Tipster Challenge at Musselburgh – Full house for Oscar Lateen

It was two wins apiece last week for our tipsters at Carlisle, as Michael Shinners of Sky Bet collected 9.50 points to move the team of Guests on to the shoulder of SBC News atop the leaderboard.

This week we are at Musselburgh for what promises to be another exciting day of racing. We will be taking on regular tipsters from bettingexpert and Timeform, and a #tipsterchallenge debutant.

Steve Mullington is an 888sport tipster and RaceCaller prize winner for the Cheltenham Festival in 2012. Thank you to all our tipsters for taking part, and good luck with the following picks:

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1:40

SBC News: Vision de La Vie

C&D winner at Musselburgh 9 days ago. The penalty will make life tougher but still widely expected to contend.

BettingExpert: Oil Burner

Has been running himself fit in three starts so far this season, and looks primed here for a very big run with conditions ideal.

Timeform: Oil Burner

Has got better with each run since reappearing from a long absence for this yard and another small step forward is probably all that is required to see him return to winning ways.

888sport: Apache Pilot

This front-running Maurice Barnes runner was a close fifth to Vision De La Vie when they met here at Musselburgh nine days ago. He’s well in at the weights today, especially with Daragh Burke’s additional 5lb claim. Don’t be surprised to see a pillar-to-post victory.

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2:15

SBC News: Impulsive American

Third here last time and taken to step things up and pick up a win in easier company.

BettingExpert: Impulsive American

Very rare Pipe runner up here and looks sure to improve for this better ground having struggled to see things out in testing conditions over the winter.

Timeform: Impulsive American

It’s doubtful whether Impulsive American meets anything of Charbel’s quality on this occasion and he can make it eighth time lucky over hurdles for the David Pipe team.

888sport: Some Are Lucky

Tom George has hit some form since February arrived and this horse looks a likely improver on just his third start of the season. The favourite has had plenty of chances and this looks like one to take him on with. Paddy Brennan assists the cause.

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2:50

SBC News: Oscar Lateen

Expected to be faster ground, but Oscar Lateen was a clear winner at Newcastle in December and will be in the running here.

BettingExpert: Oscar Lateen

Landed some hefty support at Newcastle last time and can defy a steep rise up the weights for his excellent small yard.

Timeform: Oscar Lateen

Landed a bit of a gamble at Newcastle in December and he had enough in hand that day to suggest he can defy a 7lb rise. Bollin Line also has a 7lb rise to overcome after his recent win at Catterick and is the obvious threat.

888sport: Oscar Lateen

Danny Cook is firing in the winners left, right and centre at the moment and can add to his recent haul aboard this Sandy Thomson trained eight-year-old who scored easily at Newcastle last time out. Faster ground should pose no problem.

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3:25

SBC News: Crinkle Crags

Taking a change on Crinkle Crags. Yes No Ceiling is the more likely winner, but the odds look favourable and could spring a surprise.

BettingExpert: Crinkle Crags

Has proved expensive to follow this season, but now gets some decent ground for the first time and could improve a chunk for it.

Timeform: No Ceiling

This revolves around No Ceiling, who emphatically built on the promise of his debut for Ian Williams when a smooth winner at Doncaster last week, and given he escapes a penalty for that, he should take the world of beating.

888sport: Hunters Belt

The game veteran Hunters Belt is a standing dish on the Scottish jumps scene and rarely runs a bad race. An easing in the conditions underfoot should help his cause today and the Bewley’s have given their old lad a well-deserved break since his last run.

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4:00

SBC News: Teo Vivo

Runner up on last four visits to Musselburgh, including twice in January this year. Due a win?

BettingExpert: Silver Duke

Keeps catching the eye in defeat and is just the type to pop up at a decent price when the cards fall right.

Timeform: Teo Vivo

Had subsequent Scottish County Hurdle winner Shrewd behind him in third when just edged last time. Jim Goldie’s Jonny Delta was back on track over C&D last time and is a player if building on that, while the consistent El Beau should also figure.

888sport: El Beau

Danny Cook teams up with John Quinn to ride this 130 rated five-year-old. This dual code performer is a course and distance winner and should be good enough to give weight to all his rivals. The horse is bound to have benefited from a break.

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4:35

SBC News: Fredo

Undoubtedly the class act of this line-up, but hasn’t raced since March last year so there will be doubters.

BettingExpert: Fredo

Has a touch of class for hunter chases and will love this decent surface on his first run in almost a year.

Timeform: Fredo

Fredo was acquitting himself with plenty of credit when last seen during the spring, and he gets the nod to make a winning return with his yard amongst the winners. Klepht holds strong claims on these terms if revived for new connections, while Wind of Hope is also likely to be in the shake-up.

888sport: Klepht

Klepht is an interesting newcomer to the Hunter Chase scene given his back class. If he can show anything that resembles his old self in this sphere then he could easily blow his rivals away today. The only conceivable danger on paper is Fredo.

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5:05

SBC News: Up North

No race experience to speak of, but worth a #tipsterchallenge punt at those odds.

BettingExpert: Boyhood

Represents top southern connections on his Rules debut and seems sure to be well prepared on debut.

Timeform: Selkirk’s Island

Was unable to build on the promise of his debut when well held at Carlisle recently, but is worth another chance to confirm his previous promise if taking up this engagement. Dubai Shen is of a similar ilk and feared, whilst newcomer Up North is well worthy of a market check.

888sport: Boyhood

Interesting recruit from the point-to-point circuit in Ireland and one to have progressed under the tutelage of Tom George.

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Follow the results of these tips throughout the Musselburgh race meet via @SBCGAMINGNEWS, or return to SBC News tomorrow to see how our tipsters got on.