Raiders as they look to rescue their season after a disastrous few weeks.
They now head to Washington, taking on the Commanders, where a win will see them clinch the NFC East division, becoming the first team to repeat as division champions for more than 20 years.
Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Rams head to Seattle as they look to protect their NFC number one seed, while the Chargers find themselves as surprising underdogs, travelling to take on the Dallas Cowboys.
Here, writing for Sports News Blitz, Travel News Blitz’s Sam Condy reveals his three favourite picks for week 16 of the NFL regular season.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Ascot and Haydock on Saturday, December 20
Sport News Blitz’s horse racing tipster Jeff Mexico nearly drowned this week. His local swimming pool is currently playing Christmas hits over the PA system and after hearing Shakin Stevens’ hit “Merry Christmas Everyone” for the umpteenth time, Jeff decided not to come up for air after his 27th length of punishing but elegant butterfly.
Luckily Jeff got a life-saving kiss from a nearby unspecified gendered lifeguard. It was the most action he’s had since 2001. To celebrate another weekend on this mortal coil, Jeff has tips for the six races on offer this Saturday afternoon – four from Ascot, including the Grade 1 Long Walk, and two from Haydock to keep the northerners happy.
IPL 2026: Which players were sold for the highest fees in the 2026 auction for cricket's biggest franchise league
The Indian Premier League is gearing up for another blockbuster season of action in 2026, and the franchise has been spending big to prepare for the league’s start in March.
So, who were the players who sold for the biggest money at this year's auction? Sports News Blitz writer Joseph Ould takes a look.