March 18 / 18.00 Kempton (AW)

18.00

Standard To Slow

Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Clear

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 5072-1 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Went down by a nose on sole nursery start at Newcastle last year and overcame widest stall to go one better at Wolverhampton 40 days ago (both 7f; gelded in between); major claims up 3lb with Oisin Murphy booked.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(10)

21st May 2026

Soft

0m 6f 212y

Class 5

15:30 Haydock

Lion Of Mali

9st 9lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Fanshawe

Progressive sort who made it three wins in four starts this year when squeezing through (hit on the nose by rival's whip) to lead towards the finish and beat the reopposing Eduardo Calderon at Leicester (7f, good to firm) 26 days ago; nudged up only 2lb and another bold bid looks assured if he as effective on softer ground (well held on good to soft last year but it was in a valuable sales race).

5/2

1st

8

(4)

25th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

17:05 Leicester

Lion Of Mali

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Fanshawe

Beaten a nose on handicap debut at Newcastle (7f), after which he was gelded; won on Tapeta and Polytrack in next two starts and was a creditable second in his hat-trick bid at Kempton (7f) three weeks ago; still lightly raced and he's a big player if he can transfer his progress back on turf.

5/2

2nd

8

(1)

1st Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Lion Of Mali

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

Beaten a nose on his handicap debut (7f), after which he was gelded; 2-2 in handicaps this year, winning narrowly at Wolverhampton in February and having more in hand than the head margin indicated over C&D two weeks ago; latest 3lb rise shouldn't prevent another big run.

5/2

OUR TIP

15/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 61324- BF

Last run: 180 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Very narrow win on nursery debut at Newbury (6f) then twice highly competitive (6f/7f); last race perhaps came too soon; could bounce back, with real hope for AW on breeding.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

14

(19)

23rd May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:50 York

French Affair

9st 4lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Richard Hannon

Usually runs some sort of race but he has not finished with much purpose at Southwell (AW) or Lingfield (turf) on his last two starts, and this is more competitive; needs a revival.

16/1

4th

7

(4)

9th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Lingfield

French Affair

9st 5lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Scored on handicap debut at Newbury (6f, good) in August and it was a good return when just failing at Kempton in March; took a big step backwards at Southwell (also 7f, AW) next time, although that was a little out of character so probably worth forgiving.

6/1

Form: 16563-

Last run: 140 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Heavily backed when beating three rivals on nursery debut at Ffos Las last year and duly followed up at Doncaster (both 6f); good third over C&D when last seen but suspect others are open to more improvement; cheekpieces quickly discarded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

29th May 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 5

19:50 Wolverhampton (AW)

Dublin Bay

9st 9lb

T: Ollie Sangster

Improved for the switch to nurseries last summer, winning easily at Ffos Las and Doncaster (both 6f) before finishing off strongly for sixth in a much stronger race at York's Ebor meeting; better than ever when winning a C&D handicap in April and his subsequent fifth of 19 at Ascot was in a Class 4; could still rate higher; key player despite a wider draw than ideal.

9/2

5th

12

(9)

8th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Ascot

Dublin Bay

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Ollie Sangster

More exposed than most but he won third handicap when making all at Wolverhampton (7f, AW; just held on) four weeks ago; also won twice at 6f on sound turf so these conditions should be no problem, but a 4lb rise might be.

14/1

1st

6

(2)

10th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Dublin Bay

9st 5lb

J: Stevie Donohoe

T: Ollie Sangster

Dual turf winner (6f) last summer and he's run respectably from the front at Kempton (7f, Polytrack) in his last two starts; should benefit from his reappearance run last month and he's still unexposed at this trip; dangerous with cheekpieces reapplied.

7/1

8/1

Form: 20442-

Last run: 134 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Just about a PB when going down by a neck over 6f at Lingfield last time (well backed); return to 7f looks a good move and he has reasonable claims of going one better off 1lb higher, particularly if gelding operation has the desired effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

13

(10)

23rd May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 4

19:00 Windsor

Ecclefechan

9st 2lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: John Ryan

0-10 but he's gone close on a couple of occasions, including when beaten a neck in Lingfield nursery (6f, AW) in November; favourite but only fourth of eight behind Akabusi at Newmarket (6f, good) last Friday; needs more.

9/1

4th

2

(9)

15th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:25 Newmarket

Ecclefechan

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John Ryan

Maiden who had some useful 2yo form, including in a competitive 7f handicap on this course before going close against a big improver over 6f on Lingfield AW in November; satisfactory reappearance in March but was seriously hampered at Ripon since; interesting contender.

15/8

5th

3

(4)

25th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Ripon

Ecclefechan

9st 8lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: John Ryan

0-8; lost out in tight finishes at Musselburgh (5f novice) and Lingfield (6f nursery) as a juvenile; gelded over the winter and fifth of eight on Kempton return (7f; 14-1, beaten 4l) six weeks ago; 1lb lower but likely needs a fraction more.

14/1

Form: 02236-

Last run: 180 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Two good seconds in maiden company (both 7f) but went backwards in nurseries, finishing two places and over 4l behind a slightly disappointing French Affair last time; others appeal more on AW debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(5)

23rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 31y

Class 5

18:30 Windsor

Eyes Front

9st 4lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Edward Smyth-Osbourne

Regressive, exposed maiden who wasn't best suited by the way things unfolded behind Legacy Rock over C&D last time; 5lb better off with the winner, which gives him claims, but he didn't conclusively prove his stamina that day.

7/1

5th

5

(8)

4th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 31y

Class 5

15:33 Windsor

Eyes Front

9st 6lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Edward Smyth-Osbourne

Maiden who has been campaigned only over 6f/7f; had a consistent spell last summer but not in the same form since; chance partly depends on the effects of the new trip.

20/1

5th

2

(8)

21st Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 3y

Class 5

16:20 Yarmouth

Eyes Front

9st 8lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Edward Smyth-Osbourne

Runner-up in maiden company on two occasions last June (both 7f) but he's not built on those efforts in three handicaps, including two since being gelded; drops back to 6f with cheekpieces back on (worn once previously); others preferred.

8/1

Form: 00511- D

Last run: 155 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Different proposition when switched to nurseries last year, winning comfortably at Southwell (6f) and Lingfield (7f) under Finley Marsh; highly likely has more to offer at three; trainer took a division of this in 2025.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(1)

11th May 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

21:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Kilkenny Warrior

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

Well treated when entering nursery company last autumn, twice winning easily (6f-7f); tougher going off her revised mark this spring but her latest effort, and the dam's side of her pedigree, gives hope this longer trip will be within range.

7/1

3rd

1

(6)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

16:45 Lingfield (AW)

Kilkenny Warrior

9st 9lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Richard Hughes

Ended 2025 with nursery wins at Southwell (6f) and Lingfield (7f); shaped as if the run was needed after five months off when seventh at Kempton (7f) last month and can get back on track here.

12/1

7th

2

(4)

18th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

18:00 Kempton (AW)

Kilkenny Warrior

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

Different proposition when switched to nurseries last year, winning comfortably at Southwell (6f) and Lingfield (7f) under Finley Marsh; highly likely has more to offer at three; trainer took a division of this in 2025.

7/2

Form: 41- D

Last run: 181 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Only had to do what he did at Ascot on debut (6f; fourth of five) to open his account over this trip at Chelmsford last time; has undergone wind surgery since (yard 4-11 with horses running for the first time following such a procedure) and he enters handicaps off what looks a fair mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(8)

28th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 4

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Acclaimed Freedom

9st 3lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: George Scott

Underwent wind surgery not long after winning a Chelmsford novice last September; last of ten off 1lb higher than this on his Polytrack comeback ten days ago and has something to prove in first-time cheekpieces.

10/1

8th

4

(6)

18th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

18:00 Kempton (AW)

Acclaimed Freedom

9st 9lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: George Scott

Only had to do what he did at Ascot on debut (6f; fourth of five) to open his account over this trip at Chelmsford last time; has undergone wind surgery since (yard 4-11 with horses running for the first time following such a procedure) and he enters handicaps off what looks a fair mark.

9/2

1

(11)

18th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

18:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Acclaimed Freedom

9st 7lb

J: Harry Davies

T: George Scott

Brother to useful 7f performer Great Acclaim; displayed clear promise when fourth of five in what was probably a good Ascot novice (6f, soft) this month; drawn wide here but can pose a threat if this very different C&D suits.

9/4

Form: -11251 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.00
Straight Forecast £17.67
Tricast £91.52
Trifecta £75.00

Selections

POSTDATA:

Hardstyle

SPOTLIGHT:

Kilkenny Warrior

The Times:

Lion Of Mali

NEWMARKET:

Acclaimed Freedom

Daily Mail:

French Affair

RP RATINGS:

Eyes Front

Daily Mirror:

Hardstyle

The Sun:

Hardstyle

Daily Record:

Acclaimed Freedom

LAMBOURN:

Kilkenny Warrior

The Star:

Kilkenny Warrior

Telegraph:

Lion Of Mali

The Guardian:

Lion Of Mali

D Express:

French Affair