IRV 25 February 2016. Zoffany-Marion Antoinette Owner-Irvine Lynch.
Irv was purchased at the 2018 Doncaster Breeze Up sales, and made his debut under Paul Mulrennan at Thirsk in July, being considerately ridden, he finished ninth of 14 runners, beaten by only six lengths.He then went to Beverley where he never gave himself a chance by pulling far too hard over the extended seven furlongs. It was next back to Thirsk, where he finished a respectable fourth in a novice stakes, followed by his handicap debut at Redcar off a mark of 73, where he was a staying on second over seven furlongs.
He showed us as a three year old that he had trained on when a staying on fifth at Ripon over a mile, and then an eye catching ninth of 19, over an inadequate seven at York. Dropped back in to novice company over a mile at Thirsk next time, he once again was doing his best work at the finish when runner up to the 1/6 shot Davydenko, trained by Sir Michael Stoute. This was followed by the two wins at York both over a mile, with his now regular pilot James Sullivan in the saddle. Irv won in June 2019 on the Knavesmire from a mark of 72, over a mile in Class 3 company, and followed up under the exact same conditions 27 days later, from a 6lb higher mark. Irv ran on three further occasions as a three year old, but didn't get competitive in any of those starts, including a £100.000 handicap at the Ebor meeting.
It was decided that Irv would benefit from wind surgery, followed by an eight month break, which included racing's lock down, and he next appeared at Thirsk in June 2020. On his return at Thirsk, Irv arguably ran a personal best, finishing fast to be second from a mark of 82. Hopes were high that he would soon be back in the winners enclosure, but in an effort to repeat his feats of 2019, Irv would run his next three races all at York in Class 2, and Class 3 company, but although running well he couldn't strike a blow.His final three starts in 2020 were in lesser company at Pontefract, where he ran twice, and once on the all weather at Newcastle, but like the previous season his form tailed off in the autumn.
Irv returned as a five year old in April 2021 at Pontefract, from a mark of 72, and was probably an unlucky loser, as when he came to make his challenge a furlong from home, he was continuously left short of room, and couldn't get any daylight, with the Racing Post comment saying it was an 'eye catching' run. His latest start to date was at Thirsk last Saturday when keeping on to be fifth, beaten by five lengths, from the very difficult draw in stall 13. TO BE CONTINUED.
Comments