Date: Tuesday, 10th February 2026
Race: Midnite Next Gen Betting App Handicap (Class 4)
Distance: 1m 2f (Polytrack)
Lingfield’s 10-furlong start is unforgiving. It’s a sharp, nasty left-hander, and if you are drawn wide, you are often running a mile and a quarter just to find a position. That tactical reality is the defining story of today’s feature.
Here is the breakdown.
The Favourite: Form vs Geography
Wyld Bill (7/2) is a winning machine right now. The HorseRaceBase stats are screaming for him: a 57% strike rate on this surface and chasing a hat-trick after winning “very easily” in November and “gamely” in December.
But here is the rub: Stall 10.
He is drawn in the car park. Jack Dace (claiming 5lb) has a serious job on his hands. If he pushes forward, he risks being trapped three-wide on the bend; if he drops in, he gives the leaders a five-length head start. He is the “form” horse, but today he is fighting the track map.
The Smart Money: The Class Dropper
Enter Epictetus (6/1).
Let’s be blunt: this horse has no business running in a Class 4 handicap. He is a former Group 3 winner (Goodwood) who has fallen down the weights. His run at Wolves last month (3rd, rallied late) showed the engine is still firing.
Crucially, he has Stall 1. Saffie Osborne can hold the rail, dictate the fractions, and make Wyld Bill work for every single yard. In a race lacking a confirmed front-runner, the inside draw is a golden ticket. He is the “class” of the field running from the perfect berth.
The Value: The Ghost of Last Year
Do not sleep on the veteran Arcadian Nights (14/1).
Check the history books: He won this exact race last year (16 Feb 2025) off a mark of 82. He runs today off 85. He is an 8-year-old now and his recent form figures look ugly (1150045), but he is a four-time course winner who comes alive at Lingfield in February. At 14/1, he is the insulting price of the day.
The Verdict
WIN: EPICTETUS (6/1)
The Logic: Group class horse in a handicap + Stall 1 advantage.
DANGER: WYLD BILL (7/2)
The Logic: The most consistent horse, but the draw makes him a drift candidate.
E/W THIEF: ARCADIAN NIGHTS (14/1)
The Logic: Horses for courses. He owns this race.