Jockey Fran Berry.

Here is an exerpt from Irish-Racing from last week....

"There was also a double on the card for champion jockey Declan McDonagh who got Hard Rock City back to winning ways on his seasonal debut to complete the two timer. In a dramatic contest the Michael Grassick trained seven year old got up by a half a length from the game Duff in second. Duff was ridden by Fran Berry who's irons snapped leaving stalls and following an uncomfortable spin around was unlucky not to hold on."

I saw this race last week and watched in amazement as Frans footing in the stirrups were lost. I felt at that stage that his mount "Duff" had no chance of registering any kind of result. And yet as the group approached the last furlong it appeared that the pairing might in fact get an unlikely win. Fran was riding this horse at a very high pace and with no real control over his balance in the saddle there was no sign of him taking the easy way out and just saving himself. He cojoled his horse to give everything and it was great shame that in the end he got worn down to finish runner up. I felt sure that he would have won this race had he not have had that misfortune and Fran lost nothing in coming second.

Fran has been a long time friend of my brothers and for a long time now I have been following his racing career with interest. There are a lot of good jockeys in Ireland and Fran does not always get the kind of good rides he deserves but with the rides he does get he has proved well up to the task. It is a difficult lifestyle and I wish him the best in the future. I take delight in watching his every victory and just yesterday he had a nice victory on "Munnings" at the Curragh, his home venue.