It has been the story which has dominated National Hunt racing ever since the news broke that JP McManus’ retained rider Barry Geraghty would miss the Cheltenham Festival after suffering a collapsed lung and six broken ribs from a fall aboard Charli Parcs at Kempton last month and we now know who will be riding McManus’ main hopes at this year’s Festival.
Irish jockey Mark Walsh, who has ridden relatively little over in Britain has secured the ride on 7/2 joint-favourite Yanworth in the Stan James Champion Hurdle next Tuesday. Winner of his three starts this season, including the Christmas and Kingwell Hurdles at Kempton Park and Wincanton respectively, Alan King’s Yanworth has been well supported in recent weeks for the two-mile Championship contest and it has now been revealed that Walsh will be on board the seven-year-old son of Norse Dancer.
It is a massive chance for Walsh who is invariably seek as McManus’ number-two jockey in Ireland behind Barry Geraghty and further reiterates McManus’ stoic loyalty to his riders. Walsh has ridden just 16 times in Britain in the last five years, partnering two winners to victory in that time
However, Walsh now has a chance to highlight his exploits on the biggest stage at the Greatest Show on Turf. The Irishman has ridden 258 winners in Ireland in the last five years, which has included a number of big-race wins, including an Irish Gold Cup win aboard Carlingford Lough in 2016 and victory aboard Coney Island in the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novices’ Chase earlier this season.
Geraghty has ridden Yanworth in all eight of his career starts but with his injury ruling him out of the Festival, Walsh comes in for the ride. He will also ride 2015 Ryanair Chase winner Uxizandre for King, who made a superb return to action in the Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day in January when a five-length second to Un De Sceaux.
Walsh also lands the plum rides on Jessica Harrington’s Jezki in the Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle and More Of That for Jonjo O’Neill in Racing’s Blue Riband event, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, who was travelling well under the jockey in the Irish Gold Cup last time before falling.
Barbury Castle handler King, speaking to the Press Association Sport revealed: “Mark Walsh is going to come over and have a sit on Yanworth and Uxizandre, probably on Thursday, and the plan is that he’ll ride both horses at Cheltenham.
“I don’t know him at all, but he’s a very good rider. I’ve been very happy with both horses since their last runs. Everything has gone well.”
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