Paul Kealy's play of the day at Doncaster

Shadow Dance

1.50 Doncaster

I tried to make a case in the opening 1m6½f handicap for a couple of outsiders, most notably Faylaq, who has been running very well lately, as I do want to take on the three-year-olds, but I finally came to the conclusion Shadow Dance is potentially a class apart, probably should be favourite and is well worth a bet at around 3-1.

He is the other last-time-out winner along with the three-year-old pair, East India Dock and Subsequent, but he won a much better race than they did, a £100k York Ebor meeting handicap, and he's still unexposed.

After beating the in-form Lieber Power (finishing in the first two for the fifth time in a row) by a neck at York, trainer Roger Varian said he expected Shadow Dance, who had been a big eyecatcher the time before at Ripon, to go on to have a good autumn.

It's easy to see why because he looks as if he could do with some cut in the ground – I left him alone at York because of ground worries – and after rain on Wednesday and showers on Thursday he could well be poised to put up another improved display.

On his final outing as a three-year-old he ran a half-length second to Alsakib, who is now 14lb higher, in a £100k heritage handicap at Newmarket on soft ground, which was by some way his best run, and he might be a little bit too hot for East India Dock and Subsequent to handle, despite the 10lb weight-for-age concession.

Shadow Dance13:50 Doncaster

View Racecard

Jky: James Doyle Tnr: Roger Varian

Read more:

'He is potentially a class apart' - Paul Kealy with four Friday selections at Doncaster 

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.