Raceday LIVE – Phoenix Of Dreams
Southwell,
Fri 20 Feb 2026 16:58
Related horse(s):
Phoenix Of Dreams
Phoenix Of Dreams steps back up in trip this evening to seven furlongs as he heads to Southwell for the Class 5 Handicap (16:58) on their Friday Night Live card.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track on X (@CRCofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Although most of the furore around today's card at Southwell surrounds Constitution Hill and his first ever competitive run on the flat, our attention remains firmly on Phoenix Of Dreams as he takes on the second division of the 0-70 race over seven furlongs in the second race on the card.
Having run with credit in his last two appearances over six furlongs, John & Sean Quinn have decided to make the step back up to seven furlongs with our six-year-old. It was inevitable that the step up in trip would happen sooner rather than later, with both Sean Levey and Jason Hart giving recent feedback to suggest he'd be better suited over the slightly longer distance. Both jockeys in their recent post-race debriefs told us that Phoenix Of Dreams just seemed to lack an extra gear in the closing stages over six furlongs, and that although he was hitting the line well and powerfully, that he just didn't have the speed to compete with rivals over this distance.
It should be important to note, although also easy to forget, that Phoenix Of Dreams started his career over seven furlongs, racing at that distance in five of his first six runs, posting figures of 4322 in the first four of those. The belief in the Highfield Stables camp is that he'll benefit from the step back up to seven, and should continue to show the improvement that we've seen so far this year.
WATCH: Phoenix Of Dreams' promising debut for the Coral Racing Club at Thirsk
On paper, it looks to be quite a tough heat for Phoenix Of Dreams today, with plenty of attention being given to the card given the terrestrial TV coverage, Friday Night Live promotion and the presence of one of the most popular horses in recent years, Constitution Hill. There are as many as five course and distance winners in the race, with My Mate Mike coming into today's contest looking to make it back-to-back wins over track and trip.
The top three rated horses in the race are also former course and distance winners, with No Knee Never, who scored here three starts ago and finished runner up last time out, completing the five with perfect experience. Dream Illusion has risen eight pounds in the ratings having won on her last two appearances, and is looking for the hat-trick under a further five pound penalty, and at the other end of the spectrum, Asian Journey looks to get off the mark for connections in today's contest having run nine times under rules to date to no avail.
WATCH: Trainer Sean Quinn gives us an update with Phoenix Of Dreams ahead of today's race
Pipped At The Post – Member Exclusive
As a Coral Racing Club member, thanks to our Pipped At The Post offer, once you opt-in, you could be paid as a WINNER in CASH up to a stake of £/€10 if your horse finishes 2nd by a head or less behind the winner in today's 16:58 at Southwell – click here to find out more.
Exclusive Price Boost on Phoenix Of Dreams to finish in the top three
Tap below to head over to the 16:58 Southwell racecard and check out your exclusive price boost on Phoenix Of Dreams to finish in the top three
Racing TV Analyst, Chris Dixon, breaks down this evening's contest at Southwell and tells us how he thinks it will play out for Phoenix Of Dreams
With the application of a hood in his races seeming to have settled down Phoenix Of Dreams, it’s not a surprise to see him returned to the 7f trip today. Already proven over the distance earlier on in his career, he does seem like a horse who will better suited to this sort of distance and as has been the case for a while, he’s dangerously well treated should things click. Whether that will be the case has to be open to question given he’s yet to win a handicap and has had several goes to do so but the race does look to set up well for him from a low draw with a solid pace to sit behind.
There’s no shortage of in-form horses among the opposition with the hat-trick seeking Dream Illusion an obvious contender, especially as the horse he beat over a mile here last time has won since. That said, this represents a drop in trip off a higher mark in a better class race so it does look a tougher ask. The Caribbean is hardly prolific and has a wide draw but if showing up in the form he did when winning at Wolverhampton two starts ago would have claims. Packetofbiscuits hasn’t won for a while but has dropped to a decent mark and ran better than it looked when too far back at Newcastle last time so is another for a lengthy shortlist which also includes the tricky but well-treated Asian Journey and in-form No Knee Never.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
John & Sean Quinn remain in quiet form with just the one winner in the last fortnight, coming ten days ago at Newcastle. The father-son duo have recorded seven wins at Southwell since Sean joined the license, with one of those coming from five runs in 2026.
Jason Hart has a solid record at the Nottinghamshire course, winning on 91 occasions at the track. Six of those have come from just 29 rides at Southwell this season (21% strike-rate) and he'll be looking to continue that solid form on a big night this evening.
Phoenix Of Dreams' Owners for the Day
As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Phoenix Of Dreams' run at Southwell this evening.
What's included in this Owner for the Day prize?
Prize Money
Today's Class 5 contest is worth a lucrative £15,000 in total, with the winner set to scoop £7,851 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £3,684 | 3rd: £1,840 | 4th: £921 | 5th: £459
SOUTHWELL 16:58 – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 16:58 to watch Phoenix Of Dreams' next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track on X (@CRCofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Although most of the furore around today's card at Southwell surrounds Constitution Hill and his first ever competitive run on the flat, our attention remains firmly on Phoenix Of Dreams as he takes on the second division of the 0-70 race over seven furlongs in the second race on the card.
Having run with credit in his last two appearances over six furlongs, John & Sean Quinn have decided to make the step back up to seven furlongs with our six-year-old. It was inevitable that the step up in trip would happen sooner rather than later, with both Sean Levey and Jason Hart giving recent feedback to suggest he'd be better suited over the slightly longer distance. Both jockeys in their recent post-race debriefs told us that Phoenix Of Dreams just seemed to lack an extra gear in the closing stages over six furlongs, and that although he was hitting the line well and powerfully, that he just didn't have the speed to compete with rivals over this distance.
It should be important to note, although also easy to forget, that Phoenix Of Dreams started his career over seven furlongs, racing at that distance in five of his first six runs, posting figures of 4322 in the first four of those. The belief in the Highfield Stables camp is that he'll benefit from the step back up to seven, and should continue to show the improvement that we've seen so far this year.
WATCH: Phoenix Of Dreams' promising debut for the Coral Racing Club at Thirsk
On paper, it looks to be quite a tough heat for Phoenix Of Dreams today, with plenty of attention being given to the card given the terrestrial TV coverage, Friday Night Live promotion and the presence of one of the most popular horses in recent years, Constitution Hill. There are as many as five course and distance winners in the race, with My Mate Mike coming into today's contest looking to make it back-to-back wins over track and trip.
The top three rated horses in the race are also former course and distance winners, with No Knee Never, who scored here three starts ago and finished runner up last time out, completing the five with perfect experience. Dream Illusion has risen eight pounds in the ratings having won on her last two appearances, and is looking for the hat-trick under a further five pound penalty, and at the other end of the spectrum, Asian Journey looks to get off the mark for connections in today's contest having run nine times under rules to date to no avail.
WATCH: Trainer Sean Quinn gives us an update with Phoenix Of Dreams ahead of today's race
Pipped At The Post – Member Exclusive
As a Coral Racing Club member, thanks to our Pipped At The Post offer, once you opt-in, you could be paid as a WINNER in CASH up to a stake of £/€10 if your horse finishes 2nd by a head or less behind the winner in today's 16:58 at Southwell – click here to find out more.
Exclusive Price Boost on Phoenix Of Dreams to finish in the top three
Tap below to head over to the 16:58 Southwell racecard and check out your exclusive price boost on Phoenix Of Dreams to finish in the top three
Racing TV Analyst, Chris Dixon, breaks down this evening's contest at Southwell and tells us how he thinks it will play out for Phoenix Of Dreams
With the application of a hood in his races seeming to have settled down Phoenix Of Dreams, it’s not a surprise to see him returned to the 7f trip today. Already proven over the distance earlier on in his career, he does seem like a horse who will better suited to this sort of distance and as has been the case for a while, he’s dangerously well treated should things click. Whether that will be the case has to be open to question given he’s yet to win a handicap and has had several goes to do so but the race does look to set up well for him from a low draw with a solid pace to sit behind.
There’s no shortage of in-form horses among the opposition with the hat-trick seeking Dream Illusion an obvious contender, especially as the horse he beat over a mile here last time has won since. That said, this represents a drop in trip off a higher mark in a better class race so it does look a tougher ask. The Caribbean is hardly prolific and has a wide draw but if showing up in the form he did when winning at Wolverhampton two starts ago would have claims. Packetofbiscuits hasn’t won for a while but has dropped to a decent mark and ran better than it looked when too far back at Newcastle last time so is another for a lengthy shortlist which also includes the tricky but well-treated Asian Journey and in-form No Knee Never.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
John & Sean Quinn remain in quiet form with just the one winner in the last fortnight, coming ten days ago at Newcastle. The father-son duo have recorded seven wins at Southwell since Sean joined the license, with one of those coming from five runs in 2026.
Jason Hart has a solid record at the Nottinghamshire course, winning on 91 occasions at the track. Six of those have come from just 29 rides at Southwell this season (21% strike-rate) and he'll be looking to continue that solid form on a big night this evening.
Phoenix Of Dreams' Owners for the Day
As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Phoenix Of Dreams' run at Southwell this evening.
What's included in this Owner for the Day prize?
- Free racecourse entry
- Access to the Owners & Trainers enclosure
- Access to the Parade Ring before the race
- Meet Phoenix Of Dreams and the John and Sean Quinn team
- Take home a 10% share of any prize money he wins
Prize Money
Today's Class 5 contest is worth a lucrative £15,000 in total, with the winner set to scoop £7,851 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £3,684 | 3rd: £1,840 | 4th: £921 | 5th: £459
SOUTHWELL 16:58 – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 16:58 to watch Phoenix Of Dreams' next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.
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