18:18 Southwell Tips — Thursday 2nd April 2026

All eyes are on Folk Pageant in the 18:18 Southwell, and for good reason. Charlie Johnston’s talented three-year-old looks poised to follow up on his impressive maiden victory at Chelmsford last time out. That win, coming on just his second career start, confirmed the significant promise shown on debut and aligns perfectly with our key trend of a horse winning last time out, arriving here in peak form.

This son of Frankel boasts an exciting profile, still very much a young, unexposed three-year-old with considerable scope for improvement. With only two runs under his belt – a win and a second – he fits the bill as a lightly raced individual whose official rating of 72 still probably underestimates his true ability. Sean Dylan Bowen takes the reins again, a partnership that clearly clicked last time.

While the odds of 1/10 might deter some, Folk Pageant appears to have a distinct class edge over his rivals and should prove very hard to beat. He's the confident nap of the day for us. For those seeking some each-way value, look no further than Hardstyle. He could well sneak into the frame if the favourite isn't quite at his best, offering a solid alternative.