Barry Geraghty: ‘You can’t be a child forever. Retirement sits comfortably with me’

In a career spanning 24 years, Barry Geraghty enjoyed phenomenal highs and gut-wrenching lows. But he bowed out in style, winning five races at his final Cheltenham Festival

THUMBS UP: Barry Geraghty shows his delight after steering Epatante to victory in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last March. Picture: Healy Racing

Timing is a gift possessed by all successful sportsmen and women. This is especially true for jockeys. In a race, the best ones know when to slow the pace, when to up it, when to change position, when to wait, when to go for broke. It’s an instinctive thing, this special sense or feel. And if they’re lucky, they get the chance to use this precious gift one last time when their own race enters its final furlong.

The happy ending