WHATEVER happens at Dundalk between now and the start of the flat season proper it is unlikely to supplant Togoville’s status as the star performer of the 2020/21 winter season as the record-breaking Polytrack performer struck again at the climax of a remarkable three-week swing.

Now a 14-time winner at Dundalk, with the first of those successes having come all the way back in December 2014, Togoville ended a two-year spell in the wilderness to strike here in mid-February.

The following week he defied a 5lb rise in the weights to win with plenty to spare under Conor McGovern and the pair were even better again last Friday week as they shrugged off a further rise of 10lb in the 45-75 rated six-furlong handicap.

Anthony McCann’s charge again made the running and dug deep in the straight to turn back one challenge after another, eventually accounting for Jered Maddox by a length and three-quarters.

“I don’t know what the key is with him but I’d love to find out as I’d get it for the rest of them,” reflected the delighted trainer, whose charge is owned by Patrick McCann, and he confirmed Togoville would be back for the winter season awards day on April 18th.

Hard-fought

Swiss Swoo followed up a promising debut run here in January behind Visualisation with a hard-fought success over the 100/1 newcomer Newpark in the first division of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

Newpark gave this a great go from the front and the chase throughout was led by the Billy Lee-ridden Swiss Swoo (10/1) who nailed the tenacious pace-setter on the line. The winner is owned by Fergal Moore.

“He’s just coming to himself and I think there is more improvement in him. He’d ideally want a mile and he is for sale so that’ll do no harm,” remarked winning trainer Sneezy Foster.

Challenging position

The other division of that median auction maiden went to the Kieran Cotter newcomer Gold Phoenix (11/1) who struck under Sam Ewing for Far Eastern owner Tan Kai Chah.

On his racecourse debut, the son of Belardo understandably looked quite green at various stages but he got himself into a challenging position with over a furlong to run.

He finished out his race well to account for fellow newcomer Gegenpressing by half a length.

Bright times for Sarah Lynam

A STUNNING winter campaign for Sarah Lynam, which has allowed the trainer to advertise her talents to a striking extent, continued when Tyrconnell bolted up in the mile handicap.

A sixth winner from her last eight runners for the trainer and also her eighth victory of the winter season, Tyrconnell (9/2) shrugged aside top weight in style under Shane Crosse.

He cruised through from midfield to lead with around a furlong to run and he had plenty to spare in defeating Bobby K by two and a half lengths. The former Royal Ascot winner Settle For Bay had to settle for eighth.

“That was brilliant. He loves it up here and Shane gets a great tune out of him. He got into a little bit of trouble up the straight which he enjoyed as it keeps him sweet,” remarked the trainer.

Lynam senior

Eddie Lynam saw his colours carried to victory by Tyrconnell and then trained a winner of his own when Sister Lola (11/2), whom he also owns, landed the 45-65 rated seven-furlong handicap.

Dylan Browne McMonagle was on board this daughter of Slade Power who he produced with a good challenge to lead early in the last furlong and she hung on well from the favourite Sideshow Bob. The four-year-old crept into this race as a first reserve.

Earlier, the William Ross-owned and trained Everyhouronthehour notched up the fifth win of his 22-race career as he rewarded the decision to step him up to a mile and a half for the first time in the opening 45-65 rated apprentice riders’ handicap.

The 7/2 chance finished out his race in good style to nail Never Mistabeat late on, prevailing by a neck. It got pretty tight between the leading trio in the closing stages and the third-placed Nightly Wailing, a first ride for Sean Cleary Farrell, came off worst in the bunching which resulted in the runner-up’s rider, Adam Farragher, being hit with a three-day suspension.

Tartlette and San Andreas show plenty of class

THE evening also featured wins for a couple of classy Polytrack performers and Tartlette, who bolted up in a conditions race here a couple of weeks previously, impressed once again in the Willie Buckley Memorial Handicap.

Now a winner of four of her nine starts for Shane Crawley, which has seen her go from a rating of 60 to running off a mark of 90 here, the 15/8 favourite asserted in fine style for Seamie Heffernan over the course of the last furlong to win by three and a quarter lengths. She could be a force in a quick ground premier handicap at some point in the summer.

Later on the card, the 103-rated San Andreas (5/2) repeated his win of 12 months ago in the Hollywoodbets Horse Racing Race.

On his first start since July, the very capable son of Dark Angel made all the running for Hugh Horgan and kept on strongly over the course of the last furlong to finish five and a half lengths ahead of Confide.

Joseph O’Brien trains the five-year-old for the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate.