15th-Sept-2024

This is competitive, the Northfields Handicap, it always is, but I think that This Songisforyou should be shorter than he is.

Winner of his maiden at Clonmel on his final run last season, Emmet Mullins’ horse ran better than the bare form of the run suggests on his seasonal return at Leopardstown in June, and he stepped forward from that in the Colm Quinn Mile at Galway, when he ran a big race to finish third.

He was just behind the leaders from early that day, and he picked up well in the home straight, but he just got run down by Mexicali Rose close home.  While he was probably primed for that target, there is every chance that he will come on for it in terms of experience.  It was only his fifth run on the flat.

Also, a bumper winner and third in a qualified riders’ maiden over a mile and a half at Galway last year, he should appreciate the step up from a mile to 10 furlongs today.  He is potentially well handicapped, and he will have the added bonus of Colin Keane for company.  It is significant that the champion jockey rides him in preference to his dad’s Genuine Article, who is not without a chance, in a race that he and his dad won with Crystal Black last year.

THIS SONGISFORYOU WON (ADV 8/1, SP 9/1)