Playful Dane may be eight years old but this seasoned sprinter can show his junior rivals a clean pair of heels in the feature race at Musselburgh tomorrow.

Scott Cunningham's gelding has been running well this year, showing all his old speed and enthusiasm, and he lost no caste in defeat in his latest outing at Haydock where he finished a close-up fifth to Green Manalishi in a competitive race.

The £18,000 GNER Mallard Sprint Handicap over five furlongs is Playful Dane's target and, from a favoured single-figure draw, he is napped to take plenty of catching in the hands of his regular rider, apprentice Duran Fentiman, who is attached to Tim Easterby's Great Habton yard.

Three Thieves will be hard to beat in the opening Sunday Mail Maiden Stakes. Mark Johnston's promising juvenile went down fighting to Daylami Star at Pontefract last time and is fancied to go one better here.

Jamie Spencer, who surely has the jockeys' title in the bag with three weeks still to go, travels to Scotland and is unlikely to return home empty-handed.

He can score on Figjam, a good second at Ripon last time, in the Weatherbys Bank Nursery, and on Branston Bertie, trained by his mother-in-law, Lynda Ramsden, in the Famous Grouse Selling Stakes.

Tim Easterby's Game Lad has had a frustrating season, running consistently well but without getting his head in front. Opportunity is fancied to come knocking for the three-year-old in the GNER Mallard Handicap over seven furlongs.

Over the sticks at Market Rasen, Sue Smith, who has a good record on the Lincolnshire course, has sound prospects of a treble.

The Bingley trainer saddles Bushido in the Market Rasen Handicap Chase and this recent Sedgefield winner, beating the in-form Possextown, should be hard to beat under Dominic Elsworth.

Darina's Boy, who has finished in the frame in his last couple of starts, is considered capable of winning races by Smith, who has found a decent opportunity for him in the Dr Graham Parry Appreciation Novices' Handicap Chase.

It's Bertie provides Smith with another good chance in the Oerlemans National Hunt Flat Race.

Having shown ability in both his outings last season, including a creditable second at Catterick, It's Bertie is fancied to fulfil that promise.

Sunday's tips:

Musselburgh

2.30 Three Thieves, 3.00 Figjam, 3.30 Branston Bertie, 4.00 Playful Dane (NAP), 4.30 Game Lad, 5.00 Desert Storm.

Market Rasen

2.20 Sheer Guts, 2.50 Nicolas Mon Ami, 3.20 Coat Of Honour, 3.50 Bushido, 4.20 Cottam Grange, 4.50 Darina's Boy, 5.20 It's Bertie.

* Tomorrow's other meeting is at Hereford.

Updated: 10:58 Saturday, October 15, 2005