It has long been suspected that the step up to 10 furlongs would be advantageous to last seasons star flat performer Irv, but because he was running so well at a mile, it was put on hold until now.
Irv got his season off to a great start in June when only finding Swiss Knight too good. He then ran in the very hot Sky Bet Handicap at York, and although finishing last of the nine was only beaten six and three quarter lengths, off an all time high mark of 85. On Wednesday Irv will race off of a mark of 82, in the 4.10.pm at Beverley, the same mark he raced off on his seasonal debut at Thirsk, but he does have 10.4lbs, less Billy Garritty's valuable 5lb claim, to carry.
Good luck to the connections, Irvine Lynch.
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, 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 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.