McCrory saddles first winner with Delvino in Grade 3

Mark McCrory saddled his first winner under rules and did it in style as Delvino landed the Grade 3 Bar One Racing Directors Plate Novice Chase at Naas.

McCrory, who is based near Dungannon in County Tyrone, has taken over the training of the Pat Conway-owned mare from Dermot McLoughlin this season and had shown promise in two outings for the northern trainer.

The field was reduced to just four runners in the absence of Tullyhogue Fort (off feed) and West Cork Wildway (nasal discharge), and Delvino struck the front when heading the evens favourite Jeremys Flame at the penultimate fence. Lifetime Ambition threw down a strong challenge from the last but Richie Deegan’s mount kept on gamely to prevail by three-quarters-of-a-length at odds of 9/2.

The pair stretched 28 lengths clear of Jeremys Flame in third.

A delighted McCrory said, “That’s my first winner and to be in a Grade 3 — I’m over the moon!

“I’ve been with the owner in and out for nearly seven years now and rode a winner at Down Royal (in a hunter chase) for them on El Grande.

“I started off in Stephen McConville’s when I was younger and rode a winner on the track and in a point-to-point.”