Brave Bobs bags Bartlett
He came into the meeting on the back of a tremendous campaign, as first jockey to in-form Nicky Henderson, and as one of the favourites to emerge as leading rider.
But three seconds and a third on Tuesday set the pattern for what was rapidly becoming the most frustrating festival of his career.
Then on Wednesday, in the Champion Chase, he produced Big Zeb to challenge Sizing Europe early in the straight, only to get totally out-run again.
Geraghty, however, is made of stern stuff and far too talented to leave entirely empty-handed. And sure enough, in the Albert Barlett Novices’ Hurdle, it finally came right aboard Henderson’s Bobs Worth, a horse he sold to the trainer himself.
When Bobs Worth guessed three out, he would have to be forgiven for thinking “here we go again!’
But this Bobs Worth is a proper horse and came back onto the bridle in a flash. And now it was just a question of when Geraghty decided to pop the ultimate question.
Bobs worth was cantering all over his rivals up the straight and then Geraghty let out an inch of rein and the response was immediate.
The winner powered clear and though Mossley tried to close on the run in the result was never in any doubt.
Geraghty, who bought Bobs Worth as a yearling and sold him as a four-year-old, commented: “He’s unassuming, never gives you the impression he has a lot in the tank, but then away he goes. He has a lovely attitude.
“If I had a winner this week I’d have come here today saying he was a certainty. I felt he was, but after the week I’ve had it was hard to say. The results weren’t coming our way.
“I’d say we got a fair price for him when he was sold and now I’m getting bonuses on his back, I have no complaints.’
Henderson had the look of a man who was might relieved, having shared the frustration all week with his rider.
“It’s been a long week (it was later to take a further dramatic turn for the better)’, he muttered. “I have to say I do feel sorry for Michael Buckley (Mossley, owner), who has been having seconds all week, along with me. Now I’ve beaten him with my own horse, which seems quite cruel.
“One bookmaker must be pleased because I backed myself at 16-1 to have no winner at the meeting, that was my insurance policy.
“They’ve been running well, but the first day was absolute purgatory, because they were so close.’
Henderson confided that he had to “push quite hard’ to send Bobs Worth for this three-miler.
He said: “He’s stayed and that’s what he is, a stayer. The two and a half of the Neptune looked a hard race and this is a huge relief.’
