Barry Geraghty set to land golden partnership with JP McManus

One of the big unknowns ahead of the new jumps season looks to have been resolved

AP McCoy's retirement created one of the most sought-after openings in racing, as principal jockey for owner JP McManus, and that vacancy looks set to be filled by Irish rider Barry Geraghty. The Meathman has been one of the top jockeys in racing for the last decade, saddling winners in most of the big races on both sides of the Irish Sea. He has 33 wins at the Cheltenham Festival, including memorable partnerships with the likes of Moscow Flyer and Sprinter Sacre, and won Gold Cups aboard Kicking King and Bob's Worth. The 35-year-old also has a Grand National win under his belt with Monty's Pass in 2004 and has a host of other Grade 1s to his name, and has had a fruitful partnership as stable jockey to trainer Nicky Henderson since 2008. But the Daily Mail is reporting that Geraghty is ready to align himself with McManus, one of the biggest owners in racing, with hundreds of horses stabled at yards across Britain and Ireland, including with Henderson, and Geraghty has previously ridden big winners for the Limerick billionaire with victories in the Champion Hurdle (Jezki) and Irish National (Shutthefrontdoor) last year. McManus's racing manager Frank Berry said: ‘Hopefully it will happen. It is just not finalised but it will be. There might be something during the week about it.’ Champion jockey McCoy rode for McManus since 2004.