Racing
Seven contenders to replace Barry Geraghty as JP McManus’ number one
Top jockey Barry Geraghty announced his retirement following a stellar career both in Ireland and the UK where he racked up a host of big prizes and rode an impressive 43 Cheltenham Festival winners, including all four of the ‘Major’ races – the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and Gold Cup. Inevitably attention is now turning to possible contenders to replace Barry Geraghty as JP McManus’ number one.
Geraghty will forever be associated with names such as Moscow Flyer, Kicking King and Jezki, while his ride on Champ to win the 2020 RSA Chase will surely feature in many greatest Festival races compilations for some time to come.
He felt the time was right to quit the saddle, citing recent injuries which have become increasingly difficult to overcome. The Meath-born jockey obviously felt it was the right moment to bring the curtain down on a glittering career and join the likes of AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh on the sidelines.
Geraghty’s decision to retire has left a gaping hole in the horse racing world and leaves legendary owner JP McManus on the hunt for a successor to Geraghty, who himself took over from McCoy.
So who are the contenders to replace Geraghty and don the famous green, white and gold silks? There are already a few hats in the ring, some plausible and some perhaps less likely. here’s a few names who might be on the JP McManus list of replacements.
Seven contenders to replace Barry Geraghty
Richard Johnson
Richard Johnson is perhaps be one of the obvious contenders to replace Barry Geraghty and the four-time champion jockey has had a significant involvement with McManus already throughout his career, notably with his early association with the likes of Defi Du Seuil on whom he won the 2017 Triumph Hurdle.
However, at 43 years of age he’s older than Geraghty, Walsh and McCoy and it remains to be seen how much longer Johnson himself elects to continue in the saddle. McManus might be reticent to invest in Johnson as a long-term replacement on a rider that may not too many years left on the clock at the highest level.
Mark Walsh
Mark Walsh is McManus’ number one in Ireland, having the pick of the Irish based horses even when Barry Geraghty was available and would perhaps be the obvious choice to take up the position vacated by Geraghty given his already-existing relationship with McManus.
At 34 years of age, Walsh is in the prime of his career but would he fancy a move to the UK to become McManus’ overall number one? He would have the pick of horses ahead of stars such as Nicky Henderson, Philip Hobbs, Harry Fry and Jonjo O’Neill, who each have a number of horses in training for McManus. The likes if Epatante, Champ and Defi Du Seuil are among a host of big names that Walsh could ride.
However, Walsh already has a formidable backing in Ireland with many of the top trainers across the Irish Sea also having JP McManus-owned horses as inmates, which is a powerful lure in itself for Walsh to stay put.
Aidan Coleman
Irish-born Coleman would certainly be a popular pick for McManus, given that he’s closely matched in style with both Geraghty and McCoy who went before him. He is strong in the finish with a knack of having his horse in the right place in a race.
Coleman has been used on McManus-trained horses by Nicky Henderson when Barry Geraghty wasn’t available and has registered victories on the likes of Epatante. He rides the bulk of McManus’ horses trained by Anthony Honeyball and Harry Fry.
Coleman has shown he can do the business on the big stage, riding Paisley Park to success in the 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle and taking the Arkle Chase on Henry de Bromhead’s Put The Kettle On. At 31 years old he has plenty of years ahead of him in the saddle making a long-term association with McManus possible.
Jonjo O’Neill Jr
Legendary jockey Jonjo O’Neill has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with JP McManus over the years, and his son is certainly a chip off the old block whose stock is rising. The young pilot is sure to be a future champion.
At just 21 years of age, his best years are ahead of him but he’s shown he can handle the big occasion and has already notched up his first Cheltenham Festival and Punchestown Festival winners, as well as being used by Colin Tizzard on some of his big names.
O’Neill Jr was on board Native River when taking the 2020 Denman Chase and he gave the progressive Copperhead a masterful ride when winning the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot. He may currently lack the experience McManus demands from his riders, however, and arguably the biggest job in racing might have come too soon for him.
Brian Hughes
The current champion jockey is one of the most improved riders in Britain and the 34-year old is certainly among the the contenders to replace Barry Geraghty, although perhaps doesn’t fit the McManus mould.
Hughes is a much quieter rider than a typical all-action McManus jockey like McCoy or Geraghty. He’s also not the strongest in a finish but he’s an excellent tactician and judge of pace in a race.
Despite his age he perhaps lacks experience at the very top level. Having largely plied his trade in the north rather than seeking opportunities in the south of England, it would be a huge step up riding high-class exponents in top races instead of scoring in handicaps around the likes of Sedgefield.
Richie McLernon
McLernon is another who has a long association with McManus and O’Neill and the Irishman rides a fair chunk of McManus-owned runners in the north.
He also almost delivered McManus a Grand National win in 2012 on Sunnyhillboy, only to be denied by the narrowest of margins.
McManus certainly has faith in the Irish-born rider who has helped bring through several McManus stars, including More Of That, before handing off in the big races. He’s no stranger to big-race success himself though, although perhaps lacks the profile of a JP McManus number one.
Robbie Power
It may be an unlikely choice given his association with some of the top Irish trainers. However, having struck up a solid partnership with Colin Tizzard in recent seasons and having some association already with McManus, Robbie Power could prove a dark horse among the contenders to replace Barry Geraghty.
Power’s age could count against him if McManus wants to look for a younger rider as a longer term solution to filling the Geraghty-shaped void. In Robbie Power, though, he would have a marquee name who has plenty of top-level experience and is used to juggling commitments on both sides of the Irish Sea, having often ridden for Colin Tizzard before jetting back to Ireland.
Tactically sound and very strong in a finish, he’d be an ideal replacement for the now-retired Geraghty and it would be a surprise if there hasn’t been any dialogue between the respective parties. At this stage in his career, Power might not fancy a full-time switch to the UK, but there could be a compromise put in place to allow him to ride the pick of McManus’ UK stars whilst also keeping his associations with Henry de Bromhead and Jessica Harrington intact.
With the emergence of Rachael Blackmore, who has been riding winners for both of those top yards, there might be some leeway to allowing ‘Puppy’ the opportunity to take McManus’ number one role on the big occasions with Coleman and McLernon continuing to deputise.
Other names to consider
Other outside chances to become JP McManus’ number one include Paul Nicholls’ number one Harry Cobden, although the 21-year old has plenty of reasons to remain at Ditcheat. There are also the Bowen brothers, Sean and James, who are both very capable but perhaps aren’t fashionable enough for McManus who has typically looked to more established names.
Lastly there is Nico de Boinville, Nicky Henderson’s stable jockey, as the Seven Barrows trainer does have several runners in training for McManus. De Boinville is certainly a name who would appeal to McManus if he were available and, with Epatante and Champ both already in the Henderson camp, it would make sense to look to the Englishman.
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