BERRY BOUNCES BACK
ALAN BERRY was back in the winner’s enclosure at Musselburgh, within days of taking out a licence after a brief lay-off.
Kirkby’s Phantom – on September 23 at Catterick – was his first runner and Economic Crisis was only his second.
The eight-year-old mare won eight races for Berry between 2011 and 2015 and another two while with John Riches the following season.
She failed to win any of her 10 starts for Colin Teague earlier this year. Yesterday’s run was her first since going back to Cockerham to join Berry who owns her in ® partnership with William Burns, a friend of Alan’s father, John.
Berry used to train 70+ winners a year a while back, when he sent out upwards of 800 runners.
But the range dropped to between nine and 11 from 2009 to 2015 when he had less than 300 runners each calendar year.
“Before I bought Economic Crisis they said she couldn’t win anywhere bar Hamilton, but this is her third win at Musselburgh now,” said Burns of his game mare.
Over in Ireland, Jezki upstaged younger rivals in the Istabraq Hurdle at Tipperary. The 2014 Champion Hurdle hero was well beaten on his last start in April, but he took the Grade Three Istabraq Hurdle easily enough in the colours of JP McManus.
He galloped on strongly to beat Coquin Mans by four lengths, with Ex Patriot a head away in third. McManus’ other runner Jer’s Girl, the choice of the owner’s retained rider Barry Geraghty, was fourth.
Jessica Harrington, who earlier won the two-year-old maiden with Whirling Dervish, said: “That was fantastic. He just seems to have got back his old spark. He did it hands and heels there and surprised me as I thought he’d blow up. He has class, and class won it for him.”