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UK AW Track Bets Today 20/02/2026 - Betting Tips & Information, Race & Runner Analysis

davewatts50

Amateur Rider
Joined
Feb 2, 2026
Messages
130
Location
England
Here are my bets for the UK's all-weather races today. Initial selections are from the Southwell meeting. There may be more to follow later.

Note, the point of writing up these selections is always to illustrate which horses are carrying my personal bets. And those bets are always derived/determined from the processes outlined in the book: UK All-Weather Racing: A Specialist's Guide to Finding Value on the AW

8:30 Southwell - Handicap (0-85) (4) 4yo+ 7F​

DOWN TO THE KID is a In Form 7 year old gelding who's a Course and Distance winner. He's somewhat a course specialist having won 8 from 21 for a really impressive 38% strike rate. He last won 28 days ago and has raced once since then finishing a good third beaten by a length in a strong race. That was 21 days ago over C&D but in a class 3. Today, he's dropping back into a class 4 over the same distance. His handicap mark is 84 and his highest winning handicap mark is 78.

As mentioned LTO he finished 3rd.In his last race. That race was won by Doctor Khan Junior with Legal Reform finishing 0.5 length second and then Down To The Kids another 0.5 lengths back in third. The race was quite a bit faster than the average for the meeting and the Vs.Par figures correspond showing the race was run 0.73 seconds faster than the par time for that type of race in the given conditions. I have cross checked this with the speed ratings and although he finished 3rd he actually ran his highest speed rating for this year. His C&D stats are 2 wins and one place from 3 runs which is a 67% win strike rate.

The Trainer and Jockey combination interests me, in the past two years in AW races they have won 5 from 30 for a 17% strike rate. However, if you narrow that down to Southwell in the past two years, it's 5 from 16 for a 31% strike rate. That's pretty impressive. Jason Hart has ridden the horse 6 times and won 3 times.

He likes to lead and although there are others that will like to go forwards I believe he will get to the front and dictate the pace. The market has North View as the current favourite and he likes to be held up and finish fast. He is a danger having won well at Chelmsford in a valuable class 4 race.


DOWN TO THE KID Win bet @ 7/2
 

7:00 Southwell - Handicap Class 3 over 1M​


MIDNIGHT LION - He's a 6 year old gelding by Nathaniel. He typically runs prominently or is happy to lead if there isn't much pace on. Looking at his record he tends to do most of his winning at Newcastle and he comes into this race off the back of two wins. The latest win was in a class 3 race of a handicap rating of 86 and run over 1M 2F. He has been raised only 2lbs for that victory. What I liked about his last win was his FSP % (finishing speed percentage) of 102.24%. He sat handily in 2nd place for the majority of the mile and he was challenged late but dug deep to win the race.

The race prior to that effort was a 1M race again at Newcastle. This time he led from the start to the finish winning the race in a time that was 0.96 seconds faster than par time for the given race and conditions. He also finished the race of strongly with a FSP% of 102.97%. All of this shows me that he has good stamina and can finish his races off. He is happy to lead a race or just sit of the lead.

His highest winning handicap mark is 86 and today he races of 88. Jim Goldie has Lauren Young riding him again and her 5lbs claim will be off set the handicap rise. Lauren really gets on with Midnight Lion having won 6 out of 12 races for a win strike rate of 50%.

There are a couple of horse that are going to show good early speed. Dingle and Midnight Lion with Invited or First Ambition also keeping it a true pace. Midnight Lion may even just sit off the pace as he did in his last race and then use his strong finishing speed. It's going to be competitive and I'm just hoping there isn't a speed burn up.

I see the main dangers being Dosman, Unassuming and Angel Hunter

If he can translate his current Newcastle form to Southwell today then I think he has each way claims at a big price.

MIDNIGHT LION - EW @ 20.0
 
The following is the short list that I sent to my friend earlier today before racing started

I’ve gone through the Southwell card trying to identify my top 3 in each race except the 19:30.

I hope you have a very successful day and take the prize money in the first race.

I haven’t decided as yet which horse I’ll be betting on.

In the 18:30 if Intervention is on a going day then he should be in the first 3. The only issue is he never seems to string 2/3 good races together. If not Star Chorus is a big danger

In the 16:58 I don’t think Dream Illusion is as good dropping back to 7F she looked really good over the mile LTO. She looks to be improving so might well win. I like Chola Empire but he’s exposed but running well. The Caribbean is in form and I like the trainer and with Billy up top it improves the chances. He’s 3/10 when riding for the trainer.

In the 7:00 I like all 3 but Midnight lion is a big price. Good EW bet.

In the last The Down Town Kids jockey & Trainer partnership is 5/16 at Southwellin the past 2 years.


Southwell 16:26
- GOLDMOYNE
- Fools Rush In
- Golden Strike

Southwell 16:58
- CHOLA EMPIRE
- Dream Illusion
- The Caribbean

Southwell 17:30
- WONDER
- Pleasant Man
- Urban Road

Southwell 18:00
- CARGIN BHUI
- DC Cogent
- I Need Your Love

Southwell 18:30
- INTERVENTION
- Vantheman
- Star Chorus

Southwell 19:00
- MIDNIGHT LION
- DOSMAN
- UNASSUMING

Southwell 20:00
- ALMATY STAR
- CUBAN GREY
- EXISTENT

Southwell 20:30
- DOWN TO THE KID
- NORTHVIEW
- METAVERSE
 
expecting you to give us the winners for the 6.00pm, 6.30pm,7.00pm and the 8.00pm races at chelmsford
Dave, right up your street.... no pressure
 
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