Togoville stretches Dundalk record to 12

Dundalk's most prolific, and one of it's most poignant winners Togoville today bettered his own record with a 12th success at Ireland's only all-weather racecourse, defying his 11 years in the second division of the Dundalkstadium.com Apprentice Handicap.

Togoville was late Pat Smullen's final winner in March 2018 prior to the Champion Jockey's retirement and having won afterwards in March 2019, Togoville had deteriorated somewhat in recent times.

The grey son of Verglas went unclaimed in three Claimers in each of the past three months, and was claimed back for just €3,000 by his trainer Anthony McCann on January 8.

Rated 100 at his peak in 2015/16 and today rated 63, Togoville, under jockey Conor McGovern, chased clear leader Motbeq for much of the race, went by that rival at the furlong pole before maintaining his gallop to hold faster-finishing runner-up Sideshow Bob by a neck.

The win moves Togoville three winners clear of other Dundalk-specialists He's Our Music, Reckless Lad, Six Silver Lane, Shake The Bucket and Sharjah, on nine winners apiece, with only Sharjah, whose last win was in 2018, still on the go.

Following the race winning trainer Anthony McCann reported “that's a special one.

“I couldn't believe it and I'm actually speechless. He's the star of the yard, he's an older horse and the whole yard has gone a different way now as we've gone into more younger horses. We bought a lot of two-year-olds this week.

“He's a legend here and I'm very happy for Patrick McCann and his wife for their constant support. Keeping him in training was brilliant.”

He added “dropping back down into that grade I thought he might have won the last day but it just took a run for him to get himself back.

“I went down to load him in the stalls tonight and he was chomping at the bit.

“I was very lucky to be able to claim him back in a claimer here last month. It was a chance we took but it worked out alright.

“We'll see what happens with him now. He's coming near the stage where we'd retire him. He hit a good note tonight anyway and we'll sit down and talk about it tomorrow.”

Quotes from Gary Carson