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

2nd

9

(1)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Newmarket (July)

Lion Of Mali

9st 1lb

J: David Egan

T: James Fanshawe

Made it 3-4 for the year when winning at Leicester (7f, good to firm) in April and bounced back from a lesser run on soft ground with another win at Sandown last month (7f, good; Kimbara second); had just half a length to spare but he had to wait for a clear run and all of his wins have been by narrow margins; could still be ahead of the handicapper up 3lb.

9/2

1st

10

(6)

12th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Sandown

Lion Of Mali

9st 3lb

J: David Egan

T: James Fanshawe

Record in his first five handicaps read 21121, but finished over 7l behind Euphonia at Haydock (7f, soft) last month; may have found the ground too testing and now 10lb better off, but he still has work to do.

7/1

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

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

6th

7

(5)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 4

18:55 Doncaster

French Affair

9st 5lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Richard Hannon

A fair 6f winner at 2yrs; yet to add to his tally this season but has advanced his form, runner-up at York before a good C&D fourth last time out; firmly in the picture again.

6/1

4th

10

(2)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 4

18:55 Doncaster

French Affair

9st 0lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Richard Hannon

Just one win from 11 starts but he hit a personal best when going close in a 20-runner handicap at York (7f, good) last month; the first three pulled clear in that race and he's strongly respected off only 1lb higher.

8/1

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

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

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

5th

8

(1)

17th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

19:33 Newmarket (July)

Ecclefechan

8st 8lb

J: Alice Bond

T: John Ryan

0-13 and he hasn't suggested he's about to cash in on a reduced mark, including when sixth of ten at Carlisle (7f) last Thursday; he's never gone closer than when a neck second at Musselburgh last August on his sole start at 5f, however, which could be a straw to clutch to.

14/1

6th

6

(1)

9th Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 195y

Class 5

16:55 Carlisle

Ecclefechan

9st 8lb

J: Stevie Donohoe

T: John Ryan

12-race maiden; last of eight at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) 13 days ago when cheekpieces (now absent) were tried; others are more persuasive.

14/1

8th

8

(4)

26th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 3y

Class 5

12:30 Yarmouth

Ecclefechan

9st 4lb

J: Stevie Donohoe

T: John Ryan

Inconsistent 11-race maiden who produced one of his lesser efforts at Windsor (6f, good to firm) last time; this return to 7f is no problem but he needs to bounce back with cheekpieces added.

10/1

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

4th

2

(6)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 3y

Class 6

20:40 Epsom

Eyes Front

9st 8lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Edward Smyth-Osbourne

Probably started handicap life on a demanding mark and he'd dropped 10lb before going down by just under 2l when fifth of 15 at Doncaster (7f, good) in first-time blinkers on latest outing; hit the front over 1f out that day but wandered under pressure; needs to see it out better.

6/1

5th

4

(1)

14th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

15:30 Doncaster

Eyes Front

9st 8lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Edward Smyth-Osbourne

Has broadly stagnated this year and finished behind Norfolk Blue at Windsor (1m) most recently; chance largely depends on the effects of first-time blinkers.

16/1

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

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

8th

5

(9)

12th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Sandown

Kilkenny Warrior

9st 8lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Richard Hughes

Won his first two nurseries on the AW (6f/7f) last autumn, but the handicapper has been in charge since; still 6lb above her last winning mark and has a bit to prove back on turf with cheekpieces fitted.

14/1

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

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

4

(8)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 3y

Class 4

19:50 Epsom

Acclaimed Freedom

9st 7lb

J: Neil Callan

T: George Scott

Low-mileage 3yo who went close when dropped back to 6f at Windsor (6f, good to soft) last month and also ran well when fourth at Nottingham (6f, good to firm) on Saturday; might be better by a stiffer 6f than this but could have a say if aided by refitted cheekpieces.

7/2

4th

4

(5)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 18y

Class 5

19:00 Nottingham

Acclaimed Freedom

9st 9lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: George Scott

Won a Chelmsford novice (7f, AW) in the second of his two 2yo runs; made a low-key start in handicaps this spring but he resumed his progress back at 6f when going close at Windsor (good to soft) last month; nudged up 2lb but he's a big player if he can build on that last run.

9/4

2nd

11

(5)

8th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 12y

Class 5

17:04 Windsor

Acclaimed Freedom

9st 5lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: George Scott

Some promise on 6f debut at Ascot (soft) and didn't need to come on a ton to win a 7f Chelmsford AW novice next time; has not looked ahead of his mark in two AW handicaps this year but perhaps he'll do better back at 6f on soft turf.

10/1

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