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BARRY GERAGHTY last night admitted “you can’t go on forever” as he announced his retirement two months before his 41st birthday.
The news brings the career of one of National Hunt racing’s finest jockeys to a sudden end and leaves his boss JP Mcmanus on the lookout for a new No 1. With 43 Cheltenham Festival triumphs – only
Ruby Walsh with 59 has more – and a Grand National victory aboard Monty’s Pass in 2003, Co Meathborn Geraghty is one of the winter code’s most decorated horsemen.
But recent seasons have been blighted by injury and, explaining his decision to quit, Geraghty said: “I’ve missed 18 months of the last five years, having broken both legs, both arms, my ribs, shoulder blade and a few other small fractures. “The eight broken ribs and punctured lung in 2017 ruled me out of Cheltenham and then the broken arm at Fairyhouse in April only 11 days after returning from the broken ribs were both really tough injuries with very bad timing.
“The last injury, the leg break on the eve of the 2019 Grand National at Aintree, made me appreciate the importance of a scenario where I could go out on my own terms rather than being stretchered off.
“I’m 41 in September and you can’t go on forever,” Geraghty told his Sporting Index blog. He captured Cheltenham Gold Cups on Kicking King (2005) and Bobs Worth (2013), and four Champion Hurdles, via Punjabi (2009), Jezki (2014), Buveur D’air (2018) and Epatante (2020).
Jessica Harrington’s star Moscow Flyer launched Geraghty’s career at the top table – the pair combined for 13 Grade One successes – before he joined Nicky Henderson as stable rider in 2008, succeeding Sir AP Mccoy as JP Mcmanus’s No 1 jockey seven years later.
“He was a brilliant jockey,” said Mccoy. “Jockeys like Barry Geraghty don’t come around too often.”
Mcmanus’s No 2 Mark Walsh is Paddy Power’s 1-2 for the vacant hot seat, with Aidan Coleman 11-8 and Jonjo O’neill Jr at 10-1.