Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap.
Kempton · Wednesday, 18 Mar · 22:00
· 7f
· Class 5
· POLYTRACK
WEIGHEDIN
Status
18:00
Off time
8
Runners
Standard / Slow
Going
🎯 Tipster's 1·2·3
Sporting Life pick
Betting forecast
Market prediction · 8 runners · sorted by price
01 · 🏆 FAV
3.75
11/4
02 · 🥈 2nd
5
4/1
03 · 🥉 3rd
5.50
9/2
04 · —
6.50
11/2
05 · —
8
7/1
06 · —
8.50
15/2
07 · —
15
14/1
08 · —
19
18/1
Sporting Life forecast prices — published the night before the race. Top 3 highlighted as market favourites.
Runners
| Pos | No. | Dr | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Wgt | Best decimal odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 1 | 5 |
Ecclefechan (G)
Fairly useful maiden who was well backed for all-weather debut and duly ran best race when second in 4-runner nursery at Lingfield (6f) in November. Gelded ahead of return and not discounted from this sort of mark.
|
Darragh Keenan | J Ryan | 3 | 61.2 kg |
15
14/1
|
| 7th | 2 | 4 |
Kilkenny Warrior (F)
Much improved for switch to handicaps on all-weather last year, decisively following up her breakthrough Southwell win at Lingfield in October. Manner of that success suggests there's likely even better to come in 2026.
|
Finley Marsh | R Hughes | 3 | 61.2 kg |
5
4/1
|
| 2nd | 3 | 7 |
French Affair (G)
FAV
Strong gelding who was successful on nursery debut at Newbury (6f) in August. Good placed efforts next 2 starts and may have found quick turnaround catching him out on final start in September. Makes all-weather debut on first start for 6 …
|
S M Levey | R Hannon | 3 | 61.2 kg |
3.75
11/4
|
| 8th | 4 | 6 |
Acclaimed Freedom (C)
Showed a bit when fourth on debut at Ascot and he duly improved for the step up in trip when landing 11-runner novice at Chelmsford (7f) later in September. Remains with potential now handicapping after 6 months off following a breathing o…
|
Callum Shepherd | George Scott | 3 | 61.2 kg |
8
7/1
|
| 3rd | 5 | 1 |
Hardstyle (G)
Has done well from a low base since the turn of the year, making it 3 wins from last 5 starts in 6-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 2 weeks ago. Did that emphatically so he ought to make another bold bid from 6 lb higher mark.
|
Billy Loughnane | G Boughey | 3 | 60.8 kg |
8.50
15/2
|
| 4th | 6 | 2 |
Dublin Bay (G)
Dual scorer in nurseries who ended 2025 with a good third over C&D in October, coping better with the trip than on his previous try. Eased further 1 lb ahead of return to action.
|
S Donohoe | Ollie Sangster | 3 | 59.9 kg |
19
18/1
|
| 6th | 7 | 3 |
Eyes Front (G)
Finished runner-up on 2 of 3 starts in maidens and shaped better than bare result when third on nursery debut at Leicester (7f) in July, impressing with how he travelled. Softer ground may not have been ideal at Newbury on final start and …
|
Alistair Rawlinson | E Smyth-Osbourne | 3 | 59.4 kg |
6.50
11/2
|
| 1st | 8 | 8 |
Lion of Mali (G)
Showed further progress having been gelded since last seen when winning 11-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 6 weeks ago. Still a shade green then and unlikely we've seen all he has to offer.
|
Oisin Murphy | J R Fanshawe | 3 | 56.2 kg |
5.50
9/2
|
Betting forecast: French Affair (11/4), Kilkenny Warrior (4/1), Lion of Mali (9/2), Eyes Front (11/2), Acclaimed Freedom (7/1), Hardstyle (15/2), Ecclefechan (14/1), Dublin Bay (18/1)
Prize money
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| P1 | 4187.0 GBP |
| P2 | 1965.0 GBP |
| P3 | 982.0 GBP |
| P4 | 491.0 GBP |
| P5 | 245.0 GBP |