Geraghty has fond memories of ‘magical place’ Cheltenham

“A magical place, where you want to be and where you want to win.” Barry Geraghty probably sums up the Cheltenham Festival for anyone involved in National Hunt racing.

And he should know, with 43 wins at jump racing’s Olympics to his name before he retired in 2020, aged 40.

There were some big winners, too. Very big. The Champion Hurdle, the Champion Chase, the Gold Cup – in short, all the ones that really matter.

Five times the County Meath-born rider won the Champion Chase. Big Zeb (2010) and Finian’s Rainbow (2012) sandwiching the mighty pair of Moscow Flyer (twice, in 2003 and 2005) and Sprinter Sacre (2013).

Like many of the two-mile championship races of that era, the 2005 win of Moscow Flyer’s was a special one.

“It was a magical day, we had won the Tingle Creek beating Azertyuiop and Well Chief and the rematch was on. Moscow Flyer arguably put up his career-best performance that day and he just laughed at the opposition and strolled in,” Geraghty said.

“Moscow Flyer was an amazing horse and an absolute superstar who Jessica Harrington did brilliantly with to keep him at the top level for so long. He was four years unbeaten and he was a real champion who showed his mettle that day.

“I’ll always be associated with Moscow Flyer and I was very fortunate to have two great horses like him and Sprinter Sacre for brilliant people like Jessica Harrington and Nicky Henderson during my career.”

Punjabi (2009), Jezki (2014), Buveur d’Air (2018) and Epatante (2020) gave Geraghty four Champion Hurdles. Kicking King in 2005 gave him his first Gold Cup and eight years later Bobs Worth – a horse he had a particularly special bond with – gave him a second win in the blue riband.

“Kicking King was another brilliant horse. Unfortunately, injuries curtailed his career somewhat, but it was a magical afternoon when he won the Gold Cup and he put up two special performances in the King George,” said Geraghty, who in conjunction with point-to-point trainer Warren Ewing bought a certain Constitution Hill as a six-month-old foal.

“It was my first Gold Cup, but it’s hard to split him and Bobs Worth, I have to admit.

“I had a personal connection with Bobs Worth having owned him with my brother since he was a foal until he was a four-year-old. He was a gorgeous horse with a lovely temperament, a little bit like Constitution Hill – he was very kind and unassuming and gentle and the type of horse you could put your child on him.

“Any winner at Cheltenham is special and I’ve been fortunate to win a few, but to get three of the championship races was fantastic. There’s no doubt it’s a magical place and if you’re a trainer, jockey or owner it’s where you want to be and where you want to win.”