Timeform UK SmartPlays: Sunday April 20

Echo of Lightning made an excellent start for Brian Ellison at Newcastle, finishing a close-up second from a career-low mark and in a first-time hood, and he makes significant appeal in the opening one-mile handicap at 14:05. There was a lot to like about Echo of Lightning's performance at Newcastle where he showed a bit of early zest to take the field along before sticking to his task well in the closing stages, and he should be capable of winning from this lowly mark. Echo of Lightning could hardly be in better hands, his handler a master at improving new recruits, and, with Paul Pickard taking over from a 7 lb claimer, a bold bid is expected this afternoon.

Our next SmartPlay runs in the feature Musselburgh Gold Cup at 15:35 as we side with the useful hurdler King of The Picts on his return to the level. King of The Picts, who is trained by Pat Shanahan and sports the colours carried to success at this course on Friday by That's Plenty, is better known as a hurdler, last seen finishing third at Aintree, but he returns to the Flat on a tempting mark having improved significantly over timber. Two miles on the Flat offers a stiffer test of stamina than he has faced so far, but, with such potential from a mark of 78, King of The Picts looks worth backing against his largely exposed rivals.

We wait until the penultimate race on the card, the three-year-old handicap at 16:35, for our final bet as we take a chance on the Mark Johnston-trained Sir Guy Porteous. Sir Guy Porteous doesn't have the most convincing of profiles having made little impression when set some stiff tasks as a juvenile prior to disappointing when attracting support on his handicap debut, but he wouldn't be the first horse from this yard to quickly bounce back from a disappointing display. Today's seven furlongs should suit more than the six he tackled at Lingfield last time and Sir Guy Porteous remains with potential from this lowly mark.

Timeform UK SmartPlays:
All at Musselburgh

Back Echo of Lightning @ 2.526/4 in the 14:05
Back King of The Picts @ 3.185/40 in the 15:35
Back Sir Guy Porteous 4.216/5 in the 16:35