ITV Racing Tips – Friday 20th February 2026 Best Bets for Southwell

The much-anticipated flat debut of Constitution Hill headlines the action on the second Friday Night Live of 2026 from Southwell.

We have gone through the races televised on Friday and have picked out our ITV horse racing tips. You can find our selections, an ITV Racing Accumulator, and the best bookmaker offers here.

Friday Night Live from Southwell on ITV gets underway with a handicap hurdle over a mile and four. Pleasant Man should be back on a competitive mark for the red-hot Joey Ramsden yard.

The eight-year-old was fourth of seven over a mile and six last time, weakening in the closing stages. This drop back to a mile, and four is a big plus.

Acts on the all-weather, having finished in the top three on four previous occasions. In-form Lewis Edmunds is back aboard.

Next up is a handicap over six furlongs, and a low draw should aid the chances of Michael & David Easterby-trained I Need Your Love.

The four-year-old has more upside than most in this race, and there was plenty to like about his previous effort when only narrowly denied by Pal Joey by a neck.

Remains on an exploitable mark, and the booking for Joanna Mason is a plus.

Respected course trainer Tony Carroll should have a leading chance in the 18:30. Betsen was a winner over course and distance in November on stable debut, beating Berkshire Whisper by a neck at 40/1.

Was only narrowly denied by Silky Wilkie at Newcastle when not getting the clearest passage, and was just a length behind Many A Star at Wolverhampton last time.

A return to Southwell could signal a return to winning ways, and Billy Loughnane is a notable booking.

The lightly raced First Ambition could be difficult to overlook in the one-mile handicap due off at 19:00.

The five-year-old for in-form trainer Karl Burke has won twice from three starts on the all-weather, including a course and distance success in August.

Returns from a break on Friday, and that only enhances his claims after winning following a layoff in January and August of last year.

The much-anticipated debut of Constitution Hill on the flat is the headline attraction on Friday Night Live.

However, the Nicky Henderson superstar could be upstaged on his big night. Square Necker is an interesting angle for the in-form Kevin Philippart De Foy yard, having won impressively when stepped up to a mile and four at Dundalk in December.

Flat experience is a major plus in his favour, and he could present value on stable debut against many rivals who are more suited to jumping hurdles.

Michael Appleby has a solid strike-rate at Southwell, and he has two runners on Friday Night Live. Juan Les Pins could be an interesting each-way play.

The experienced nine-year-old will carry bottom weight in the handicap over five furlongs, but ran to great credit over course and distance last month, finishing a length behind Spring Is Sprung.

Excels on the all-weather, having achieved top-three finishes on 13 occasions.

Down To The Kid could bounce back from his narrow defeat over course and distance last time for course-specialist Michael Herrington.

The seven-year-old was headed in the final strides on his previous run, being denied a hat-trick of wins at Southwell in the process. Jason Hart is back aboard.

The combination has teamed up for wins on their last two starts at the track.