Irv has been declared for the 4.50.pm at York on Saturday, a 0-85 handicap over one mile and one furlong, with our stable apprentice jockey Aiden Brookes taking off 7lb, he will be riding him for the fourth consecutive time.
Irv was a dual winner at York in June, and July 2019 over a mile, off marks of 72, and 78, his current mark is 70. As I suggested last time before Irv eventually finished second at Pontefract, it can prove very costly making excuses for beaten horses, but Irv has appeared to have genuine reasons for all three defeats this season so far.He was badly hampered on his seasonal debut at Pontefract in April, when continuously left short of room inside the final furlong, and then at Thirsk in May, he was drawn 13 of the 16 runners, having to race on the wide outside of the field, until keeping on from over one out, to go down by five lengths, and to finish in fifth place. On his latest start at Pontefract 15 days ago, they crawled around for most of the race, with the eventual winner quickening off the front from just over two out, Irv who is a hold up horse was not suited by the way the race was run, and did well in the circumstances to finish a clear second.
Irv has drawn well in stall three, and the predicted good to firm surface will not be a problem.
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Good luck to the connections, Irvine Lynch.