Tuesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

IMPERIAL DATA (NAP) (best price 3/1) finished his race off to such a degree at Kelso last time out, the difference in his overall performance must lay at the feet of a wind operation undertaken in the summer and with his confidence likely to have been significantly advanced as a result, Rebacca Menzies’ inmate can continue his merry way up the ranks.

A former Irish point winner, the six-year-old was slightly disappointing when runner-up in his third consecutive race at Southwell back in July and it was that performance that sparked connections into drastic measures.

Dropping back in trip post-surgery, the son of Imperial Monarch travelled with plenty of purpose at the Borders venue and unlike several of his previous efforts, he picked up strongly in the closing stages to score going away.

Posting a smart speed figure into the bargain, he returns to handicap company off what appears a favourable mark based on his display 21 days ago and with today’s race not exactly jam packed with many obvious improvers, he is strongly fancied to take advantage of what appears a decent opportunity.

Not a bad beginners’ chase for this time of year and providing PERCIVAL LEGALLOIS (best price 5/2) knows his onions at the first time of asking, there’s a decent chance Gavin Cromwell’s inmate can make an immediate impact in his new vocation.

A smart handicap hurdler, he finally found life over three miles suiting him best and following an excellent effort in the Pertemps Qualifier at the big Leopardstown Christmas meeting, he fulfilled that promise by capturing a similar contest on his return visit two months later.

Presumably suffering a setback that meant he was unable to make the Final of the series at the Cheltenham Festival, connections have decided to pull the plug of his burgeoning hurdling career in favour of sending over fences and even though today’s examination is a little short of his best trip-wise, he has the sort of cruising speed to suggest he will be more than capable of adapting.

DOM PERRY (best price 5/2) was a shade disappointing when last seen at Kempton back in April but returning to a venue where he has twice shown a decent level of form, Hughie Morrison’s inmate can begin his new campaign in the best possible fashion.

Heading into that competitive heat at the Sunbury venue following a decent effort in the first-time tongue-tie over today’s course, the conditions deteriorated so badly during the card by the time they field faced the starter for the last hurdle race scheduled, the ground was far too testing for the seven-year-old to perform anywhere near his best.

Seen to better effect on good ground several times earlier in the campaign, today’s surface should be much more to his liking and having gone well fresh on his opening bow here last season (off for 327 days), hope is high he can replicate that feat following a 162-day break.

GANNON GLORY (best price 4/1) has been plying his trade mainly over six furlongs in recent times, but he shapes as though he will be just as good over further and with that theory put to the test over a track where he has gone well twice before, a chance is taken on Archie Watson’s gelding producing the goods.

A game winner on his first visit to the Dunstall Park venue back in August, the four-year-old seemed to be suited by a return to the turf at Yarmouth on his next start but, as his latest effort here last time out was a bit more like his true running, that effort instils a bit more confidence.

Sometimes a keen goer in the early part of his races, the sight of several runners in the line-up who like to force the pace is a welcome relief and providing Hollie Doyle can get him somewhere in plain sight of the leaders turning for home, hopefully he’ll have enough left in the tank to be competitive at the business end.