This Songisforyou

This Songisforyou ran out a good winner of the Northfields Handicap at The Curragh on Sunday, the 10-furlong handicap that brought the curtain down on the 2024 Irish Champions Festival.

Settled just worse than mid-division early on by Colin Keane and along the inside, he travelled well along the inside down the hill and into the home straight. Still on the bridle early in the home straight, he switched to the far side at the two-furlong marker, and he picked up well. He made ground to hit the front inside the final furlong, and he kept on well from there to win nicely.    

Emmet Mullins’ horse had run well to finish a close-up seventh of seven at Leopardstown on his seasonal return, and he stepped forward from that to run a big race in the Colm Quinn Mile at the Galway Festival. Given that he races in the Mee colours, it is probable that he was primed for that contest, but it was only his fifth run on the flat, so there was every chance that he would improve for it. Also, this 10-furlong trip probably suited him better than the stiff mile at Galway. He was fastest of all through each of the last two furlongs here. The handicapper has raised him by 6lb to a mark of 100, but he is progressive enough to take a 6lb hike in his stride. He would be of interest in another good handicap now – he holds an entry in the Cambridgeshire – and he would also be of interest if he lined up in a listed race over this type of trip. The Listed Diamond Stakes at Dundalk next week might come up too quickly, but the Listed Trigo Stakes at Leopardstown at the end of October would be a legitimate target.

The Curragh, 15th September 2024