Croke trains first Irish winner

Co Wicklow based trainer Peter Croke registered his first Irish winner at Wexford today when his My Betty previously successful under Sir Tony McCoy, landed the Euro 2016 Betting At 188BET Mares Beginners Chase.

My Betty was steered to victory on her only previous win by McCoy in a Southwell maiden hurdle in 2014 and was today partnered by Mark Bolger, with the daughter of Definite Article scoring by two and three parts of a length over Isabella Liberty

Following the win, Croke stated “this is my first winner in Ireland and Tony McCoy won on her in England. I just want to say a big thanks to her owner Maurice Sheehy who is a good supporter of mine.

"I have three or four for the track and a few point-to-pointers for next year.

"She (My Betty) was always entitled to win a beginners, she had been knocking on the door against good horses, and she deserved that today.

"She will probably have a little break now for a couple of weeks. We will see how she is then and go back to the drawing board with her."

Croke’s two previous racecourse winners were in Britain in the 2013/14 season.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Donal Murphy