AS well as the highly contentious task of judging the virtual Christmas jumper competition at Fairyhouse as described elsewhere on this page, Barry Geraghty, a two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey, has been named as the Cheltenham Festival ambassador for 2021 by the Jockey Club in Britain and is the latest star to be welcomed into Cheltenham Racecourse’s Hall of Fame.
Riding 1,920 winners during his career, 43 of them at the Cheltenham Festival, he announced his retirement earlier this year after completing his most successful festival with five winners.
Other inductees to the Hall of Fame include the likes of Willie Mullins, Best Mate and the late ‘Voice of Racing’, Sir Peter O’Sullevan.
A delighted Barry Geraghty said: “It is an honour to be welcomed into Cheltenham’s Hall of Fame and to be amongst legends of our sport.
“The place is very special to me, and I have had some of the best moments of my career there. It was the fairytale ending in 2020 to have my final festival with five winners.
“I am delighted to be able to continue to be associated with the event as the ambassador for 2021. Those four days are the most important in the jump racing calendar and although ‘Cheltenham eve’ will feel a little different this year, you won’t be able to keep me away.”
From Drumee in Co Meath, Barry is considered one of the greatest jockeys of his generation and finished his career as retained jockey to J.P. McManus.
The Hall of Fame museum at the racecourse displays over 60 years of history that hangs from the ceiling, telling the story of the home of jump racing.
Barry Geraghty – Cheltenham Festival winners
2002 Moscow Flyer, Racing Post Arkle
2003 Youlneverwalkalone, Ultima Handicap Chase
2003 Moscow Flyer, Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
2003 Inching Closer, Pertemps Network Final
2003 Spectroscope, JCB Triumph Hurdle
2003 Spirit Leader, Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
2004 Iris’s Gift, Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
2005 Moscow Flyer, Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
2005 Kicking King, Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup
2006 Star De Mohaison, RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase
2006 Sky’s The Limit, Coral Cup
2007 Cork All Star, Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2008 Finger Onthe Pulse, Ultima Handicap Chase
2009 Forpadydeplasterer, Racing Post Arkle
2009 Punjabi, Unibet Champion Hurdle
2009 Zaynar, JCB Triumph Hurdle
2010 Big Zeb, Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
2010 Spirit River, Coral Cup
2010 Soldatino, JCB Triumph Hurdle
2011 Bobs Worth, Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
2012 Sprinter Sacre, Racing Post Arkle
2012 Simonsig, Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
2012 Bobs Worth, RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase
2012 Finian’s Rainbow, Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
2012 Riverside Theatre, Ryanair Chase
2013 Simonsig, Racing Post Arkle
2013 Sprinter Sacre, Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
2013 Bobs Worth, Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup
2014 Jezki, Unibet Champion Hurdle
2014 O’Faolains Boy, RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase
2014 More Of That, Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
2015 The Druids Nephew, Ultima Handicap Chase
2015 Peace And Co, JCB Triumph Hurdle
2016 Ivanovich Gorbatov, JCB Triumph Hurdle
2018 Buveur D’Air, Unibet Champion Hurdle
2018 Le Prezien, Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
2019 Defi Du Seuil, Marsh Novices’ Chase
2019 Sire Du Berlais, Pertemps Network Final
2020 Epatante, Unibet Champion Hurdle
2020 Champ, RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase
2020 Dame De Compagnie, Coral Cup
2020 Sire Du Berlais, Pertemps Network Final
2020 Saint Roi, Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle