Defy Logic and Alan Berry© Photo Healy Racing
Amateur jockey Alan Berry partnered his first winner since steering Sunnyhillboy to win the Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham in March when recording just his second Irish winner, Defy Logic in the Follow Fairyhouse On Twitter Bumper at Fairyhouse today.
Berry is the son of former Champion Jockey Frank Berry and brother of Flat jockey Fran Berry and had ridden just one previous Irish winner when steering the Michael Tabor owned Refinement to win the 2005 Punchestown Champion Bumper.
Defy Logic, wearing a first-time 'hood' as opposed to blinkers, made all and, while racing keenly, kept up a strong gallop to blitz his eight rivals, winning by all of 35 lengths from Lots Of Memories
Winning trainer Paul Nolan was represented by his brother James Nolan who later stated “Defy Logic is keen but isn't silly and the hood helps to keep him relaxed. We've been using them on a few of our horses latesy – Alan said he couldn't pull him up afterwards!
“Relief is the word more than anything though as he is a horse we've been doing plenty of talking about for a while. We're really looking forward to him going jumping and he jumps fences as much as hurdles at home. We'll have to talk to Frank (Berry, winning jockey's father and winning owner J.P. McManus' Racing Manager) but I'd imagine he'd go to Leopardstown at Christmas for a maiden hurdle. That should bring him on plenty.
The rule regarding the declaration of specific types of head-gear is to change on December 3 when hoods, and other accessories, will be differentiated from blinkers on racecards.
Further reporting by Alan Magee
