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Horse Racing Betting Tips - Friday 20 February 2026 - Southwell

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Publish Date: 20/02/2026

Fact checked by: Jordan Noble

Key Points

Today’s betting tip has been running solid races in defeat
The drop in trip seems wise after a weak finish over 2f further
He placed third in his only other Class 5 Handicap off 3lb higher

Today there are Jumps meetings at Exeter, Warwick and Ffos Las, and All Weather racing at Dundalk and Southwell. And it's a horse at Southwell that has caught my attention today. While the race is over 1m 4f, it isn't the £40,000 Novice Stakes where Constitution Hill takes his chances on the Flat, it's actually a Class 5 Handicap race two hours earlier!

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Betting advice

17:30 Southwell - Pleasant Man @ 8/1 (4 places) - 1pt each way

At the time of writing, the best horse racing odds for Pleasant Man are 8/1. Several bookmakers are offering this price, with most offering four places. So, in order to decide on my bookmaker recommendation today, I have decided to look at their sign up offers, and there is a stand out in this category. If you bet £10, you’ll get £50 in free bets. Best odds and a handy free bet deal that’s worth signing up for!

Pleasant Man has finished closer in each of his last three runs

Three runs back, Pleasant Man was beaten by 12 lengths. Two runs back he was beaten by four lengths and last time out, he was beaten by just two and half lengths. He is gradually moving closer to getting his head in front, and I think today could be that day.

Pleasant Man has been running solid races in defeat

In October 2025, Pleasant Man moved from Martin Dunne to Joey Ramsden’s yard. When he moved, he was rated 82, and despite four of his six starts being creditable runs in defeat, his handicap mark has plummeted by 10lb. His first, third, fifth and sixth starts for this stable saw him beaten by just a few lengths, and produced RPRs of 80, 80, 79 and 79. Off his reduced mark of 72, he looks handicapped to strike.

Pleasant Man was a very talented horse back in 2021, recording two wins on the Flat off marks of 92 and 93, which produced huge RPRs of 99 and 101. While he isn’t the horse he once was, he still retains plenty of ability. He showed this in January last year when he won off an 8lb higher mark of 80, producing a RPR of 87.

Sometimes horses get caught in a cycle where they run solid races in defeat and the handicapper leaves their mark alone. What’s worse is when they run a big race in defeat, and get raised in the handicap. However, with continued support from the handicapper, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before Pleasant Man returns to winning ways. Hopefully that can be today off his mark of 72.

The drop in trip looks wise after Pleasant Man’s weak finish over 2f further

Pleasant Man’s latest win was his race last January, which was at this track, but over a 1m 6f trip. So it was quite disappointing when he ran over the same distance last time, but only managed fourth place. That said, he did a lot of the hard work at the front, and he was also only beaten two and a half lengths at the line.

Given how he finished his race, and that his two strongest RPRs this season came over distances of 1m 3f and 1m2f, I think the drop to 1m 4f here is the right call. It was less than 12 months ago when he ran here in a Group 3 race over 1m 3f and finished fifth, producing a RPR of 98. If he can reproduce anything close to that performance, he will have a huge chance today.

Pleasant Man placed third in his only other Class 5 Handicap off 3lb higher

As already touched upon, Pleasant Man has previously raced in Group company, so he has plenty of class. It’s certainly a surprise to see him competing at Class 5 level less than 12 months later. His only other Class 5 Handicap run was his penultimate start at Chelmsford over 1m 5.5f at Chelmsford, where he finished third, beaten by four lengths.

He raced very wide from 4f out that day, which left him unable to challenge the winner and second placed horse, during a dash for the line. It’s also worth noting that the winner, Relocal, hasn’t been seen since, and Carlton, who came second, won next time out off a 3lb higher mark, franking the form nicely. The horse that came in fifth place, Veraison, also ran a very solid race next time out, when finishing second ,at Kempton.

I think it was a strong race for the level, and Pleasant Man should find this race more manageable with a more honest pace in this larger field. I expect Bystander to go forward, and Wonder will likely join him. If they do, I’d be hoping Pleasant Man can slot in behind them and enjoy a tow through the race, then make a challenge close to the finish.

Can Pleasant Man capitalise on his greatly reduced handicap mark?

There are several positives for Pleasant Man at Southwell. He has strong form in the book, some of which is at a fairly high level. While he is not the horse he once was, he has received very generous support from the handicapper, which I think will make a difference.

With a falling mark, he can drop down to Class 5 (0-75) Handicaps, and I think he can win at this level. I also believe the drop from 1m 6f to 1m 4f is the right call, especially if there is an honest gallop in this 12-runner field. If Pleasant Man hadn’t raced wide in his last Class 5 race, he would have finished closer. However, he still managed to finish third, and the form franked since.

In terms of negatives, he is not the horse he once was. He was also disappointing last time out over 1m 6f, given his previous C&D form. However, the fact that he did all the work at the front was a contributing factor to his tame finishing effort. With more restraint here, and a shorter trip, I think he can finish much more strongly.

All factors taken into account, I think he has a rock solid chance, and 8/1 with four places on offer makes him a decent each way bet. There are a couple of small negatives, but with so many positives, and the terms on offer, I think he is well worth a full 1pt each way here.

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