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SBK, the sportsbook app created by Smarkets, spoke to jockey ambassador Tom Bellamy after it was confirmed that Eclair Surf had made it into the Grand National as number 39 out of 40
- The Emma Lavelle-trained Eclair Surf was confirmed this morning as number 39 in the list of declared runners for Saturday’s 2022 running of the Grand National, so we spoke to SBK ambassador Tom Bellamy, who will be hoping to guide the eight-year-old to victory.
- On Eclair Surf’s recent form:
- “He’s got a good chance. His form looks rock solid thanks to Win My Wings who won the Scottish National very well at the weekend. We gave that horse 10lbs in the Eider at Newcastle and got to within two lengths. I think Win My Wings came forward from Newcastle, whether that was fitness or she was just in a better frame of mind. The form is there in black and white though, so we go there with every chance.”
- On how Eclair Surf will handle the Grand National test:
- “It will go one way or the other. He will either take to it and it will define him as a horse or he won’t get away with it. He has got better as time has gone on and hopefully there aren’t any mistakes. He just lacks a bit of concentration at the odd fence. Around Aintree, the fences come up so quickly that I don’t think he’ll get a chance to think about anything other than looking forward and jumping.”
- On who he would ride if he had a choice of all the runners:
- “If I could ride one horse in the Grand National I would stick with the one I’ve already got in Eclair Surf. I’m very lucky to have a good ride going into the race so I really can’t wait.”
- On his National record, and general thoughts on the race:
- “My time in the National hasn’t been great – pulled up, fell, fell! So I’m hoping to improve on that this time. I’ve watched the National for as long as I can remember, my Dad rode in it a couple of times so I went and watched him in 2000 but it was all over by the first fence! It’s a race steeped in history and it’s great to be a part of it, and winning would be a dream. There are 40 other jockeys saying that though, not just me. Everyone wants to win the Grand National and to have a horse with a chance is very special.”
- Eclair Surf is fifth in the current Grand National betting on SBK at 15/1, behind Delta Work and Snow Leopardess (both 9/1), Any Second Now (12/1) and Escaria Ten (14/1).
- Meanwhile, SBK tipster Tom Collins gave his thoughts on Eclair Surf’s prospects as well as his main fancies in the race, Escaria Ten and Enjoy D’allen.
- On Eclair Surf:
- “It’s fantastic to see Eclair Surf get in at the foot of the handicap after a nervy wait this week, providing SBK ambassador Tom Bellamy with a ride in the Grand National. Racing fans and punters alike want to see the best horses running and Eclair Surf, who won the Classic Chase at Warwick in January before running subsequent Scottish National winner Win My Wings close in the Eider, fully deserves his place in the field. He’s officially 4lb well-in off a mark of 143 and looks a live player given his confirmed stamina.”
- Collins’ two main Grand National selections, both of which are Irish raiders:
- “There is little doubt in my mind that Escaria Ten is a Graded horse running in a handicap, and the Grand National has been his target all year. His jumping is impeccable and he’s weighted to win.”
- “JP McManus purchased Enjoy D’allen after his latest run over hurdles at Leopardstown, which proves connections were trying to keep his chasing mark in the high 140s. He’s not the most prolific of performers but he’s been crying out for a stamina-sapping test.”

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iQOO Becomes Official Title Sponsor for S8UL’s Historic Esports World Cup 2025 campaign
S8UL has officially qualified for the grand finals in Apex Legends, , and EAFC 25 at EWC 2025, making it the first Indian esports organisation to represent the country at one of the world’s biggest esports tournaments. The organisation’s Chess stars Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram will be competing in the Last Chance Qualifier from July 24 to 26, while EAFC player Aaron Rivera (Happy) will vie for one of the four remaining spots at the EWC in the FC Pro 25 Play-Ins.
Nipun Marya, CEO, iQOO, commented, “Esports in India is evolving rapidly, and we’re proud to strengthen our association with S8UL as they represent India on one of the biggest international stages. Our collaboration reflects iQOO’s focus on connecting with the performance centric community and supporting talent that’s redefining competitive gaming in India.”
Taking place from July 8 to August 24, the EWC 2025 features a record-breaking $70 million (approx. INR 598 crore) prize pool and hosts the world’s best talent across console, PC, and mobile titles. S8UL’s participation across different titles underscores the organization’s depth, diversity, and ambition.
The post iQOO Becomes Official Title Sponsor for S8UL’s Historic Esports World Cup 2025 campaign appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Felicity Appoints İlker Yoldaş to Lead Product Strategy
AI enabled game publisher, Felicity has appointed İlker Yoldaş, a revered name in the gaming industry as the company’s new Vice President of Product. With more than 20 years of experience in the gaming industry and over a decade in senior product leadership roles, İlker is known for scaling live games and building product infrastructure across mobile and emerging platforms. They specialise in live ops, AI- driven personalisation, and data-first monetisation.
İlker Yoldaş with their player-first leadership philosophy and cross functional experience, will play a pivotal role in shaping Felicity’s product strategy and global growth. İlker’s earlier roles with Homa, TastyPill, and Peak Games, have helped hone their focus on core game design, feature development, and systems thinking across multiple platforms. Prior to Felicity, İlker served as Head of Studio at Quiet, successfully leading it to acquisition by TapNation.
“Proud to join Felicity as VP of Product,” said İlker Yoldaş. “Energy is high, the roadmap is defined, and we’re hiring across multiple roles. Looking forward to shaping the future landscape of gaming through unseen innovations that redefine the industry.”
Felicity is strategically building a global leadership team to drive a tech-first game publishing model, combining innovative tech design, cross market expertise, and a unified vision to redefine how games are discovered, distributed, and scaled worldwide.
“İlker is a systems thinker with a player-first heart,” said Anurag Choudhary, Founder & CEO of Felicity. “İlker’s experience in leading teams, scaling live titles, and integrating AI into core gameplay systems makes for a perfect fit as we enter Felicity’s next phase of growth.”
“Felicity’s next chapter is global,” Anurag added. “Our talent footprint will span select markets globally, and every new team member will add deep expertise in mobile gaming, monetization strategy, and AI-driven design. We’re scaling not just our games but the systems behind them.”
The post Felicity Appoints İlker Yoldaş to Lead Product Strategy appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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“Rock the Month”: Spinmatic’s monthly promos to power operator growth
As summer reaches its peak, so do the opportunities for operators partnering with Spinmatic. The premium Slot developer has launched two new exclusive offers as part of its ongoing Rock the Month campaign – a high-impact promotional series featuring targeted incentives, exclusive discounts and seasonal themes designed to support long-term operator growth.
After a strong debut in July with Fruit Fiesta and Summer Splash, Rock the Month has quickly become a key initiative for many partners, offering unique commercial advantages each month, exclusively to Spinmatic clients.
For August, the provider turns up the heat with two new offers: Summer Crash and Freespin Hype. Both are available to apply for until July 25 and designed to help operators during the summer’s most critical weeks.
This August’s promotions offer Spinmatic’s partners the chance to unlock up to 60% off in Revenue Share, depending on the offer selected. Full activation details – including game selection and placement requirements – are reserved exclusively for Spinmatic’s operator network.
“Our goal with Rock the Month is to bring consistent value to our partners,” said Norbert Mathies, Managing Director at Spinmatic. “We know operators are constantly under pressure to keep players engaged, so with our monthly promotions, we aim to offer something that’s genuinely useful. With two offers available each month, operators can choose the one that best fits their market. At the same time, we’re helping them get more out of their campaigns and explore new games with reduced risk.”
Spinmatic encourages operators and industry stakeholders to stay tuned, as new Rock the Month promotions will continue to be rolled out monthly. For those looking for innovative ways to increase player loyalty and revenue, now is the perfect time to get involved.
The post “Rock the Month”: Spinmatic’s monthly promos to power operator growth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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