Expert horse racing betting tips for w/c Saturday, February 21st 2026

The centre of attention this weekend will no doubt be on Southwell this Friday night, when Constitution Hill has his much anticipated first run on the Flat.

But there is also top-drawer racing with the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase from Kempton, Eider Chase from Newcastle and the Hever Sprint and Winter Derby from Lingfield.

It's also that time of the year when we start looking towards the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. We're delighted to say the Races Now Preview Night in Wigan next month is now SOLD OUT and look forward to seeing many of our regular readers and viewers on the night! Don't worry if you missed out though as a full replay of the evening will be uploaded promptly after the event on the Races Now YouTube channel.

Back to the action though and our Punters Panel are once again here to give their tips on what is certain to be another enthralling weekend of racing. The tipsters have also shared their views on the latest current affairs in the world of racing.

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel

Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the four experts answering our key questions this week:

SD - Races Now's tipster extraordinaire who has shot to prominence over the last year with his engaging content and stellar betting record.

Adam Smith - A betting industry veteran, flat lover and one half of our Races Now double act.

Harry Fowler - Another of Odds Now’s regular racing contributors, currently working in the industry.

Zac Castledine - Previous Punters Panel contributor and huge horse racing lover, currently working within the industry.

The Constitution Hill circus hits a crescendo at Southwell on Friday evening. What do you make of it all?

SD: I think whilst the situation has been over-hyped and no race should be created just for one horse, at least it is showing that the public are getting behind said horse, and that can only be a good thing for the sport in general. Whether it goes with speed dating is highly questionable.

AS: Race moved, prize money injected, stable capacity increased, gets in via a ballot, drawn very wide, 1,000 students. This Southwell saga has had pretty much everything. If the medium term plan is a flat campaign this summer, say Royal Ascot, a 1m 4f novice race at Southwell is fine. If the next step is the actual Champion Hurdle, which we are told it is, what is the point in running in a flat race on the Nottinghamshire all-weather? I don't get it.

HF: I have written a column for the Odds Now website explaining my stance. But in short, it’s amazing, and I can’t wait for this evening!

ZC: What a rollercoaster of emotions it is following this amazing equine athlete. After being at Cheltenham for his Supreme and then Champion Hurdle romps, never in a million years would I have thought I’d be tuning into Southwell on a Friday night to see him, but this is horse racing we are talking about – a sport full of constant shocks and surprises. For the first time, really, since his Christmas Hurdle in 2023, I can watch him race without being behind the sofa with my heart in my mouth. Whatever happens tomorrow will be; the real question is, will he line up in March? Nicky has a serious decision to make, and I am sure it’ll be the right one, whatever it may be. But, for me, isn’t it a glaring sign that we find ourselves in this position? I don’t know. But this might be the trickiest spot ‘The Governor’ has ever found himself in.

Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase at Kempton takes centre stage on Saturday. Who do you fancy in the big handicap?

SD: The Racing Post Chase looks a fairly weak renewal to me. Lookaway, who often runs handy (which is a noticeable plus round here), looks well handicapped on collateral form, and anything in double figures looks fairly generous to these eyes. I would not be surprised if Sole Icon ran well under a very capable 7lbs claimer.

AS: We had Christian Williams on Races Now on Thursday, who has Deep Cave in here. Very progressive earlier this season with two good wins before running flat at Doncaster last month. He'd have a right chance on the aforementioned Bangor and Ascot form. I like The Doyen Chief, two wins from two runs at Kempton.

HF: A very competitive race, but I do quite fancy Hoe Joly Smoke, who has run some nice races over 2 1/2 miles at Cheltenham. The step up in trip looks a big positive, and there is definitely a race in him off 131; his last win came off 127 over this trip.

ZC: The Doyen Chief is 2/2 at this track and has finished top 3 in 11/14 of his races. At 15/2, I think you’ll get a great spin. I am also interested in Leader In The Park. "Mr Rhythm" Harry Cobden takes the ride, and I feel 16/1 markedly underestimates his chances here; he could get the run of the race

Three Grade 2s on the supporting card at Kempton. Any bets lined up?

SD: It is a very un-Nicky Henderson-like thing to turn around a horse in less than a week, particularly one which only made its debut over timber last week. There was little to no encouragement to Fantasy World's (1:45) run at Musselburgh, but for aforementioned reasons and the fact that he is a good Listed winner on the flat, he is an interesting speculative dart.

AS: Precious Man and One Horse Town both look above average in the Adonis (1:45). Purely at the prices, it would have to be One Horse Town for me.

HF: To be honest, not really. The first two feature short-priced favourites in Precious Man and Jax Junior; both horses should win, but it's not saying anything new. In the third Grade 2, I tried to find something, but there wasn’t anything I’d be getting stuck into.

ZC: Double up Precious Man and Jax Junior. I can’t see either of these getting beat. I’ll be rolling my returns onto the two I mentioned above.

The Eider Chase at Newcastle is always a big race. Who do you think has the minerals to win this year's renewal?

SD: We have got the value on Knockanore, and it looks like it may continue to dry, which can only be in his favour. The problem is Mr Vango's presence in compressing the weights in the race. Were Mr Vango not to run, given the weather forecast has remained constant, Mrs Bradstock should face the full force of any corrective action. That said, I have to say, despite the weight disparity, I didn't like much in the race at all, and if Knockanore is in the same form as last year, he'd have every chance. I haven't got rid of any of the 33/1 four places as advised last week on Races Now.

AS: Mr Vango has buggered up the weights for everyone, so it's a no-bet race for me.

HF: I like Dom Of Mary, a winner when last seen at Newcastle two starts ago, beat a horse that day that has since gone in at Cheltenham in what looked a decent race. Ran an ok race in the Welsh National, but I think back to Newcastle could see him to best effect.

ZC: The brilliant dual trainer James Owen has had winners at Kempton, Huntingdon, Chelmsford, and Wolverhampton in the last week, and I fancy his Dom Of Mary to give him a winner at another track in Newcastle on Saturday. A Sussex National winner, combined with a strong-finishing victory at this track over 3m6f earlier this season, are both excellent pointers that he certainly possesses the required resilience, durability and staying power that the Eider so often rewards.

Flat action at Lingfield on Saturday, including the Winter Derby and Hever Sprint. Who are you backing?

SD: I think Diligent Harry is a very safe conveyance and will probably win the Hever. I thought the top two in the betting in the Winter Derby are possibly vulnerable, so we will partake in a double dip on Nebras and Sky Safari, who are both more suited to this metier.

AS: I prefer Valiant Force at five furlongs than I do Diligent Harry. But the draw in stall one is far from ideal for the Force - 0 from 18 in this race! It's only a field of six, so I'm happy to take my chances despite the draw.

HF: In the Hever Sprint, I like Valiant Force, which was an easy winner when last seen at Dundalk, finished 3rd in this race last year and had the favourite Diligent Harry back in 5th that day. I think he is better suited to the 5f trip and can take some knocking.

ZC: The Winter Derby is a fascinating contest. Cambridgeshire winner vs an AW queen vs two from a stable that have won 4 of the last 7 runnings. With it being such a tight choice, I’ll give you the result: Boiling Point, Sky Safari, Chancellor, Nebras, and Military Academy in that order! Ever since meeting Harry in 2024, his namesake has cost me hundreds within the punting world. However, it hasn’t stopped me before, and it won’t stop me in the Hever, as I genuinely fancy Dilligent Harry to bring up a second win in this race, he’s a different animal on the AW.

Anything else you a backing this weekend?

SD: You should tune in to the Saturday morning Races Now tips, which will come from Hampshire before I set off for Kempton.

AS: The Winter Derby (2:00) is a couple of runners short of being a proper race. But I do like Nebras, who will stay the trip, has the recent all-weather form and Ryan Moore doing the riding. Chancellor might not get the trip and is a bit of a boy. Boiling Point will surely be using this as a season starter.

HF: I really fancy Califet En Vol in the 4:05 at Kempton; he is a flat-track horse. He disappointed at Aintree at the end of last season, where something was amiss. This season, going chasing has had 3 runs at Cheltenham, where I think he hated it. He returns to Kempton, where he was a 15-length winner of a novice hurdle, and I am certain he is a lot better than 136 over fences.

ZC: In the 3.40 at Chepstow, I’ll be backing Dr T J Eckleburg. I thought he was coming to win LTO at Sandown, and he traded very low in running. Not to be that day, but here his mark is unchanged, and he is 5lbs lower than when winning this last year; he’d be my strongest fancy elsewhere.