Legendary jockey Barry Geraghty comes out of retirement to race against old rival Richard Johnson at Doncaster
LEGENDARY Grand National-winning jockey Barry Geraghty is coming out of retirement to race against old rival Richard Johnson.
The superstar duo are among the riders taking part in the Legends race at Doncaster on Wednesday.
Geraghty and Johnson – who announced his shock retirement in a tearful TV interview in April – were icons over jumps but will race in a 1mile Flat race.
And Geraghty, 41, a two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, came out fighting ahead of his big return to the saddle.
He told Sky Sports Racing there will be no love lost between himself and Johnson as both will give all to win.
Geraghty, who announced his retirement via Twitter in July last year, said: “It can’t be any other way. We’ve all been doing the same thing for years and there will be no inch given.
“And there will be no inch expected!
“It will be good fun and I’m very much looking forward to it.
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Sky Bet Doncaster specials
Wednesday September 8
Money Back Special
14.20 Doncaster
Money Back as Cash if 2nd or 3rd
Feature Extra Places
Feature Extra Place: 14.50 Doncaster: Leger Legends Stakes- Paying 5 places instead of 3
13.45 Doncaster – Paying 4 places instead of 3
15.25 Doncaster – Paying 4 places instead of 3
17.00 Doncaster – Paying 5 places instead of 3
“It’s very different to be going over the mile at Doncaster, even coming out of the stalls will be different, so it will be a new one.
“I’ve been riding a bit of work over the last few weeks for Denise Foster and Gordon Elliott so I’ve been busy.”
Former Champion Hurdle winner Noel Fehily, ex-champion apprentice Amy Ryan and 2011 Welsh Grand National winner Charlie Poste are among those also taking part.
Yet it’s Geraghty and Johnson who are the star attractions in the £5,400 contest that kick-starts the four-day Cazoo Leger Festival.
The Irishman is the second most successful jockey ever at Cheltenham Festival with 43 winners, while Johnson, 44, is a two-time Gold Cup winner and four-time champion jockey.
Geraghty finished his career with 1,920 career victories, while Johnson racked up a mind-boggling 3,818 over jumps.
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