Multiple Irish champion jockey Frank Berry was born on September 8, 1950. He enjoyed a brief but successful career on the Flat before increasing weight saw him switch codes and join forces with trainer Francis Flood. Within two years they were to win the 1972 Cheltenham Gold Cup with the mare Glencaraig Lady, after which the partnership never looked back. Their complementary skills continued to achieve big-race success for the next 15 years.
Their victories together included Leopardstown’s Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup twice, the Thyestes Chase, Punchestown’s Champion Novice Hurdle, and Listowel’s Smithwick’s Beer Handicap Hurdle. However, they are probably best remembered for their association with top two-mile chaser Bobsline, whose pulsating battle on the run-in with the ill-fated Noddy’s Ryde to win the 1984 Arkle Chase produced one of Cheltenham’s greatest finishes.
Frank’s other Cheltenham winners were: Drumgora in the Queen Mother Champion Chase for Arthur Moore, Doubleuagain in the Mildmay of Flete Chase for Andy Geraghty, and Antarctic Bay in the Sun Alliance Chase for Dessie Hughes.
He was Ireland’s Champion National Hunt Jockey a (then) record ten times between 1975 and 1987, albeit tieing on three of those occasions with Tommy Carberry, Tony Mullins and Tom Morgan respectively. Ruby Walsh eventually broke Frank’s record with twelve jockeys’ titles to his name.
He retired at the end of the 1980s. Francis Flood’s son, Francis Flood Jr, becoming a homegrown successor to his father’s training operation.
Frank is now – and has been for many years – the racing manager for leading owner JP McManus.
Frank Berry’s Cheltenham Festival winners were as follows:
Cheltenham Gold Cup on Glencaraig Lady (1972)
Queen Mother Champion Chase on Drumgora (1981)
Mildmay of Flete Chase on Doubleuagain (1982)
Arkle Chase on Bobsline (1984)
Sun Alliance Chase on Antarctic Bay (1985)
His major wins in Ireland include:
Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle three times on Bannow Rambler (1975, Padge Berry), Settle It (1978, Eddie O’Grady) and El-Sid Senor (1988, Francis Flood).
Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup twice on Spanish Tan (1975, Francis Flood) and Siberian Sun (1977, Francis Flood).
Smithwick’s Beer Handicap Hurdle on Roston (1976, Francis Flood).
Silk Cut Handicap Chase on Fort Fox (1976, Bunny Cox).
Punchestown Chase on Fort Fox (1976, Bunny Cox).
Thyestes Chase on Tacroy (1982, Francis Flood).
Jameson Gold Cup Chase twice on Owen’s Image (1981, Pat Hughes) and Whistling Senator (1983, Tony Redmond).
