Barry Geraghty and John Francome: The Road to Cheltenham Part 1

Barry Geraghty and John Francome are on a road trip down memory lane, as they look forward to the Cheltenham Festival 2022.

The legendary National Hunt jockeys start their journey in the Valley of the Racehorse, Lambourn, and wind their way through Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds before reaching the mecca: Cheltenham.

They'll be plenty of laughs along the way as the pair reminisce about their Cheltenham Festival wins and the stories behind them, as well as giving their picks for this year's big races, including the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Stayers' Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In part one of a four-part series, Geraghty, who rode 43 Cheltenham Festival winners, picks up Francome from his Lambourn home, and they soon wind past the HQ of Barry's former boss, Nicky Henderson, who is preparing the favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Constitution Hill, and to whom Geraghty bought and sold to Henderson as a foal.

As the duo motor through the Oxfordshire hills, talk soon gets on to this year's Arkle Chase and then the feature race of day one, the Champion Hurdle.

With unbeaten mare Honeysuckle bidding to defend to her crown for trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore, Geraghty and Francome are split as to whether she can hold off the challenge of the Willie Mullins-trained Appreciate It.

Geraghty, who won the Champion Hurdle four times on the likes of Jezki and Epatante, and Francombe, who triumphed on Sea Pigeon, can't split the pair.

Scroll down for part two of Barry and John's Road to Cheltenham, which sees them look forward to day two of the Cheltenham Festival, featuring the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Barry Geraghty and John Francome: The Road to Cheltenham Part 2

Barry Geraghty and John Francome continue their Road to Cheltenham as they reminisce about the Queen Mother Champion Chase and look forward to this year's renewal.

The legendary National Hunt jockeys recall Geraghty's fabulous five wins in the race, twice on Moscow Flyer and one victory each on Big Zeb, Finian's Rainbow and Spinter Sacre, as they wind through the Oxfordshire countryside on their journey to Prestbury Park.

Geraghty talks of his affection for the race and his five winners, and struggles to split Moscow Flyer and Sprinter Sacre in his hall of fame.

This year, the likes of Nicky Henderson's Shishkin and the Willie Mullins-trained pair Chacun Pour Soi and Energumene are bidding for a crown which eluded Francome during his illustrious career.

The pair also preview the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, in which the Mullins horse Sir Gerhard is strongly fancied, while in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, Bravemansgame and Galopin Des Champs are vying for favouritism.

Make sure you look out for part three of Barry and John's Road to Cheltenham, which sees them look forward to day three of the Cheltenham Festival, featuring the Stayers' Hurdle.

Barry Geraghty and John Francome: The Road to Cheltenham Part 3

Barry Geraghty and John Francome are edging closer to Cheltenham on their road trip to Prestbury Park.

In part three of the Road to Cheltenham, Francome and Geraghty are focusing on day three of the Festival, which features the Stayers' Hurdle and Ryanair Chase.

Geraghty won the Stayers' Hurdle on Iris's Gift for trainer Jonjo O'Neill, while Francome triumphed in the race on Derring Rose.

This year, 2019 winner Paisley Park is bidding to regain his crown but it's a wide-open content, with the likes of Flooring Porter, the Willie Mullins-trained Klassical Dream, Thyme Hill and Champ all vying for the favourite's tag.

Geraghty, who won on Champ in 2020 in what is widely considered to be one of the great Festival rides, is unsure whether his former partner can get back in the winners' enclosure again this year and is leaning towards Klassical Dream.

In the Ryanair, Allaho is considered to be one of the bankers of the meeting, but both Francome and Geraghty think Eldorado Allen has a strong each-way chance.

And in the Turner Novices' Chase both are backing Galopin Des Champs to get the better of Bob Ollinger in what some think could be the race of the meeting.

Scroll down for part four of Barry and John's Road to Cheltenham, which sees them look forward to day four of the Cheltenham Festival, featuring the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Barry Geraghty and John Francome: The Road to Cheltenham Part 4

It's the final part of Barry Geraghty and John Francome's Road to Cheltenham, as they reach Cheltenham town centre and make the final climb atop the iconic Cleeve Hill.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the feature race on the Festival's final day, and both Geraghty and Francome have triumphed in racing's premier steeplechase.

Francome took glory aboard Midnight Court in 1978, while Geraghty crossed the winning line in first on both Kicking King and Bobs Worth.

This year, the likes of A Plus Tard, Galvin and defending champion Minella Indo are going for glory, with strong challenges expected from Protektorat, former winner Al Boum Photo and Tornado Flyer.

Geraghty believes Henry de Bromhead's Minella Indo will take some stopping, despite his defeat in the King George at Kempton, while Francome says stablemate A Plus Tard, second last year, can reverse the placings this year.

The pair also make their selections in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and the Triumph Hurdle.

Vauban is favourite to give Wille Mullins yet another Festival winner in the Triumph, while a wide-open Albert Bartlett could go the way of the Gordon Elliott-trained Ginto.


 

 

With 43 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, Barry Geraghty is the second most successful jockey in the meeting’s illustrious history.

Career highlights include five Queen Mother Champion Chase victories, two Cheltenham Gold Cup triumphs and victory aboard Monty’s Pass in the 2003 Grand National.

Barry has partnered with 888sport for the 2021/22 jumps season, providing his expert insight and horse racing analysis on the biggest races of the week.