13:35 Kempton

Saturday 28 March 2026

All13:3514:0814:4215:1315:5216:2817:03

Virgin Bet Handicap

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 1m 25.55s

(6)

Al Arbeed¹²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Joe Leavy| T: R Hannon| OR: 94| D

11/1

Debut maiden winner on AW 12 months ago and progressive form in defeat next 3 starts, including when fourth at Southwell on handicap bow in October after 6 months off. Disappointed at Wolverhampton following month but remains relatively unexposed.

Form: 13447-

(2)

Defence Minister¹⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 92| BF

9/4

Highly tried after winning first 2 starts but has done well in handicaps considering, including when fourth of 20 at Glorious Goodwood. Respected on AW debut/return.

Form: 6/90249-

(8)

Sisyphean^p1¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: D Egan| T: R Spencer| OR: 90

6/1

Front runner who's much better on speed-favouring tracks, twice going close for Kevin Ryan at York last season off higher marks, including on reappearance. However, low-key start for this yard at Meydan in December and headgear now applied.

Form: 292009-

(9)

Cogitate¹⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Loughnane| T: C Hills| OR: 87| BF| D

6/1

Reliable operator, including on the AW, and he ended last season with a good second here (1m). Others look better treated ahead of return, though.

Form: 647242-

(4)

Eminency^h,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Jack Dace⁽⁵⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 86| D

11/1

A three-time 6f/7f winner in the second half of 2025 and comes here in good nick, ending up too far back when third at Southwell (7.1f) 15 days ago. Has a fitness edge over most of these so ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 41-2043

(3)

Electrifarhh³¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: George Downing| T: E Walker| OR: 85| C

33/1

Progressive form, better for debut when winning novice over 1m here at 2 yrs and beaten only by a smart sort in Windsor novice on 3-y-o return in May. However, off since and handicapper has taken no chances.

Form: 41/2-

(5)

Bold Impact¹⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Oliver Searle⁽⁵⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 83| D

50/1

Epsom novice winner who made a promising return from over a year off when fourth of 11 on AW/handicap bow at Newcastle in October. Easy to forgive next run 3 weeks later but was sold from Ralph Beckett for 32,000 gns soon after.

Form: 3221/47-

(7)

Golden Redemption¹⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 82| BF

5/1

Progressive after joining this yard last summer, winning decent Newbury maiden before good placed efforts in handicaps there and Newmarket. Return to 7f will suit and remains one to be interested in.

Form: 733123-

(1)

I'm Workin On It²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: B R Millman| OR: 81| CD

4/1

Three-time C&D winner, including when forging clear in first-time headgear at the start of last month. Hit with a 9 lb rise for that success and managed only fourth over 1m here since, not obviously troubled by the extra 1f. Headgear left off.

Form: 422-114

Forecasts

Defence Minister (9/4), I'm Workin On It (4/1), Golden Redemption (5/1), Cogitate (6/1), Sisyphean (6/1), Eminency (11/1), Al Arbeed (11/1), Electrifarhh (33/1), Bold Impact (50/1)

GOLDEN REDEMPTION did well for Andrew Balding last season whilst leaving the impression he still has a bigger performance in him, so gets the vote with his yard well forward. Defence Minister boasts solid handicap form and rates the main threat ahead of the race-fit Eminency.