Geraghty gets King George call up

Barry Geraghty will ride Air Force One in Friday's Stan James King George VI Chase as regular partner Noel Fehily has been sidelined with a cracked collarbone.

Fehily faces at least a week out of action following a fall from Bench Warrent at Fontwell yesterday. The injury was x-rayed in Bristol today and his worst fears were realised.

'There's a crack in the collarbone,' said a disappointed Fehily before adding, 'I'm not sure how long I'll be out for yet, but it looks like being a week to 10 days. It's a terrible blow for me.'

He had five booked rides at Kempton's high-profile St Stephen's Day meeting headed by Air Force One in the Stan James King George VI Chase.

After watching the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup runner-up complete his preparation with some work on grass, trainer Charlie Mann said, 'I've talked to Brian Walsh (owner) and we decided to book Barry, who is a top class jockey and I'm sure he'll suit the horse.'

'We plan to be nearer the front than the back as he likes to be competitive. That way we can exploit any chinks in the armour of Voy Por Ustedes and Imperial Commander, who both have to prove they stay.'

Timmy Murphy will replace Fehily on Shining Gale in the Feltham Novices' Chase and Mann added, 'I hope they get on. You need to be positive on Shining Gale who likes to be fairly handy. He's not a typical hold-up horse at all.'

'All the Kempton runners pleased me this morning. Air Force had a nice breeze on the grass while Shining Gale and Laredo Sound came up the all-weather together. They are all spot-on.'

The trainer reserved the last word for Fehily saying, 'It's terrible bad luck on Noel and I'd rather have him on the horses than anyone else.'