7/4 Geraghty in position for third top jockey title

Barry Geraghty (7/4 Top Jockey – Cheltenham Specials) has put himself in position to reclaim the leading jockey’s title at the Cheltenham Festival after piloting the winners of the first two races on Thursday – and he has some good chances for more on Gold Cup Day.

Victories aboard 3/1 favourite Defi Du Seuil in the JLT Novices’ Chase and 4/1 favourite Sire Du Berlais in the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle took the Irishman to 38 in total at the Festival.

And he joined Nico De Boinville (5/1), Mark Walsh (7/4) and Jamie Codd (16/1) on two winners apiece for the week with seven races to go, including three Grade Ones, on Friday.

Geraghty, the leading jockey in 2003 and 2012, is booked to ride five times on Gold Cup Day and will partner longshot Anibale Fly (25/1 – Winner – Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase) in the big one.

Of his other rides, Birchdale (9/2 – Winner NRNB) in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and Le Prezien (10/1 – Winner) in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase look like decent opportunities to add to his tally.

Ruby Walsh (16/1) was “disgusted” by his dramatic final-flight Festival fall on leader Benie Des Dieux earlier this week. He will get four more chances to add to his record Cheltenham tally on Friday, with Bellshill (10/1 – Winner) his mount in the Gold Cup.

Davy Russell (50/1) looks set to relinquish the title he took from Walsh last year but has a superb opportunity to grab some last-day glory on board the fancied Presenting Percy in the Gold Cup.

Odds subject to change.