Vitello another likely Dundalk strike for Halford

No trainer has taken advantage of the opportunities provided at Dundalk more than Michael Halford. He has a superb grasp of the type of horse who acts well on the surface and his expertise has been a feature of countless meetings at the venue over the years, well illustrated last Friday when Kadra won a Listed race, in the process completing a treble shared with Shane Foley.

This evening he provides two of the seven runners in the featured 6f handicap (8.05), and it could pay to take a chance with Foley's mount Vitello, who has slumped in the handicap ratings in recent months.

Having started the campaign with a rating of 99, based on juvenile form highlighted by a victory over subsequent Group 3 winner and Classic-placed Now Or Never at Fairyhouse, he is now down to 87. His last three outings have been at Dundalk, two of them quite respectable.