Oliver Barnard has highlighted three horses to watch at Musselburgh on Saturday, April 4, 2026, offering his insights on the day’s races.
Midnight Gun’s Chances in 7f Handicap
Midnight Gun is the favourite for the 7f handicap. Since July 2024, after joining Hamad Al Jehani from Ed Walker, the horse has a record of 0-7. However, Midnight Gun’s best effort was over this trip, when beaten by a nose by Rogue Diplomat, who finished second in last weekend’s Lincoln. His trainer has started the Flat season in Britain with two wins from two, Defence Minister and Fine Interview both scoring first time out.
Al Qareem Sets the Standard
Al Qareem sets the standard and a 5lb penalty is unlikely to stop him. The Karl Burke-trained seven-year-old has three wins from six starts over 1m6f, with the other runs yielding a second, third and fourth. Roaring Legend is the only other runner in the field to have won over the trip, but his last turf success came in September 2023. Al Qareem ended last season with a third in the Long Distance Cup, 13 lengths behind Trawlerman. Before that defeat he posted a career-best Racing Post Rating when landing the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes.
Wheels Of Fire Returns After Winter
Wheels Of Fire is set to reappear after being gelded over the winter. The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old returned with a modest effort at Newcastle last month, but that should have put him spot on. He shaped as though needing the run and showed a similar pattern last season, finishing runner-up on his second start, improving after a sixth-placed reappearance. That latest effort was also better than the bare result, as he made the running on the stands’ side in a race that favoured closers and was beaten just four and a half lengths.
Racing Post also offers free horseracing tips for Saturday, April 4 at Huntingdon and Wolverhampton.