Geraghty backing Macs Joy

By Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

Geraghty has several prospective winners at Cheltenham

Barry Geraghty insists his Irish Champion Hurdle winner Macs Joy can see off better-touted rivals to win the equivalent English race on Tuesday.

Seven Irish horses lead the betting for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, the feature contest on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

But although reigning champion Hardy Eustace, Cheltenham specialist Back In Front and Supreme Novice Hurdler Brave Inca are lower in the betting, Geraghty is keen on the prospects of his mount, a general 8-1 chance.

"I'd have to fancy Macs Joy in a big way for the Champion Hurdle," he told BBC Sport on Thursday.

The 25-year-old jockey added: "He's beaten Hardy Eustace twice and Brave Inca three times. He's beaten them fair and square on soft ground."

He will be aboard former winner Moscow Flyer when he takes on 2004 hero Azertyuiop and rising star Well Chief in Wednesday's eagerly-awaited Queen Mother Champion Chase.

MACS JOY FACTFILE Runs: 15 Wins: 7 Second: 4 Third: 2 Unplaced: 2 Last two runs Dec 2004 Bewleys Festival Hurdle - WON Jan 2005 Irish Champ Hurdle - WON Beat Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace in both

And Geraghty believes his ride, who fell in last year's Champion Chase but has never been beaten when completing a clear round, can repeat a thrilling victory over the pair in December's Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.

"For me, the Tingle Creek was his best performance. The horse was vindicated as he was very much over-looked in the race," said the rider, who was leading jockey at the 2003 Cheltenham Festival with five wins.

Looking ahead to Wednesday's mouthwatering contest, he added: "It should be a brilliant race. Hopefully, we will all get round and there will be no excuses.

"Moscow Flyer seems very well. We schooled him over fences the other day and he'll work again tomorrow."

Geraghty also mentioned Ambobo, in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle on Wednesday, as one of the horses he is most looking forward to riding next week.

"I'm excited about Cheltenham, looking forward to it, and hopefully will get there in one piece," said Geraghty, whose career highlight was winning the 2003 Grand National at Aintree on Monty's Pass.