Wolverhampton preview: Course specialist Berlusca primed for action

Berlusca has a tremendous record at Wolverhampton, and can further enhance it with victory in the 1m 1f handicap on today’s card at the Midlands venue (15.45).

The David O’Meara trained gelding is a six-time winner at the track, and five of those successes have come over this afternoon’s trip.

In the last of those back in January, Berlusca dead-heated off a mark of 82 before being awarded the race outright after a stewards’ enquiry.

The six-year-old was then off the track for 134 days, and badly needed the run on return to action at Haydock in May.

Since then Berlusca has posted two really solid efforts, finishing a two length runner-up at Haydock off his current mark of 84 and a fine sixth of of 17 to Barreesh in a competitive contest at York.

Those runs suggest Bersluca is coming to the boil nicely, and the return to this venue can see him getting back to winning ways.

Trainer Ivan Furtado is enjoying a tremendous first season and Bread can provide him with another winner in the 7f handicap that closes proceedings (17.15).

The Doncaster based handler has an overall strike rate of just under 25 per cent, and one of 66 per cent with his runners on the all-weather.

In Bread he has a lightly-raced gelding, who landed a gamble in style over course and distance four days ago.

The three-year-old took up the running after a furlong and readily pulled clear in the straight to score easily by 1 3/4 lengths.

It was a performance which suggested Breadwas miles ahead of the handicapper, and it’s no surprise to see connections turn him out quickly under a 6lb penalty before the assessor has his say.

Bread also remains open to further improvement after just five starts, and everything suggests the son of Alfred Noble is going to be very hard to beat.

Selections:
14.15: Baltic Histoire
14.45: Hot Stuff
15.15: Our Joy
15.45: Berlusca (NAP)
16.15: Noguchi
16.45: Handbell
17.15: Bread