Barry Geraghty
Photo courtesy Mary Pitt
Photo courtesy Mary Pitt
Born in County Meath on September 16, 1979, Barry Geraghty can safely be ranked one of the greatest of post-war jump jockeys in a golden era that included Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy among his contemporaries.
Born in County Meath on September 16, 1979, Barry Geraghty can safely be ranked one of the greatest of post-war jump jockeys in a golden era that included Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy among his contemporaries.
Barry’s long list of big race triumphs in Britain included the 2003 Grand National on Monty’s Pass, two Cheltenham Gold Cups, four Champion Hurdles, five Queen Mother Champion Chases, five Tingle Creek Chases, two King George VI Chases, two Hennessy Gold Cups, two Stayers’ Hurdles and a Ryanair Chase. In Ireland he won the Irish Grand National, Irish Gold Cup, Irish Champion Hurdle, five Punchestown Gold Cups, five Punchestown Champion Chases and three Punchestown Champion Hurdles.
Barry’s long list of big race triumphs in Britain included the 2003 Grand National on Monty’s Pass, two Cheltenham Gold Cups, four Champion Hurdles, five Queen Mother Champion Chases, five Tingle Creek Chases, two King George VI Chases, two Hennessy Gold Cups, two Stayers’ Hurdles and a Ryanair Chase. In Ireland he won the Irish Grand National, Irish Gold Cup, Irish Champion Hurdle, five Punchestown Gold Cups, five Punchestown Champion Chases and three Punchestown Champion Hurdles.
Among the great horses he rode were star two-mile chasers Moscow Flyer and Sprinter Sacre, Gold Cup winners Kicking King and Bobs Worth, and Stayers’ Hurdle winner Iris’s Gift.
Among the great horses he rode were star two-mile chasers Moscow Flyer and Sprinter Sacre, Gold Cup winners Kicking King and Bobs Worth, and Stayers’ Hurdle winner Iris’s Gift.
In addition to all that, he was twice champion jump jockey in Ireland, in 1999/2000 and 2003/04. His best season numerically in Ireland was 110 winners in 2003/04. He scored most wins in a British season when registering a total of 78 in 2009/10 during his lengthy association with Nicky Henderson. His best season’s score in Ireland and Britain combined was 123 in 2003/04 (Ireland 110, Britain 13).
In addition to all that, he was twice champion jump jockey in Ireland, in 1999/2000 and 2003/04. His best season numerically in Ireland was 110 winners in 2003/04. He scored most wins in a British season when registering a total of 78 in 2009/10 during his lengthy association with Nicky Henderson. His best season’s score in Ireland and Britain combined was 123 in 2003/04 (Ireland 110, Britain 13).
Barry began his racing career with Noel Meade as a raw 16-year-old and quickly proved that he had a special talent. He rode his first winner on the Meade-trained Stagalier in a maiden hurdle at Down Royal on January 29, 1997. Later that year he achieved his first Graded race win on Cockney Lad, also trained by Meade, in Navan’s Lismullen Hurdle.
Barry began his racing career with Noel Meade as a raw 16-year-old and quickly proved that he had a special talent. He rode his first winner on the Meade-trained Stagalier in a maiden hurdle at Down Royal on January 29, 1997. Later that year he achieved his first Graded race win on Cockney Lad, also trained by Meade, in Navan’s Lismullen Hurdle.
His first British victory was gained on Miss Orchestra in the 1998 Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter. In 1999 he achieved his first Grade 1 success on Alexander Banquet in the Drinmore Novices Chase at Fairyhouse.
His first British victory was gained on Miss Orchestra in the 1998 Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter. In 1999 he achieved his first Grade 1 success on Alexander Banquet in the Drinmore Novices Chase at Fairyhouse.
In 2003 he achieved what he later reflected was his single sweetest memory when winning the Grand National on the Jimmy Mangan-trained Monty’s Pass. That victory led to Barry being voted Ireland’s Sports Person of the Year for 2003.
In 2003 he achieved what he later reflected was his single sweetest memory when winning the Grand National on the Jimmy Mangan-trained Monty’s Pass. That victory led to Barry being voted Ireland’s Sports Person of the Year for 2003.
Barry rode Jessica Harrington’s Moscow Flyer to win the 2002 Arkle Chase, the Queen Mother Champion Chase twice in 2003 and 2005, back-to-back Tingle Creek Chases in 2003 and 2004, and back-to-back Melling Chases in 2004 and 2005. He rode Moscow Flyer in all bar one of his 28 starts over fences, winning 19 between October 2001 and April 2005. The only time they were beaten was when Moscow Flyer either fell or unseated him.
Barry rode Jessica Harrington’s Moscow Flyer to win the 2002 Arkle Chase, the Queen Mother Champion Chase twice in 2003 and 2005, back-to-back Tingle Creek Chases in 2003 and 2004, and back-to-back Melling Chases in 2004 and 2005. He rode Moscow Flyer in all bar one of his 28 starts over fences, winning 19 between October 2001 and April 2005. The only time they were beaten was when Moscow Flyer either fell or unseated him.
He won his first Cheltenham Gold Cup on Kicking King, trained by Tom Taaffe, in 2005. Barry partnered Kicking King in all his 26 races over obstacles, winning 11 times and finishing out of the first three on only five occasions. Together they won back-to-back renewals of Kempton’s King George VI Chase in 2004 and 2005.
He won his first Cheltenham Gold Cup on Kicking King, trained by Tom Taaffe, in 2005. Barry partnered Kicking King in all his 26 races over obstacles, winning 11 times and finishing out of the first three on only five occasions. Together they won back-to-back renewals of Kempton’s King George VI Chase in 2004 and 2005.
However, the best horse he ever rode was Nicky Henderson’s star two-mile chaser Sprinter Sacre. They rattled off a sequence of nine straight wins between December 2011 and April 2013, winning the 2012 Arkle Chase and the 2013 Queen Mother Champion Chase by a combined total of 26 lengths. In 2013 they completed a clean sweep of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Aintree’s Melling Chase and the Punchestown Champion Chase. Barry rode Sprinter Sacre in 17 races, winning 13 of them, including seven at Grade 1 level.
However, the best horse he ever rode was Nicky Henderson’s star two-mile chaser Sprinter Sacre. They rattled off a sequence of nine straight wins between December 2011 and April 2013, winning the 2012 Arkle Chase and the 2013 Queen Mother Champion Chase by a combined total of 26 lengths. In 2013 they completed a clean sweep of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Aintree’s Melling Chase and the Punchestown Champion Chase. Barry rode Sprinter Sacre in 17 races, winning 13 of them, including seven at Grade 1 level.
He won a second Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2013, this time on the Henderson-trained Bobs Worth. He rode Bobs Worth to win at three consecutive Cheltenham Festivals, winning the 2011 Albert Bartlett Hurdle and the 2012 RSA Chase prior to landing the Gold Cup. Barry also guided him to win the 2012 Hennessy Gold Cup.
He won a second Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2013, this time on the Henderson-trained Bobs Worth. He rode Bobs Worth to win at three consecutive Cheltenham Festivals, winning the 2011 Albert Bartlett Hurdle and the 2012 RSA Chase prior to landing the Gold Cup. Barry also guided him to win the 2012 Hennessy Gold Cup.
He won the Champion Hurdle three times on Henderson-trained horses: Punjabi (2009), Buveur D’Air (2018) and Epatante (2020). He also won it on the Jessica Harrington-trained Jezki in 2014.
He won the Champion Hurdle three times on Henderson-trained horses: Punjabi (2009), Buveur D’Air (2018) and Epatante (2020). He also won it on the Jessica Harrington-trained Jezki in 2014.
Barry recorded his 1,000th winner over jumps (Ireland/Britain combined) on Duc De Regniere at Kempton on November 2, 2009. When AP McCoy retired in 2015, Barry took over as number one jockey for leading owner JP McManus, a position he held until announcing his retirement from the saddle.
Barry recorded his 1,000th winner over jumps (Ireland/Britain combined) on Duc De Regniere at Kempton on November 2, 2009. When AP McCoy retired in 2015, Barry took over as number one jockey for leading owner JP McManus, a position he held until announcing his retirement from the saddle.
But along with all the successes he also suffered his share of injuries, particularly in the later part of his career, when he broke both legs, both arms, fractured eight ribs and punctured a lung. The last – and among the most serious – was when breaking both the tibia and fibula above his right ankle when Peregrine Run fell three out in the Topham Trophy Chase at Aintree in April 2019. He returned in October after six months off for what proved to be his final campaign.
But along with all the successes he also suffered his share of injuries, particularly in the later part of his career, when he broke both legs, both arms, fractured eight ribs and punctured a lung. The last – and among the most serious – was when breaking both the tibia and fibula above his right ankle when Peregrine Run fell three out in the Topham Trophy Chase at Aintree in April 2019. He returned in October after six months off for what proved to be his final campaign.
He rode three winners at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, all for JP McManus, steering Epatante to Champion Hurdle success, coaxing Champ to a last-gasp victory in the RSA Chase, both for Nicky Henderson, and, in his final ride at Cheltenham, guiding the Willie Mullins-trained Saint-Roy to victory in the County Hurdle.
He rode three winners at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, all for JP McManus, steering Epatante to Champion Hurdle success, coaxing Champ to a last-gasp victory in the RSA Chase, both for Nicky Henderson, and, in his final ride at Cheltenham, guiding the Willie Mullins-trained Saint-Roy to victory in the County Hurdle.
He considered retiring then and there but decided to wait for the big Aintree, Fairyhouse and Punchestown meetings, all of which were lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Barry announced his retirement on July 11, 2020, aged 40, stating his intentions to pursue a career in punditry and bloodstock. He’d already attained a measure of success in the latter sphere, having bought his second Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth as a yearling in 2006, selling him on for a profit two years later. He added that retirement would also allow him to spend more time with wife Paula and their three children Siofra, Orla and Rian.
He considered retiring then and there but decided to wait for the big Aintree, Fairyhouse and Punchestown meetings, all of which were lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Barry announced his retirement on July 11, 2020, aged 40, stating his intentions to pursue a career in punditry and bloodstock. He’d already attained a measure of success in the latter sphere, having bought his second Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth as a yearling in 2006, selling him on for a profit two years later. He added that retirement would also allow him to spend more time with wife Paula and their three children Siofra, Orla and Rian.
Barry thus called time on a glittering career having ridden a combined total of 1,920 winners in Ireland (1,252) and Britain (668), 121 of them at Grade 1 level, placing him fourth in the list of all-time winning jump jockeys behind Sir Anthony McCoy, Richard Johnson and Ruby Walsh. Based on wins in Ireland alone, he ranks fourth behind Walsh, Davy Russell and Paul Carberry. Along with Walsh, he is one of only two jump jockeys to achieve a century of Grade 1 winners.
Barry thus called time on a glittering career having ridden a combined total of 1,920 winners in Ireland (1,252) and Britain (668), 121 of them at Grade 1 level, placing him fourth in the list of all-time winning jump jockeys behind Sir Anthony McCoy, Richard Johnson and Ruby Walsh. Based on wins in Ireland alone, he ranks fourth behind Walsh, Davy Russell and Paul Carberry. Along with Walsh, he is one of only two jump jockeys to achieve a century of Grade 1 winners.
He rode a total of 43 winners at the Cheltenham Festival and was leading jockey there in both 2003 and 2012. With the exception of when he was out injured in 2017, he rode at least one Cheltenham Festival winner every year between 2002 and 2020.
He rode a total of 43 winners at the Cheltenham Festival and was leading jockey there in both 2003 and 2012. With the exception of when he was out injured in 2017, he rode at least one Cheltenham Festival winner every year between 2002 and 2020.
His major wins in Britain were:
His major wins in Britain were:
Grand National: Monty’s Pass (2003)
Grand National: Monty’s Pass (2003)
Cheltenham Gold Cup: Kicking King (2005), Bobs Worth (2013)
Cheltenham Gold Cup: Kicking King (2005), Bobs Worth (2013)
Champion Hurdle: Punjabi (2009), Jezki (2014), Buveur D’Air (2018), Epatante (2020)
Champion Hurdle: Punjabi (2009), Jezki (2014), Buveur D’Air (2018), Epatante (2020)
Queen Mother Champion Chase: Moscow Flyer (2003, 2005), Big Zeb (2010), Finian’s Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013)
Queen Mother Champion Chase: Moscow Flyer (2003, 2005), Big Zeb (2010), Finian’s Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013)
Stayers’ Hurdle: Iris’s Gift (2004), More Of That (2014)
Stayers’ Hurdle: Iris’s Gift (2004), More Of That (2014)
Ryanair Chase: Riverside Theatre (2012)
Ryanair Chase: Riverside Theatre (2012)
Triumph Hurdle: Spectroscope (2003), Zaynar (2009), Soldatino (2010), Peace And Co (2015), Ivanovich Gorbatov (2016)
Triumph Hurdle: Spectroscope (2003), Zaynar (2009), Soldatino (2010), Peace And Co (2015), Ivanovich Gorbatov (2016)
Arkle Chase: Moscow Flyer (2002), Forpaddydeplasterer (2009), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Simonsig (2013)
Arkle Chase: Moscow Flyer (2002), Forpaddydeplasterer (2009), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Simonsig (2013)
RSA Chase: Star De Mohaison (2006), Bobs Worth (2012), O’Faolains Boy (2014), Champ (2020)
RSA Chase: Star De Mohaison (2006), Bobs Worth (2012), O’Faolains Boy (2014), Champ (2020)
Champion Bumper: Cork All Star (2007)
Champion Bumper: Cork All Star (2007)
Albert Bartlett Hurdle: Bobs Worth (2011)
Albert Bartlett Hurdle: Bobs Worth (2011)
Neptune Investments Novices’ Hurdle: Simonsig (2012)
Neptune Investments Novices’ Hurdle: Simonsig (2012)
JLT Chase: Defi Du Seuil (2019)
JLT Chase: Defi Du Seuil (2019)
King George VI Chase: Kicking King (2004, 2005)
King George VI Chase: Kicking King (2004, 2005)
Tingle Creek Chase: Moscow Flyer (2003, 2004), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Defi Du Seuil (2019)
Tingle Creek Chase: Moscow Flyer (2003, 2004), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Defi Du Seuil (2019)
Martell Cup: Florida Pearl (2002)
Martell Cup: Florida Pearl (2002)
Melling Chase: Moscow Flyer (2004, 2005), Finian’s Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013)
Melling Chase: Moscow Flyer (2004, 2005), Finian’s Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013)
Aintree Hurdle: Oscar Whisky (2011), Buveur D’Air (2017)
Aintree Hurdle: Oscar Whisky (2011), Buveur D’Air (2017)
Hennessy Gold Cup: Bobs Worth (2012), Triolo D’Alene (2013)
Hennessy Gold Cup: Bobs Worth (2012), Triolo D’Alene (2013)
Bet365 Gold Cup: Hadrian’s Approach (2014)
Bet365 Gold Cup: Hadrian’s Approach (2014)
His major wins in Ireland were:
His major wins in Ireland were:
Irish Grand National: Shutthefrontdoor (2014)
Irish Grand National: Shutthefrontdoor (2014)
Irish Gold Cup: Alexander Banquet (2002)
Irish Gold Cup: Alexander Banquet (2002)
Irish Champion Hurdle: Mac’s Joy (2005)
Irish Champion Hurdle: Mac’s Joy (2005)
Punchestown Gold Cup: Moscow Express (2001), Florida Pearl (2002), Kicking King (2005), China Rock (2012), Carlingford Lough (2016)
Punchestown Gold Cup: Moscow Express (2001), Florida Pearl (2002), Kicking King (2005), China Rock (2012), Carlingford Lough (2016)
Punchestown Champion Chase: Moscow Flyer (2004), Big Zeb (2011), Sprinter Sacre (2013)
Punchestown Champion Chase: Moscow Flyer (2004), Big Zeb (2011), Sprinter Sacre (2013)
Punchestown Champion Hurdle: Moscow Flyer (2001), Mac’s Joy (2006), Punjabi (2008)
Punchestown Champion Hurdle: Moscow Flyer (2001), Mac’s Joy (2006), Punjabi (2008)