Limerick Racing News
Billy Lee got off the mark for the new Flat season when teaming up with Curragh trainer Willie McCreery to win the opening 5f fillies’ maiden with Ickworth at Dundalk on Friday night. She carried the colours of Godolphin to success at odds of 5/1. Lee made all the running on the two-year-old to win by three parts of a length from the Jim Bolger-trained Moments Linger. Chris Hayes landed his second winner of the new term when partnering the Nigel Slevin-trained Takeachancejimmy to win the 7f handicap. The 10/1 chance did well to score as he was drawn out widest of all in stall 14.
It got better for Hayes at Navan the following afternoon where he shared two winners with Dermot Weld. The pair won both divisions of the 8f maiden with horses for the Aga Khan, 100/30 chance Sherkali taking the opening leg from the gambled-on 13/8 favourite California Daddy while 9/2 shot Shelir got up in the final stride to win the second heat by a short-head from the Ken Condon-trained Piano Solo. Weld has the Tetrarch Stakes in mind for his second winner. Lee was also back among the winners at the County Meath venue where Trump Card, owned by the Trump Syndicate, won the 1m5f handicap by half a length from the Jim Bolger-trained Teologia.
Donie McInerney was a local winner at Limerick on Sunday where he partnered Goulane Chosen to win the 2m1f handicap chase. Conna trainer Seamus Spillane supplied the winner, with the 3/1 chance just holding off the late surge of the Davy Russell-ridden Tycoon Prince by a nose.
Other Racing News
Jockey Fran Berry announces his retirement
Group 1-winning jockey Fran Berry announced his retirement from the saddle early on Monday morning. The 38-year-old has been forced to retire on medical advice after sustaining serious injuries in a fall at Wolverhampton in January. His hugely successful career spanned 23 years. He has ridden in Britain since 2016 but enjoyed his finest hour when riding champion two-year-old Pathfork to victory in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh in 2010 for Jessica Harrington. Berry rode a Cheltenham Festival winner at 18 on the Christy Roche-trained Khayrawani in the 1999 Coral Cup – owned by JP McManus, for whom his father Frank is racing manager but was best known as a hugely respected Flat jockey. He served as second rider, behind Michael Kinane at John Oxx’s powerful Curragh stable from 2002 until the end of 2009, when Kinane retired and Berry was promoted to the number one spot. But following the appointment of Johnny Murtagh in 2011, he relinquished that role to become a freelance.
In 2016, he made the move across the Irish Sea to become stable jockey to Ralph Beckett. The arrangement ended in in June, 2017, but Berry continues to be based in Britain. He rode four Royal Ascot winners and has also enjoyed notable success in Japan during his career.
“While this news is heart-breaking on one level, I am fully aware how lucky I am. Riding has been a fantastic adventure for me, and I am very grateful for the way it allowed my family and me to experience the world and gain many friends over that time,” Berry told sportinglife.com. He will now pursue other ventures – including media work.
Upcoming Fixtures
Leopardstown – Wednesday, April 3 (First Race 3.30)
Dundalk – Friday, April 5 (First Race 5.30)
Wexford – Friday, April 5 (First Race 4.10)
Leopardstown – Saturday, April 6 (First Race 1.40)
Cork – Sunday, April 7 (First Race 2.05)
Fairyhouse – Sunday, April 7 (First Race 1.50)
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