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Alan Magee
Dundalk Preview
Georgios Pakidis (left) pictured with Gary Carroll and Togoville's part-owner
© Photo Healy Racing
Togoville has played a big part in putting trainer Georgios Pakidis on the map this winter, and the five-year-old gelding could strike again in the featured At The Races Prize Rush On Facebook Handicap at Dundalk on Friday.
Pakidis has saddled four winners in his rookie campaign on the Polytrack, with the grey son of Verglas providing three of those successes, and he could well add to that tally in this seven furlongs event.
Seven furlongs to a mile appears to be his ideal distance, so it was a highly creditable effort to fill the runner-up spot behind Indian Landing when dropped to six furlongs here last time.
Gary Carroll has built up a good association with Togoville and is again in the saddle, while Rummaging and Burn The Boats may prove the chief threats.
This meeting marks the end of the all-weather winter championships at Dundalk, with Michael Halford way clear of his rivals in the trainers' table on 19 winners and Shane Foley holding pole position among the jockeys.
Foley extended his lead to three (16-13) over Chris Hayes when successful on the Halford-trained Russian Soul here last week.
Tennesse Waltz bids to give Curragh-based trainer Maria Richert a first winner in the Visit attheraces.com/topoffers Maiden, and looks the pick of Hayes' three rides on this seven-race card.
The four-year-old gelding has finished well on both outings at this venue, and should be suited by this step up to a mile and a half.
Commitments in Japan have meant Fran Berry has been an infrequent visitor to Dundalk this winter but he could well be on the mark aboard Asian Wing in the At The Races UPC 418 Handicap.
The six-year-old gelding won three times for Takashi Kodama here a couple of seasons back, and Johnny Feane now steps him up to two miles for the first time.
Pour Deux is a rare winter runner at Dundalk for John Oxx, and she can send punters home happy in the concluding Elusive Pimpernel Maiden.