Rory And Me will contest the latest round in this years curtailed stayers championship, at 2.50.pm, on Thursday at Pontefract. The race is named in honour of the mare with a mind of her own, Madame Lilibet, who ran in a total of 21 races at the West Yorkshire track, winning on three occasions, latterly in 2017, when beating our very own Tuscan Gold by a head.
Rory And Me is one of our most exiting horses, who got his season off to a great start when finishing third at Ripon back in July. He has since returned to that venue, over the same 14 furlongs trip. but disappointed, trailing in last of the six. This was the second time he has failed to run his race on a softer surface, so with the faster ground expected on Thursday, and the step up to two miles for the first time, we would hope to see him get his season back on track, Billy Garritty rides him for the first time, with his 5lb claim helping to ease his big weight.
Irv will also carry top weight, in the 4.20.pm, as he takes a significant drop in class.He started his season in June, when probably running a career best, when keeping on for second at Thirsk, from a mark of 82.He has since raced at York in two Class 2 races, and a Class 3, having an almost impossible task last time, when being drawn wide in the 20 stall. On Thursday he drops back to a mile, the trip he won over twice last season, having raced over an extended one mile, and two furlongs the last twice. As with Rory And Me, Billy Garritty, will also ride him for the first time,and take off a handy 5lb.
Good luck to the connections, Richard Howard & Ben Howard, and Irvine Lynch.