Barry Geraghty new National Hunt Ambassador

Horse Racing Ireland today (Tuesday 9th November 2010) announced that top jump Jockey Barry Geraghty is to be HRI’s National Hunt Ambassador for the 2010/2011 season, following in the footsteps of leading trainer Willie Mullins.

In his role as HRI's National Hunt Ambassador, Barry Geraghty will be giving racegoers an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at his race day preparations and his hectic lifestyle riding in both Ireland and Britain. He will be recording the highs and lows, as he will be twittering his way through the winter and will also have a dedicated Facebook page www.facebook.com/barry.j.geraghty

Since he rode his first winner at the Cheltenham Festival in 2002 (Moscow Flyer in the Arkle), Barry has never come away from racing’s Olympic Games empty-handed. He is the first National Hunt jockey in history to win the four headline races at Cheltenham (Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and World Hurdle), the King George and the Grand National. These days he rides as first jockey for Nicky Henderson, which presents him with an Aladdin’s Cave of riches from which to choose for the season ahead in Britain, as well as for a plethora of trainers in Ireland.

Tamso Doyle, HRI PR Manager said: - “We are delighted that Barry has agreed to be HRI’s National Hunt Ambassador. He is already a natural ambassador for this great sport, he’s a household name and he is widely regarded as one of the most talented jockeys in the weigh room. By the age of 23 Barry had already ridden a Grand National winner in Montys Pass and in the same year enjoyed serious success with the great Moscow Flyer and was also voted RTE Sports Personality of the year, a great recognition of his talent. We hope racegoers will enjoy Barry’s weekly diary on our HRI newsletter and on www.goracing.ie which should bring added interest and excitement to what already looks like a mouth-watering National Hunt season ahead".

Barry Geraghty, HRI's new 2010/2011 National Hunt Ambassador said: - “I was thrilled to be asked to be HRI’s National Hunt Ambassador for this season. It looks like its going to be a busy year for me, but I’m delighted to be doing my bit to help Irish racing. I will be at plenty of events, I’m sure that I will be doing plenty of interviews, and I’m on Facebook, which I will be updating as the season goes on. I will have to learn the ropes a bit, but I’m looking forward to getting into it. There are lots of very good things about racing here. The people are great and so is the kick that people get out of racing.

This year, as well as riding for Nicky Henderson in Britain, I will be riding plenty for Jessica Harrington and I’ll ride a good few for Eoin Griffin, Colm Murphy, including Big Zeb and Voler La Vedette, and plenty of other trainers. Being freelance here, I’ll just be picking up what I can.”

Barry will be HRI’s NH Ambassador until Saturday 7th May 2011, the final day of the NH Season. Michael Kinane is currently our Flat Ambassador and will conclude his duties on Friday 10th December in Dundalk, the final day of the Flat Season.

Major NH Races 2010 Season

Link to Barry Geraghty Section on HRI website:- www.goracing.ie/barrygeraghty