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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Impressive It's For Me seals Navan brace for Mullins

Sat 21st Jan 2023, 16:21

It's For Me, right, moves clearIt's For Me, right, moves clear
© Photo Healy Racing

It's Me For absolutely routed the field in the bumper at Navan without ever coming off the bridle.

The prominent racer eased to the front inside the final quarter of a mile and breezed right away from his rivals racing into the final furlong.

Patrick Mullins didn't even have to change his hands as the 4/9 favourite went further clear and beat Suttons Hill (20/1) by 10 lengths. Ballystone (11/2) completed the placings in third.

Jockey Mullins said: "“He's much better on the track than he is at home, at home he isn't flash.

“Looking at the price he went off in his point-to-point, it was obviously a similar story there. He's much better on grass.

“That was very impressive. He was a bit keen all the way but he quickened up very well.

“That was as good as anything that has been seen this year.

“When you don't have one of Gordon's (Elliott) in there to maybe have a measure it's a bit easier.

“The bumper horses seem to be hitting top gear now, they were a bit hit and miss before Christmas.”

When asked if the Champion Bumper was tomorrow would he ride him he added:- “I don't know what I'm going to ride there.”

Paddy Power were sufficiently impressed to make It's For Me 5/1 favourite from 10/1 for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. He was then backed down to 4/1f.

It's For Me won his point-to-point at Loughanmore for Stuart Crawford in April by eight lengths.

He gave Willie Mullins a double on the card as his Shanbally Kid landed race two, the two and a half mile maiden hurdle.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.