Wolverhampton Preview: Dana’s Present can land hat-trick

Dana’s Present is in the form of his life and can defy a rise in the weights to land the hat-trick in the 1m 1f handicap at Wolverhampton today (4.40).
The gelding has won three of his last four starts, and comes into the contest on the back of two wins over course and distance.
In the first of those the six-year-old pulled readily clear to beat Hickster by 2 1/4 lengths.

Dana’s Present then left trainer George Baker to join Tom Dascombe, and put in a terrific performance for his new handler when coming from off the pace to win a shade snugly by 1/2 a length from Barye off a mark of 68 last month.

That was just the fourth try at the trip for Dana’s Present, and those runs have resulted in three wins and a third place over course and distance.
Although Dana’s Present has been hit with a further 4lb rise and now races off 72, the son of Osorio is thriving and it is unlikely to be enough to sop him going in again in his current mood.

In the 7f handicap that closes proceedings (5.30), Telegraph looks weighted to take all the bearing now partnered by Adam Kirby for the first time.
The David Evans trained gelding was given a strange ride by 7lb claimer Harry Burns over course and distance four days ago, jumping well from the stalls but then being allowed to drift back into the pack.
The four-year-old was miles off the pace as the field turned for home, and when his rider did eventually ask Telegraph for an effort he kept on to finish a never nearer eight length sixth of 10 to Etaad.

It was a run which caught the eye of the stewards, but they were happy with the riders explanation that “the gelding had been denied a clear run on the home bend”.

To me Telegraph was never placed in with a chance at any stage, and he is far better judged on his 1/2 a length second behind Sakhee’s Rose over course and distance on his penultimate outing.

That run suggested that Telegraph was ready to go in again, and he gets into this off his last winning mark of 57.
The booking of Kirby also suggests that connections mean business, and this looks a great opening for Telegraph to get back to winning ways.

Selections:
2.00: Prigsnov Dancer
2.30: Kalimantan
3.00: Tryster
3.30: Dana’s Present (NAP)
4.00: Akula
4.30: Winter Queen
5.00: Chanceuse
5.30: Telegraph (NB)