A great victory for John at Cheltenham

March 1990

Wexford jockey John Berry rode his luck all the way into the winners’ enclosure at Cheltenham last week. The amateur rider steered 20/1 shot Master Bob to a famous victory on Tuesday in the Kim Muir Memorial Steeplechase.

But John had set out for the Festival meeting earlier in the week not even knowing that he had the ride.

English trainer Nicky Henderson rang the Berry home in Clonard on Monday to tell him he was needed for Master Bob. But John was already on his way to the airport and so he did not hear of the assignment until he arrived at the Gloucestershire track.

It was a long way from Lingstown, where John rode two winners the previous Sunday, to a packed Cheltenham.

‘ This was a big day for him,’ agreed brother Mick Berry, who was kicking himself for not having had a flutter on the horse.

However, Mick believed that their mother Joan had a few quid each way on the long-priced runner, which was three lengths clear at the end of three miles.

24-year-old John was leading point-to-point rider in the country two seasons ago, and is contention for that title once more this year.

He qualifies as an amateur, though he is involved full time with horses, having just set up stables at Ballyroe in Blackwater. He was formerly with Henry Cleary in Oulart, but has now applied for a trainer’s licence in his own name.

Incidentally, trainer Nicky Henderson is well acquainted with Wexford riders, as he frequently hires Bannow jockey, John White.