Four nations will step onto the World Cup stage for the first time this summer, each having taken a different route to get there.

With the Golden Boot winner odds dominated by the usual names from the usual countries, it’s worth looking at who’s making history just by being there.

In this article, we reflect on the four debutants at World Cup 2026.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde beat Eswatini in October 2025 to seal their place at the tournament, completing a 40-year journey that began with their first qualifying campaign in 1990.

The archipelago off Africa’s west coast has a population of around 600,000, and at the point of qualification they became the second smallest nation to reach the finals – a record that lasted about a month before Curacao took it from them.

Their squad is built heavily on the diaspora. Six players were born in the Netherlands, and Roberto Lopes, a Shamrock Rovers defender born in Dublin, qualifies through his father.

He was recruited to the squad through LinkedIn, which tells you something about how far their net has been cast.

Curacao

The Caribbean island of Curacao has a population of just over 150,000, comparable to Cambridge or Huddersfield, and they’re now the smallest nation in World Cup history, overtaking Iceland’s record from 2018.

They qualified by drawing 0-0 with Jamaica, which was enough to go through.

Their 78-year-old manager Dick Advocaat will become the oldest coach in World Cup history at the tournament, beating the record set by Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 when he took Greece to the 2010 finals.

Curacao only became an independent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010. Fifteen years on, they’re at the World Cup.

Jordan

Jordan have been trying to qualify for the World Cup for four decades.

They played their first campaign 40 years ago and have come close more than once since, but this time they got over the line, finishing second in AFC qualifying Group B behind South Korea.

They’re drawn in Group J alongside Argentina, Algeria, and Austria. It’s a difficult group to walk into on debut, and Argentina will command most of the attention.

You can see where they sit in the World Cup winner odds. Jordan will know they’re the outsiders. But they’re there, which four years ago looked far from certain.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan lost out in the final qualifying round for both the 2006 and 2014 tournaments. They’ve been knocking on the door for two decades, and this time they held on to secure a first World Cup place.

The name to watch is Abdukodir Khusanov, the Manchester City defender who became the first Uzbek player to appear in the Premier League.

He’s the most high-profile player Uzbekistan have ever sent to a major tournament and gives the squad a focal point that previous generations didn’t have.

 

 

For five days every June, Royal Ascot becomes the beating heart of British racing.

The world’s best horses, trainers, and jockeys converge on Berkshire, bookmakers roll out their biggest offers of the year—and punters pile in hoping to land a life-changing winner.

But here’s the reality: Royal Ascot is one of the toughest betting events in the calendar.

Huge fields, international runners, constantly shifting ground conditions, and razor-sharp markets mean guesswork simply doesn’t cut it.

Picking winners consistently requires deep analysis, specialist knowledge, and—crucially—discipline.

That’s where the right Ascot tipsters can make all the difference.

The best services don’t just throw out selections—they break down race conditions, track draw bias, analyse pace setups, and identify value the market has missed.

Done properly, following expert advice can turn Royal Ascot from an expensive guessing game into a structured, potentially profitable betting strategy.

At Honest Betting Reviews, we take things a step further.

We don’t rely on marketing claims or cherry-picked results. Instead, we run live trials, track every bet in real time, and publish full performance data—profit/loss, ROI, strike rate, and drawdowns—so you can see exactly how each tipster performs under real conditions.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• Our top 5 Ascot tipsters, ranked based on verified results
• How we test and rate tipster services independently
• What separates genuine experts from hype-driven tipsters
• Key factors that winning Ascot bettors analyse
• How to use tips safely with proper bankroll management

If you’re serious about making the most of Royal Ascot—whether you’re backing your first bet or looking to sharpen your edge—this guide will point you in the right direction.

Ascot Tipsters Overview

Ascot tipsters are specialist horse racing analysts who focus specifically on races at Ascot Racecourse, with particular emphasis on the Royal Meeting held every year in mid-June.

These services differ fundamentally from generic daily racing tipsters by honing in on the unique characteristics of this right-handed galloping track.

The distinction between Royal Ascot specialists and everyday tipsters matters significantly. Generic services spread their focus across dozens of UK tracks without developing deep course-specific data.

Genuine Ascot specialists study the straight course configurations, analyse draw bias patterns across big field handicaps, and track how ground conditions affect outcomes in specific races. 

They understand why horses like Stradivarius won the Gold Cup three times between 2018 and 2020, and why Kyprios dominated in 2022–2023.

The stakes at Royal Ascot justify this specialist approach. The Royal Hunt Cup regularly attracts 30+ runners over one mile.

The Wokingham Stakes sees similarly huge fields. International challengers from Ireland, France, USA, Australia and Japan are often mispriced by bookmakers unfamiliar with their form.

Many bookmakers offer enhanced promotions during the event, including extra places on big handicaps, free bets, and money-back specials on Group 1 races.

Following the right advice during these five days can yield substantial profits that generic tips simply cannot match.

Top 5 Ascot Tipsters (Ranked List)

Below we’ve ranked five of the most relevant and proven horse racing tipsters for Ascot and Royal Ascot betting, incorporating real performance data such as profit, ROI, and strike rate where available.

5) The Outside Edge

Starting off our top five is The Outside Edge, a data-driven service focused on trends and statistical profiling.

The approach centres on identifying value using factors like draw bias, trainer patterns, race conditions, and historical Ascot trends—particularly effective in big-field handicaps such as the Royal Hunt Cup and Wokingham Stakes.

Performance-wise, services of this type typically operate with lower strike rates (around 20–30%) due to targeting bigger-priced selections, but compensate with strong returns when winners land.

Historical results from Betting Gods show solid long-term profitability, with over 700 points profit made in total at a solid return on investment of 7%.

This makes it a classic high-risk, high-reward profile—ideal for Ascot, where one well-placed outsider can transform a week. 

It performed very well during our live trial, producing 269 points profit at advised prices, showing it can perform under the spotlight. 

Best for: Data-led bettors targeting bigger-priced value plays.

4) Always Back Winners

Always Back Winners is a long-standing racing service combining consistent daily tips with a strong focus on major festivals like Royal Ascot.

The service has produced over 1,000 points profit in total, with a solid ROI typically in the 10–20% range, supported by a strike rate around 35–45% depending on bet type.

During our review, the service produced a superb 105 points profit, achieved with a 21% ROI.

One of its defining features is the use of multiples—doubles, trebles, and Lucky 15s—which can significantly boost returns during Ascot week.

For example, combined festival results across recent years show profits of 30+ points from multiples alone, highlighting the upside when selections align.

The trade-off is variance—losing runs can occur—but the structured staking system helps manage this over time.

Best for: Bettors who enjoy multiples and structured betting strategies.

3) The Bet Alchemist

The Bet Alchemist, run by Nicky Doyle, is one of the most established and proven horse racing tipsters in the UK.

The service boasts over 800 points profit since 2012, averaging roughly 70+ points per year, with our trial data showing an impressive ROI of around 25–26%.

Strike rates are typically moderate (around 25–35%), reflecting a value-driven approach that often targets bigger-priced selections.

This includes numerous winners in the 20/1–66/1 range, particularly at major meetings like Royal Ascot.

A key strength is the emphasis on widely available odds, which is critical during busy festivals where prices can collapse quickly.

Overall, this is a proven long-term performer with the ability to deliver standout Ascot weeks through a handful of high-value winners.

Best for: Value bettors seeking big-priced winners with strong ROI.

2) The Bookies Enemy

Sitting just below our top selection is The Bookies Enemy, a highly regarded horse racing tipster with a strong long-term track record and a reputation for consistent, sustainable profits.

The service has been operating since around 2017 and has built up an impressive record over time, including 300+ points profit in a single year (2022) and continued profitability across multiple seasons.

Our review highlighted its reliability, with excellent performance over a sustained period and 104 points profit made.

What sets The Bookies Enemy apart is its balanced profile. Unlike some high-risk, big-odds tipsters, it combines:

• Strike rate: Typically around 30–40%, offering a solid level of consistency
• ROI: Generally estimated in the 10–20% range over the long term
• Bet profile: A mix of value selections at mid-range odds, rather than extreme outsiders

This makes it particularly well-suited to Royal Ascot, where maintaining consistency across five days is just as important as landing a big-priced winner.

The Bookies Enemy has shown a penchant for both however, adding some huge winners at Ascot alongside solid, consistent long-term results.

The service tends to focus on carefully selected bets rather than high volume, helping to keep drawdowns manageable—an important factor during competitive meetings like Ascot.

Overall, The Bookies Enemy offers a strong blend of profitability, consistency, and sensible staking, making it an excellent option for bettors who want a reliable service rather than a high-variance approach.

Best for: Bettors seeking consistent profits with a balanced strike rate and controlled risk.

1) Loves Racing

Taking the top spot is Loves Racing, one of the most consistent and proven horse racing tipsters we’ve tested at Honest Betting Reviews.

Run by Brett Love, the service has delivered 900+ points profit since 2017, with our live trial recording +84 points initially and over +160 points thereafter.

Strike rates are typically in the 30–40% range, striking a strong balance between consistency and value, while ROI remains robust thanks to a steady stream of well-priced winners.

Crucially for Ascot, the service has a proven ability to land big-priced selections (including multiple 50/1 winners), at major festivals like Royal Ascot and marquee race days.

Indeed, at the major festivals Loves Racing boasts a very impressive 300+ points profit at Betfair SP, demonstrating its specialism at the big meetings like Royal Ascot.

The selective approach—fewer bets but higher quality—helps minimise drawdowns while still allowing for significant upside during key meetings.

Best for: Bettors seeking a proven, long-term profitable tipster with strong Ascot performance.

How Honest Betting Reviews Tests Ascot Tipsters

Honest Betting Reviews runs live, results-tracked trials of Ascot and all-year racing tipsters. We follow every selection with real-time logging rather than relying on claimed results or selective screenshots.

Our key metrics include:

Metric	What We Measure	Target for Top Services
ROI	Return on investment across all bets	10–25%
Strike-rate	Percentage of winning selections	25–35% at Ascot
Maximum drawdown	Largest losing run during trial	Under 15–20% of bank
Average odds vs SP	Edge captured before market moves	+5–10% advantage
Bet volume	Number of selections per week	15–30 during Royal Ascot

During Royal Ascot week, we log every bet with date, race time, stake, odds, and bookmaker used.

We publish updated profit/loss tables throughout the meeting so readers can verify performance in real time.

Practical factors matter too. We assess whether odds remain available at major UK bookmakers when tips are sent, and whether email or app delivery arrives early enough for punters to act.

Tips should typically land the evening before racing for the 14:30 opener, allowing time for odds shopping and account management.

Crucially, we check long-term performance beyond a single Royal Ascot. One profitable week does not make a reliable tipster.

We require 12+ months of data showing consistent results at Ascot and other major meetings before ranking any service highly.

Royal Ascot Tips – What A Good Tipster Actually Provides

Understanding what professional Ascot services deliver helps separate genuine experts tips from social media guesswork and today’s tips thrown together without proper analysis.

A quality Royal Ascot tip email or members’ page contains:

• Race identification: Full details including time and race name, such as the 16:20 Jersey Stakes on 18 June 2025
• Selection: Clear horse name with no ambiguity
• Staking advice: Specific guidance like 1pt win or 0.5pt each-way
• Odds and bookmaker recommendations: Which firms offer best odds and where to find value
• Write-up: Detailed reasoning supporting the selection

High-quality write-ups should cover course configuration, explaining whether the race runs on the straight course or round course.

Draw and pace maps matter enormously in big handicaps where stall position can determine whether a horse gets a clear run.

Ground conditions must feature prominently, as going changes can flip fortunes completely.

Staking plans vary between services. Some use level stakes with 1pt per bet regardless of confidence.

Others employ points-based systems scaling from 2pt to 5pt based on edge assessment.

For each way bets, the best tipsters explain their reasoning, particularly in 20+ runner fields where 1/5 odds paying 1-2-3-4 places creates genuine value.

Example Gold Cup Write-Up

Consider a hypothetical Gold Cup tip for a Kyprios-type stayer at 4/1 each-way on Thursday.

A professional write-up would reference the trainer’s Ascot record (Aidan O’Brien with 35%+ win rate at the track), proven stamina over 2m4f, soft ground affinity from previous wins, and pace setup analysis suggesting mid-division runners benefit from the testing uphill finish.

This level of detail separates genuine experts from punters simply picking names.

Key Factors Ascot Tipsters Analyse

Genuine Ascot specialists study multiple interconnected factors before advising selections. Understanding these elements helps you evaluate whether a tipster has done proper homework.

Course Form

Previous winners and placers at Ascot Racecourse frequently repeat strong performances. The track’s configuration, particularly the demanding uphill finish, rewards specific running styles.

Horses like Stradivarius and Kyprios dominated the Gold Cup because their stamina profiles suited these unique demands. Data shows 64% of Gold Cup winners are aged 4–5 years old.

Going and Ground Conditions

Soft ground versus good to firm can completely alter race outcomes. Sprinters in the King’s Stand Stakes may struggle when ground turns testing, while stamina horses thrive.

The Wokingham Stakes on softer going often sees different types prevail. Sharp tipsters monitor conditions and adjust recommendations accordingly.

Draw Bias

This factor proves critical in big field handicaps. Stall 1 at six furlongs has returned +67.33 LSP over five years at Ascot.

High draws won approximately 60% of Royal Hunt Cup renewals between 2020–2024.

However, biases shift based on ground and rail positions, so top tipsters adjust day-by-day using evidence from earlier races.

Pace and Tactics

Winners on the straight track often come from off the pace when the field goes too hard early. Analysis shows 46% of straight-track handicap winners track the pace before striking late.

On the round course, handy positions prove more important as the bend into the straight can cause traffic problems.

Trainer and Jockey Records

Certain yards dominate Royal Ascot. Aidan O’Brien has accumulated 80+ winners at the meeting. John and Thady Gosden and Willie Mullins consistently produce winners at strike rates between 20–30%.

Among jockeys, Rossa Ryan shows +72.38 LSP from 17 Ascot winners. Top tipsters factor these statistics into every selection.

International Challengers

US, French, Irish, Australian and Japanese runners often arrive mispriced by UK bookmakers unfamiliar with overseas form.

Better Ascot tipsters specialise in evaluating international form lines, identifying when a French Group 2 winner represents genuine Group 1 class at value odds.

Using Ascot Tipsters Safely – Bankroll, Offers & Expectations

Even elite Ascot tipsters experience losing races and sometimes entire losing days. Responsible gambling means accepting this reality and managing stakes appropriately.

Bankroll Management

Set aside a dedicated points bank for Royal Ascot week, typically 100–200 points. Use stakes of 1–2 points maximum per bet, representing roughly 1% of your total bank.

This approach ensures no single losing day wipes out your entire budget. Never chase losses after a bad Tuesday opener by increasing stakes on Wednesday.

Pairing Tips with Bookmaker Value

Maximise returns by shopping for best odds across bookmakers. During Royal Ascot, many bookmakers offer extra places on the Wokingham or Royal Hunt Cup, paying out on positions 1-2-3-4-5-6 rather than standard terms.

Free bets and money-back offers on Group 1 races add further value. New customers can often access enhanced promotions including qualifying deposit bonuses.

Note that free bets expire within set time limits, and payment method exclusions apply with certain deposit methods.

Debit card deposits typically qualify, while Apple Pay or other deposit methods may not.

Always check eligibility restrictions, min deposit requirement, and min odds conditions.

Bet credits stake requirements vary, and free bets exclude virtuals on selected sportsbook markets.

Payment method exclusions and bet types excl conditions mean registration required terms should be reviewed carefully.

Non withdrawable bonus funds and account reg conditions also affect customer offer terms for new UK customers.

Realistic Expectations

A good Royal Ascot week might yield +10–25 points at average odds around 10/1 with a 25–30% strike rate.

This is excellent performance. Services promising 70%+ strike rates or guaranteed winners are selling fantasy.

The event involves plenty of competitive racing where even the best analysis sometimes falls short.

Honest Betting Reviews does not sell tips. We provide impartial reviews and long-term records so bettors can make informed decisions about whether a tipster service merits their subscription.

How To Spot an Ascot Tipster Scam

Protecting yourself from fraudulent services requires recognising common warning signs.

Red flags include:

• Unverified profit screenshots showing only winning bets
• No losing runs displayed anywhere in promotional material
• Edited or deleted past tips that performed poorly
• Posting winning slips only after results are known
• Tipsters who suddenly “specialise” in Royal Ascot one week per year with no recorded results from previous Ascot race meetings
• Claimed results without any independent verification

Before subscribing to any service, look for independent proofing through third-party platforms.

Full historical spreadsheets showing every bet—winners and losers—indicate transparency.

Reviews on sites like Honest Betting Reviews provide independent verification of claimed performance.

Any service refusing to share complete records should be treated with extreme caution. A single bet winning screenshot proves nothing about long-term profitability.

Year-Round Ascot Tips Beyond Royal Ascot

Ascot betting opportunities extend far beyond the Royal Meeting in June. The racecourse hosts prestigious fixtures throughout the calendar, and specialist tipsters target these events too.

Key Flat Fixtures

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in late July attracts top middle-distance horses.

The Shergar Cup in August features international jockey teams. QIPCO British Champions Day in October includes the Champion Stakes and other Group 1 races with substantial prize money and betting interest.

Major Jumps Fixtures

Winter racing at Ascot includes the Clarence House Chase in January, where Paul Nicholls has achieved 40% win rates.

The Ascot Chase in February tests horses over fences on this galloping track. The Long Walk Hurdle in December draws top staying hurdlers.

Trainer data shows Harry Fry at +21.13 LSP and jockey Charlie Deutsch at +52.28 LSP performing strongly at Ascot jumps meetings.

Honest Betting Reviews tracks tipster performance specifically at Ascot across both codes throughout the year.

This approach reveals who genuinely excels at the track rather than only performing during the Royal Meeting when promotional focus peaks. The Cheltenham Festival provides similar data points for evaluating jump racing tipsters’ major festival performance.

How To Choose The Right Ascot Tipster For You

The “best” Ascot tipster depends entirely on your budget, preferred bet types, and risk tolerance. No single bet service suits everyone.

Decide what coverage you want:

• Daily through-the-card coverage with multiple selections
• A single bet NAP per day for focused following
• Selective big-priced each-way plays in big handicaps only

Check subscription costs against historical profit in points. A service costing £30/month that delivers +100 points annually at 1pt stakes represents genuine value.

Calculate expected returns based on your intended stake size before committing.

Test services ahead of Royal Ascot during normal Ascot meetings in April and May.

This allows you to adapt to staking plans, understand the tipster’s style, and assess whether their approach matches your preferences.

Play with minimum odds requirements and small stakes initially.

Read full, data-driven reviews on Honest Betting Reviews before subscribing to any service. Our live trials provide independent verification of claimed results.

Start small before committing larger stakes at Royal Ascot and beyond. The royal meeting offers tremendous opportunities, but only when following genuinely proven advice rather than marketing hype.

 

 

Football still owns the billboards. The NFL, NBA, Premier League, Champions League, IPL, UFC, and Grand Slam tennis still pull the public conversation. But betting interest does not follow TV fame in a straight line.

Bookmakers care less about who gets the loudest pre-game show and more about handle volume, market frequency, liquidity, pricing confidence, and live-betting rhythm.

That is why table tennis, esports, lower-division football, challenger tennis, and niche basketball can matter more to a trading room than a casual fan expects.

The public sees ratings. Operators see tickets.

Handle Volume Is Not the Same as Audience Size

A sport can have a massive audience and still offer fewer betting windows than a smaller sport with nonstop fixtures.

The Super Bowl attracts enormous wagering because it is a national ritual. But a trading desk also values repeatable, day-by-day turnover.

That is the hidden split:

Sport type	Public visibility	Betting value driver	Why operators care
NFL, football, NBA	Very high	Big-event handle	Heavy pre-match liquidity
Tennis	High to medium	One-on-one pricing	Frequent in-play swings
Table tennis	Low	Constant fixtures	Short matches, fast markets
Esports	Medium	Digital-native audiences	Live props, map markets
Lower leagues	Low	Local knowledge gaps	Softer pricing, niche demand

The betting market likes repetition. A sport with hundreds of weekly fixtures can feed a sportsbook longer than a single premium broadcast.

The Invisible Betting Sports

Table tennis is the cleanest example. Most casual sports fans do not schedule their evening around a table tennis match in Czechia, Poland, or Germany.

Traders still watch it because the sport produces compact matches, frequent point-by-point shifts, and a deep live-betting structure.

Lower-division football works differently. The public may ignore a third-tier match, but bettors follow team news, weather, injuries, travel fatigue, pitch quality, and liquidity movement. A small information edge matters more when public money is thin.

Esports sits between those two worlds. League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Valorant have real audiences, but their betting appeal comes from format depth.

Maps, rounds, first blood, total kills, handicap lines, and series score markets create more decision points than a simple match-winner bet.

Where Betting Demand Meets Digital Entertainment

A casual bettor often arrives with one match in mind, then studies the surrounding board.

Football might be the entry point, but tennis, basketball, cricket, esports, and live specials keep the session moving.

A serious betting site earns attention when it gives that user pre-match odds, in-play markets, statistics, and a quick bet slip without forcing them to leave the event flow.

The stronger product is not always the loudest brand on TV. It is the one that keeps pricing, settlement, and market depth stable when several events move at once.

Esports betting follows a different rhythm because the audience already lives around streams, patch notes, Discord rooms, and real-time stats.

Map vetoes, roster changes, side selection, economy rounds, and tournament format can move a line before casual viewers understand why.

A developed esports betting site has to price Dota 2, CS2, League of Legends, Valorant, and similar titles as structured markets rather than novelty content.

That matters because esports bettors often compare odds while watching the same match on a second screen. The best experience feels fast, specific, and readable during the round itself.

Short-session entertainment also helps explain why casino mechanics sit alongside sportsbook behavior in many digital routines.

A bettor who waits for team news or halftime markets may switch into slots for a few minutes, then return to the live board when a line reopens.

An casino online section works that way when it keeps games easy to filter by provider, mechanics, and session length. Slots still run on RNG and house edge, so the point is pacing rather than prediction.

The overlap is not strategy; it is habit, timing, and screen behavior.

Why Table Tennis Became a Trading-Room Favorite

Table tennis has three qualities operators value:

• High fixture volume
• Short match duration
• Continuous live-price movement

That creates a natural product for bettors who prefer fast markets. A football bettor waits 90 minutes. A table tennis bettor can see multiple momentum turns in 10 minutes.

This does not mean table tennis is easy to price. Small data errors matter. A delayed point update can distort a market.

Integrity monitoring also becomes more sensitive because lower-visibility events attract attention from sharper betting groups.

Esports Is Not a Side Category Anymore

Esports betting used to be treated as an extra tab. That is outdated. The audience is younger, mobile-heavy, and comfortable reading advanced stats while watching live competition.

The strongest esports markets usually have:

• Stable tournament organizers
• Clear match formats
• Public rosters
• Reliable live data
• High broadcast availability
• Deep historical stats

CS2 creates round-by-round tension. Dota 2 turns around Roshan timing and draft execution. League of Legends depends on objective control, side pressure, and scaling compositions. Valorant creates micro-markets around pistol rounds, map picks, and agent composition.

Bookmakers like that structure because it produces data. Bettors like it because it gives them more than a blunt win/lose ticket.

The Lower-League Problem

Lower leagues generate betting interest because they punish lazy pricing. That is also why they are harder to manage.

A small football club may rotate heavily after a long bus trip. A local derby may produce cards that models understate. A bad pitch may reduce expected goals. Weather can flatten a favorite’s technical edge.

That is where bookmakers often limit stakes, adjust margins, or suspend markets faster. Public interest may be low, but the information war is real.

Betting Interest by Practical Value

Rank by betting utility	Sport	Main reason
1	Football	Global schedule, deep liquidity, many markets
2	Basketball	High scoring, strong live-betting flow
3	Tennis	One-on-one volatility, frequent momentum shifts
4	Cricket	Long match formats, props, innings markets
5	Esports	Digital-native audience, map and round markets
6	Table tennis	Fast cycles, constant fixtures
7	Lower-league football	Soft pricing, local information edge

The public ranking would look different. That is the point.

Why Bookmakers Quietly Prefer Certain Sports

Operators do not love a sport because it is glamorous. They prefer sports that offer manageable risk, repeatable markets, reliable data, and enough bettor interest to keep the book balanced.

A sport becomes valuable when it delivers:

• Many events
• Clear rules
• Fast settlement
• Frequent live-betting moments
• Stable data feeds
• Enough liquidity to manage exposure

That is why the invisible sports stay on the board. They are not always loved by broadcasters. They are useful, measurable, and alive almost every hour.