FRAN Berry has decided to remain based in England as a freelance jockey after his link with trainer Ralph Beckett ended.

Berry, who has ridden over 1,000 winners during his 20-year career to-date, joined Beckett in February of last year. They enjoyed Royal Ascot success with Kinema a year ago. However, an injury sustained later that month ruled him out for several weeks and in October he suffered a fractured foot.

Beckett had 101 winners in 2016 but has only had 29 so far this year in Britain. Berry has ridden 21 British winners so far this year, including nine for Beckett. They teamed up to win the Group 3 Alleged Stakes at Naas in April with Air Pilot.

Last weekend a statement posted on Beckett’s website said: “Both Fran and I feel that this is the right decision to make going forward. I am grateful to Fran for his considerable efforts over the last year or so, and wish him the best of luck in the future.”

Beckett had previously been without a stable jockey since Jim Crowley, who is now retained by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, went freelance in 2014.