Easter Saturday at Musselburgh // 2026-04-02

It was a decent, if unspectacular start to the blog on Lincoln day. I put up three selections and they all ran into a place without ever really looking like winning. But it could have been worse and I will take it.

As is always the case with the flat season, after the initial excitement of Lincoln weekend, not much happens for a few weeks. A Catterick card here, a few Bath races there and a day of action up at Musselburgh.

The last race on the card is the one I will be looking at and as it’s easter and I’ve got a bit of spare time, I have noted down my thoughts on each runner.

4.45 Musselburgh

Before starting, it’s worth noting that over the 5 furlongs at Musselburgh there’s a slight advantage to those drawn high and it pays if you can find the ones who lead or are up with the pace, too.

  1. ZIGGY'S TRITON (87) – Has been kept busy all winter, running 12 times since last seen on the turf. Won 2 of those off 74 and 84 before running off his revised mark in better races without getting too involved. Drops back into a Class 4 today where his record across both codes is 2153112, the most recent of those in January off 89 on the AW at Southwell.

  2. WHEELS OF FIRE (80) – Blew away the cobwebs on seasonal reappearance at Newcastle last week and will have definitely needed that run. 13/1/4p on the turf and effectively 6lbs higher than his LWM. Has been well backed though so not without a chance, especially when takign into account trainer and jockey form (12/3/7p last 14 days), but too short for me.

  3. CURIOUS ROVER (80) – Raced in class 2 events after winning over C&D in August off 79. Was going to say he probably needs the run but this time last year (to the day!) finished a 1L 2nd over C&D after a near identical break so could have been primed for this one again with Jason Hart back on board for only third time since that silver medal a year ago.

  4. AL HUSSAR (78) – Ground no issue as won on Good to Firm and Heavy and finished last season in decent enough form but may well need the run here having finished well down the field on his debut and his reapperance as a 3yo last year.

  5. THE BELL CONDUCTOR (77) – Likes to lead and may well have own way at the front but has failed to regain his form since winning at Chester at the back end of August. His mark has subsequently dropped 12lbs since that win so is dangerously handicapped if the first time cheekpieces have an effect.

  6. ZARZYNI (76) – Won this race last off 78 so with the jockey’s claim is 5lb better off this time around. Goes well here (9/3/5p over C/D) and does some good work in April (6/2/4p).

  7. THECOFFEEPODDOTCO (72) – A terrible name for a horse that directs you to a rubbish website (I’ve checked!), but Richard Hannon doesn’t send many up to Musselburgh, having saddled just 13 horses before today for a very decent record of 13/4/7p +22LSP and also runs WHEEL OF FIRE in this race. Looks to be up against it though to my eyes on her first start in a flat handicap.

  8. ARNHEM (72) – Jim Goldie has FIVE in this race, all around the bottom of the handicap and this is the highest rated. Looks hard to win with having won just 3 from 56 starts, and only 1/35 has been on turf. All wins and best form in the summer, easy enough to pass over for me.

  9. CLASSY AL (71) – Another for Goldie. Well beaten on his last two starts and all wins at Ayr or Hamilton – just 7/0/1p here. Hard to see him improving that record off a break especially when he fluffs the start so often.

  10. MONTEZUMA (71) – Another of Goldie’s! Finished in front of CLASSY AL on his last run last year. 0/8 but been running well in handicaps and currently heads the market. Only his 2nd start at 5f so would be completely unexposed at the trip but current price of 11/4 looks unbelievably short to me.

  11. POP STAR (70) – You can ignore his winter AW form where he is 9/0/0p but is still likely to find this too hot being 18/0/2p at the grade.

  12. WOOHOO (68) – What’s that? Another Goldie horse?! Yes it is. But easy enough to pass over this one after a break of 227 days as has a poor record fresh.

  13. WATER OF LEITH (68) – The final Goldie runner in the field and bottom weight making his 100th start today. 0/7 at the track and 16/0/2p at class 4 or higher means he looks totally up against it today.

You could make a case for plenty of these. The profile and money for Montezuma looks dangerous but for all his potential in this, he’s too short for me. So I’m going to take an each way chance on ZIGGYS TRITON who’s form at this grade (2153112) really appeals in this. I’m also going to have a small dart at THE BELL CONDUCTOR at 40/1. Obvioulsy he could be way out of the back come the end of the race, but he could also be the only one making the pace. The first time cheekpieces at 9 (which doesn’t happen very often!) is semi interesting and could spark some sort of improvement, so worth a few quid for interest.

ZIGGYS TRITON // 0.5pt E/W @ 9/1 // Bet365 4 places (BOG) THE BELL CONDUCTOR // 0.25pt E/W @ 40/1 // William Hill 4 places (BOG)