Defence Minister

Al Jehani's yard has sent out 18 winners already this season, which tells you this is not a quiet backwater operation — it is a functioning, competitive stable, and Defence Minister has contributed to that momentum. The horse's last win came at Kempton Park on 28 March 2026, just six weeks ago, so this is a horse in form rather than one chasing past glories. The fact that it raced just yesterday confirms it is being kept busy while things are going well.

The distance profile is where things get particularly interesting. Over five furlongs to six and a half furlongs — the shorter, sharper end of the speed spectrum — Defence Minister has won 2 of just 4 races, a 50% win rate. That is a remarkable number. Winning half your races at any distance suggests a horse that has genuinely found its best trip, where its speed and stamina are perfectly matched to what the race demands. The career began at Newmarket in August 2024, which is a sharp, fast track that suits exactly this kind of quick, decisive racer.

Recent form reads 17-1-9-4-2-15 going back through the last six races. That second place is encouraging, the wins and near-misses confirm the horse belongs at this level, and the wider-margin finishes suggest the occasional off day rather than a horse in decline. At Class 3 level — one step below the very top races in Britain — Defence Minister has won 1 from 3, which at 33% is a perfectly respectable return at a genuinely competitive grade. This is a horse that has found its level, knows how to win, and with a trainer in good form around it, there is every reason to think it is not finished adding to its tally.