Geraghty to join Henderson team Nicky Henderson has spoken for the first time of his twin arrangement to fill the void left by Mick Fitzgerald's retirement, and said the future set up at Seven Barrows will see Barry Geraghty commute regularly from Ireland and also include a closer alliance with Tony McCoy when the champion jockey was available. Geraghty, best known for his association with Moscow Flyer and Grand National win on Monty's Pass in 2003, received wide acclaim for his astute tactical ride on Henderson's Punjabi in the Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown festival in April. He had finished third on the same horse behind Katchit in Cheltenham's Champion Hurdle. As Geraghty will continue to live and ride in Ireland, the union with the Lambourn trainer will mirror the Ruby Walsh-Paul Nicholls partnership. Henderson said : "Barry will be over on a fairly regular basis. We all know he is a very good jockey, and a very good big race jockey. We go back a long way, and I believe one of his first rides for us was when Regal Exit finished runner-up to Snow Drop in the 2000 Triumph Hurdle. "Prior to Barry's rides on Punjabi last season he was briefed by Mick, who had done so very well on the horse. It's terrific that Mick will continue to be involved with the stable. He knows the horses inside out, and he'll be able to pass on that knowledge to Barry, which will be invaluable." Geraghty said that he was delighted to team up with Henderson. "It's a very exciting development and I'm really looking forward to riding Mr Henderson's horses on a regular basis," he said. "I'll be doing something similar to what Ruby does, basing myself in Ireland and commuting on a regular basis. I live in Ratoath in County Meath which makes it very handy for travelling as its quite close to Dublin airport. "I'll be going over to do plenty of early season schooling and getting to know the horses. I'd imagine I'll be riding in Ireland on a lot of Sundays through the season." "He has a big team of horses and is a great man to ride for. I've always enjoyed riding for him in the past."
