Horse Racing Tips: Back a pair of likely improvers in 28/1 double

• Mark fancies a pair under both codes today

• He heads over jumps at Southwell for his first selection

• An unexposed filly on the all-weather should go well

Southwell - 14:55: Imperial Bede

Just a small field head to post for this 2m 4f handicap chase, and it's possible to give chances to any of the five, but I'm happy to side with Imperial Bede, who makes his debut over fences and looks open to improvement in this sphere.

Jonjo O'Neill's six-year-old bumper winner made a promising hurdling debut when third at Leicester last season before taking a maiden at Huntingdon on his next start.

His form then tailed off a touch and he was put away until November, when he returned with a good third-place finish back at Huntingdon.

Imperial Bede hasn't really built on that in two starts since, but the prospect of going over fences for the first time and stepping up to a more suitable trip could well illicit the improvement needed to see him get back on track.

Kempton - 20:30: Russian Ballerina

The final race at Kempton on Sunday evening is a 1m 4f three-year-old handicap that really won't take a lot of winning, and Charlie Johnston fields an intriguing contender in the shape of the filly Russian Ballerina.

Bred to stay well (dam was a winner over this trip in Germany), she's made all three of her starts to date over a mile, shaping as if lacking the requisite speed/experience on each occasion.

She should be well suited by stepping up in trip on handicap debut today, and it's worth noting that the stable won this corresponding race last year with another filly who had a remarkably similar profile.

Russian Ballerina looks to have been laid out for this and she's a tempting proposition at around the 9/110.00 mark, particularly as her main rivals looks somewhat limited, with Northern Cracksman just about setting the standard.

Now read Rachael Blackmore on her four Punchestown rides.