Berry leads tributes to Flood

Tributes have poured in for Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Francis Flood who has died at the age of 86.

Flood, who was champion amateur rider in Ireland seven times, started training in the late 1960s and quickly established himself as a top handler, saddling the first two in the 1970 Irish Grand National with Garoupe and Glencaraig Lady.

Former Irish champion jumps jockey Frank Berry, now racing manager for owner JP McManus, recalled many happy years riding for Flood with many big-race successes, including the 1972 Gold Cup on Glencaraig Lady.

He said: "It's very sad to hear of the news of his passing.

"I rode for him for 18 years. He started me off when I came out of my apprenticeship.

"We got on great and had some great times together. He was a marvellous man and it's just a sad time.

"Our sympathies are with all the family.

"Winning on Glencaraig Lady was great for me. It was my first ride at Cheltenham as well. It was a huge occasion.

"We had a lot of good years together. He was a wonderful man to ride for and he was just a nice man."

Another former top Irish jumps jockey who has fond memories of Flood is Charlie Swan, who gave the trainer a second Irish National triumph with Ebony Jane.

"It's sad news. He was a lovely man and very easy to ride for," he said.

"He was a gentleman and a very good trainer."

Irish Classic-winning trainer Adrian Keatley has known the family for years and started off his life in racing with them.

"The Floods have been neighbours of mine for a long time and I learnt pretty much everything I know about racing from them," he said.

"I started riding out there when I was 13, Francis was still riding out at that time. I worked there for many years and rode for them as an amateur in point-to-points and things like that.

"It's very sad to see a legend like him pass away and my condolences are with his family."

Dermot Weld is another to express his sadness at the news.

Weld said: "I rode with and for him and he was an outstanding horseman and a thorough gentleman. My deepest sympathy goes to his family.

"I rode Glencaraig Lady to win a big amateur handicap at Leopardstown. It was the feature race on the first day of a two-day meeting which is now the Derrinstown Derby Trial."