3:05 Musselburgh Tips

The unexposed 5-year-old is an interesting runner, now with top jumps trainer Dan Skelton. Just four career runs, form 1233. His last run was over hurdles, only beaten 2 lengths and earned a good rating. He was a very close runner-up for his Irish trainer on his second start last August. The third from that race then ran a close second of 17 in a quality handicap and then won the £273K Cesarewitch Handicap. The winner from that race has run well since at a high level, rated 14 lb higher now on a 108 rating. The selection is running off an 83 rating. Strong jockey booking.

Shadow Dance is the outsider of the field but has enough back form to warrant closer inspection, particularly now easing in the weights. At his peak as a 3-year-old in 2023, he showed a useful level of ability, finishing a close 2nd to the now 108-rated Alsakib. He backed that up with a series of strong efforts in Class 2 handicaps, including a 2nd over 1m4f off 93 and a win at York over the same trip off 95. He also ran well when 3rd, beaten just ½ length, to Faylaq over 1m6½f off 100, with Subsequent (now rated 106) narrowly ahead ??' form that reads well in the context of this race. Last season, however, he struggled to reach those same heights in stronger contests, including midfield finishes in races such as the Ebor Handicap and other competitive Class 2 events off marks around 100. More recently, his all-weather runs have been underwhelming, but those efforts have contributed to a drop in the handicap to 92. This reduced mark, combined with a month freshening up, could see him in a more competitive light.