HOME BANKER
Home is where the heart is and Festival punters could be loving HOME BY THE LEE (Cheltenham, 3.30) if he can win today’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle. Sixth in the race last year, Joseph o’Brien’s gelding has improved markedly in the intervening 12 months and arrives arri at Prestbury Park in rude health courtesy of impressive imp wins at Navan and Leopardstown.
The eight-year-old used to take a lot of pushing, but he is a more mature and compliant hurdler this year and his victory at Christmas stamped him as a great bet to land this afternoon’s feature.
A ‘PLASTIC-EATING’ robot shark is being deployed in a bid to cut water pollution in London’s Canary Wharf.
The 5ft drone can collect up to half a ton – 500kg – of plastic waste a day, equivalent to 22,700 drink bottles.
It will also gather microplastics and other pollutants as it makes its way through more than three miles (5km) of waterway before needing a recharge.
The machine is the first marine robot designed to remove floating waste in the capital and can collect data on water quality in the Thames as it swims.
The WasteShark, created by Dutch company RanMarine Technology, has been sponsored by sparkling water brand Aqua Libra.
Due to pollution from agriculture, sewage, roads and single-use plastics, only 14 per cent of English rivers have an ecological status designated as good.
It is estimated that 8million tons of plastic enter our oceans every year, much of it coming from cities via rivers.