Geraghty to ride Keen Leader in Gold Cup
The master of Jackdaws Castle confirmed that Adair Catherwood's eight-year-old, winner of Haydock's Grade Two Tommy Whittle Chase in December, would be ridden by Barry Geraghty.
The Irishman has ridden the Supreme Leader gelding just once in his 13-start career, that coming on his penultimate start in the Tommy Whittle when the pair beat Truckers Tavern by 17 lengths.
Though he did not wish to elaborate, the decision was a "very difficult one" for the owner, said O'Neill, who has used the services of stable jockey Liam Cooper in 11 of his starts, including his latest run when a staying-on third to Shooting Light under top weight in the Aon Chase at Newbury.
Meanwhile, Tony McCoy is itching to get back in the saddle at Ludlow today after spending nine days on the easy list following a horrific fall at Plumpton last week.
The eight-times champion fractured his cheekbone in three places after he was kicked in the face by Polar Red, but has now been given a clean bill of health by the doctors.
"I'm definitely looking forward to getting back, I've been getting very bored," McCoy said yesterday.
"I went out to Dubai for a few days with Mick Fitzgerald and I got back on Sunday night. I was going to go and have a look at the racing carnival while I was out there but I didn't fancy going racing to be honest.
"My face wasn't sore but I had to take a break to do the right thing. In fact, the only painful thing was not been able to ride. My cheek is a bit black and yellow still but it is alright."
McCoy has five rides at the Shropshire track two each for both Martin Pipe and Nicky Henderson and one for Paul Webber.
"I have got a few chances tomorrow," McCoy said. "Ken'tucky won well there last time and probably looks the best ride that I have got. It is nice to ride a couple for Nicky and I also ride one of his in the last (Kercabellec)."
Richard Johnson has managed to eat into the champion jockey's lead in recent days and is now just two winners behind the Irishman on 157 for the season.
Elsewhere, Johnny Murtagh ends a four-month absence from the saddle with his first rides at Lingfield tomorrow .
Appropriately, the Irish jockey's opening mount will be his first as stable jockey to Newmarket trainer David Loder as he partners the six-year-old Scotty's Future in the betdirect.co.uk New Site Selling Stakes.
The dual Derby-winning rider relinquished his position as first jockey to John Oxx at the end of last season after a campaign dogged by weight problems sparked by a fall at Royal Ascot in June.
He rides Lucayan Monarch for Newmarket trainer Phil McEntee in the betdirect.co.uk Handicap and is on the Irish-trained Luceball in the concluding Bet Direct Football Cashbacks Handicap.
Murtagh will this year focus on Britain for the first time in his career, although he intends to maintain Ireland as his home base.
Ladbrokes quote him at 20-1 to be champion jockey in Britain.
