Barry Geraghty: Why I said yes when JP McManus came calling
Speaking for the first time since the news of his appointment broke, the 35-year-old revealed the job offered a better balance from a personal point of view as he has a wife and young family.
As soon as AP McCoy announced his intention to retire in February, Geraghty was favourite with the bookmakers to fill the massive void left by the 20-times champion.
The speculation continued when McCoy finally hung up his saddle in April and ended on Monday with news that Geraghty had accepted the role.
Geraghty has been riding principally for Seven Barrows trainer Nicky Henderson since 2008 and the pair have won most of the biggest races together.
However, his new appointment means he will not have to commute from Ireland as often as in the past.
“It’s a great job to get. I suppose discussions probably started since Punchestown. I met up with JP last week and we discussed it. It fits in really well,” Geraghty said.
“Obviously I’ve done seven years riding for Nicky and it’s been brilliant. We’ve had some great success, but there’s a lot of travel involved and a lot of time away.
“I have a young family here and I think it might be a better balance going forward, maybe doing two or three days in England and have more time at home. It works well on a personal level.
“It definitely suits well but it wasn’t a decision I could take lightly.
“I’ve had a great time riding as first jockey for Nicky. I have a great connection there and it definitely wasn’t easy to walk away from that.
“I have a young family and had a little boy just a few weeks ago. It’s a busy house and to be away as much as I’ve been away over the last seven years, it definitely takes its toll. It’s good to have a better balance.
“I’ve discussed it with AP and I’ve discussed it with Nicky. I’m more than happy with it and I’m looking forward to it.”
Geraghty has been sidelined with a broken shinbone since March but is now riding out again and is looking to be back in action early next month.
“I’ve been off for three months with a fractured shinbone. That’s been a little bit slow and a lot slower than I thought,” he said. “It’s getting there and I’d hope to be back early in July.”
McCoy believes Geraghty is the right choice.
“You want to give yourselves the best possible chance of winning and having someone like Barry on your side gives you that,” McCoy told The Times.
“You don’t ride the big winners he’s had without being top drawer,
“Barry had a very close association with Nicky and I’m sure he would have found it difficult to walk away, but wearing the green and gold colours is the best job in jump racing and one very hard not to be interested in.
“There’s nothing else like it.”
