IRV 25 February 2016. Zoffany-Marion Antoinette Owner-Irvine Lynch.
Of all our flat representatives last flat season Irv was the star performer, fulfilling owner Irvine Lynch's lifetime ambition of leading in a winner at York racecourse, he didn't just win there once, he won there twice in the space of three weeks in June and July.
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 fourteen beaten 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 back to Thirsk finishing a respectable fourth in a novice stakes, followed by his handicap debut at Redcar off 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 nineteen 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.
From all accounts Irv has wintered well, and is looking bigger and stronger for his four year old campaign. The plan was to step up in trip last year, but that was put on hold due to his success, connections have always thought that we wouldn't see the best of Irv until he races beyond a mile.