Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SEUIL TO SUCCEED
Geraghty: Defi can join an elite club
BARRY GERAGHTY believes Defi Du Seuil has the potential to be as good as racing greats Sprinter Sacre and Moscow Flyer.
The Co Meath jockey has sat on some of the best two-mile chasers of all-time and believes the JP Mcmanus-owned six-year-old has the potential to go all the way to the top.
He told The Irish Mirror: “He was a very exciting novice, not just a good novice, and you know they could be special when you get one of those.
“He’s not in that bracket yet [of Sprinter Sacre and Moscow Flyer] but he does have the potential. He’s lived up to everything so far and there’s nothing to suggest he can’t keep going.
“Like Sprinter Sacre and Moscow Flyer, jumping comes easy enough to Defi and he’s got the pace to go to the very top.”
Defi Du Seuil enjoyed a brilliant novice season last term, with his finest moment coming when he landed the JLT at the Cheltenham Festival.
He has relished stepping into open company so far, landing both the Shloer Chase and the Tingle Creek and is currently top of the market for both the Ryanair and the Queen Mother Champion Chase at next year’s Cheltenham.
Geraghty says he doesn’t mind which of those contests he goes for, but would be “very happy” running him in the Champion Chase – a race the jockey has won a record five times.
He added: “To be honest, I don’t mind which race he ends up in as I’d look forward to riding him in either!
“However, the way he won the Tingle Creek and the fact there’s the potential for more improvement, you’d be very happy running him in the Queen Mother.
“His jumping can only get sharper and he’s proven he’s got the pace for two miles.”
Meanwhile, Buveur D’air’s season remains in doubt after he picked up an injury to his foot in the Fighting
Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle – but Geraghty, right, says he is
“improving all the time”.
The Sporting Index ambassador, 40, said: “He’s doing well. The hoof is growing back and he’s improving all the time.
“Everything is going as you’d like it to, but it’s still too early to know whether he’ll be race-ready before the end of the season. Fingers crossed.”
Geraghty has some very good rides over the festive period, including Footpad in the King
George and Epatante in the Christmas Hurdle, but admits
Champ at Cheltenham on New
Year’s Day is the one he is most looking forward to getting on.
He added: “He’s improved with each run so far over fences and we’re hoping for him to come on again in Dipper Chase.
“It will be good to get a proper race into him around Cheltenham, with experience around that track being vital if you’re planning on running at the Festival.
“He worked really well on Friday morning and I don’t think Nicky [Henderson] could be happier with the horse.”
Of the others, he continued: “Boxing Day is now a really exciting day of riding for me.
“It looks like Epatante will go for the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, so she’s one I’m really looking forward to.
“She put in a great performance at Newbury last time and arrives here in good form.
“On ratings she looks well-in apart from with Verdana Blue, while Kempton should suit her as she shows plenty of pace at home.
“Footpad is a brilliant ride to get in the King George. They’re the ones that get your heart racing.
“I’ve been lucky enough to ride some big winners for Willie [Mullins], like Florida Pearl in the Punchestown Gold Cup, and it’s great to be riding for him again in a big race like this.
“He was an exciting novice two seasons ago but he had a bit of an interrupted campaign last season.
“His return to action at Thurles last month was very good and he has the class to be a big player on
his day.”