Today's Racing Tips: Imola fancied to motor to victory

• Macca taken to follow up at Wolverhampton

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Wolverhampton, 13.27 - Back R P McMurphy @ 6/42.50

The form of R P McMurphy took a handsome boost when How's The Guvnor did this column a favour by winning at Southwell on Tuesday night and the former is fancied to follow up under a penalty here.

Having been bearen a number of times off 55, it was a shade surprising to see Mick Appleby's four-year-old win so readily last time, but the speed figure confirmed it was no fluke and he and the runner-up pulled nicely clear of third-home Arlecchino's Rex in the straight.

On each of the three occasions R P McMurphy has been to Dunstall Park, he has posted the top finishing speed percentage so something about the layout and surface clearly suit the selection and he can follow up his recent victory in this higher grade.

Doncaster, 14.15 - Back Guard Duty @ 2/13.00

It is a big weekend for Emma Lavelle with progressive hurdler Ma Shantou bidding to prove he is up to graded level when tackling the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Guard Duty isn't quite at that level, but he certainly ran better than his finishing position when last seen at Windsor on New Year's Day and he could gain some compensation in this Class 2 affair.

The handicapper left the selection alone for his podium finish in a valuable handicap, that despite the nine-year-old racing in rear until making a swift move forward three hurdles from home.

Admittedly, some of the selection's early hurdling was far from fluent, but the ride was probably a little too reserved given the winner raced prominently throughout and Guard Duty emerged with plenty of credit, even if he did fade out of matters late on.

Today's smaller field may help a horse that likes to be dropped in, and a repeat of his comeback effort at Newbury behind French Ship ought to be enough to see him go close.

Southwell, 16.45 - Back Imola @ 9/43.25

Imola has only managed to record one career victory in her life, but that sole success was achieved over course and distance earlier this month and she again served notice she is feasibly treated with another fine run at Wolverhampton last week.

She was beaten a short head that day by a rival who was completing a hat-trick and was winning his fourth all-weather event since December 19 from just five starts.

Clearly there was no disgrace in Imola suffering defeat at Dunstall Park where she was overhauled on the line and there could be more to come from Joey Ramsden's daughter of Calyx now she return to today's venue.

That defeat at Wolverhampton was regarded as a near personal best by the handicappers and her track stats for current connections read 3231 so she ought to be on the scene once more.

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