Betting
CHELTENHAM REWIND | Barry Geraghty lands his 40th Festival winner with Champ in the 2020 RSA Chase
On Barry Geraghty’s 42nd Birthday, we take a look back at one of his Cheltenham Festival milestones – aboard Champ in the 2020 RSA Chase
To celebrate Barry Geraghty turning 42, we take a look back at arguably one of his greatest Cheltenham Festival – with Champ in the 2020 RSA Chase.
Priced up at 4/1, the then eight-year-old was patiently ridden throughout most of the contest before being nudged on with seven fences remaining.
Nicky Henderson’s recruit began to make some headway at three out with Geraghty kicking his mount on in an attempt to join the leading pair of Allaho and Minella Indo.
Approaching the last fence, Champ was eight and a half lengths off the leading pair and it looked as if he would have to settle for third.
But Geraghty kept pushing the gelding out and he produced an incredible burst of speed to reel into the leading duo and run straight through the middle of them.
The Cheltenham roar was deafening when Henderson’s rising star pushed in front in the final strides and he went on to win by a length.
Geraghty would land three more Festival winners that week and would retire in July of that year, with 1920 career successes to his name.
