Geraghty 'champing at bit' for Aintree return but faces crucial scan

Barry Geraghty is confident of returning in time for Aintree but a crunch MRI scan on Tuesday morning will determine whether he will make it back for a lavish books of rides that includes Buveur D'Air, Defi Du Seuil, Unowhatimeanharry and, possibly, Cause Of Causes in the Randox Health Grand National.

JP McManus's number-one jockey missed the Cheltenham Festival after a Kempton fall from Charli Parcs last month left him with a punctured lung and six broken ribs. Geraghty has made good progress over the last four weeks and says he is "champing at the bit" to return.

He said: "I have an MRI scan on Tuesday morning in Naas that Adrian [McGoldrick] set up for me and that will tell me where I stand. I'm presuming I'll be fine for Aintree and I'm champing at the bit to get back. I cannot wait.

"It's been progressing well and I'd imagine there will be big improvement within the next week, which will leave me right for Aintree. It has been four weeks now and, fingers crossed, it will continue to heal. The ribs are a bit uncomfortable but they seem to be coming along nicely. I've never had a lung problem before so I'm not sure what way it's supposed to feel. It's unknown territory for me."

'I was glad when Cheltenham was over'

Geraghty found watching Cheltenham from the sidelines almost as painful as his injury.

He said: "Lets just say I was glad when it was all over. I watched most of it at home and Gold Cup day down at Kerry. It wasn't easy."

But there are Cheltenham winners waiting for Geraghty at Aintree if he does win his fitness race and he cannot wait to get back on board impressive Triumph Hurdle winner Defi Du Seuil in the Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle on day one on Thursday week.

"Defi Du Seuil is just a gorgeous horse. I love him. He was very impressive at Cheltenham and it would be great to get back on board him," said the jockey.

Geraghty was understandably impressed by what he saw from Buveur D'Air in the Champion Hurdle, but warned not to give up on Yanworth.

He said: "Buveur D'Air was very good in the Champion Hurdle. I always knew he was capable of a performance like that and he went out and did it on the day. It was a faultless performance really. But that was definitely not the real Yanworth. He's a lot better than that."

Cause Of Causes, a nine-length winner of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, is the shortest priced of the McManus runners in the Grand National, but Geraghty said no decision has been made on which horse he will ride.

He said: "Nothing has been decided yet. I suppose we'll get Tuesday out of the way first and see how I get on and then we'll sit down and discuss things."

Geraghty's fab five for Liverpool

Buveur D'Air (Aintree Hurdle)
Could once again clash with Yanworth, who would surely be more effective over this longer trip, but it would be hard to imagine Geraghty ignoring a Champion Hurdle winner who could be even better over 2m4f. Was much the best at Cheltenham and looks the one to beat.

Cause Of Causes (Grand National)
The presence of More Of That and Carlingford Lough won't make his choice easy but the ultra-versatile Cause Of Causes looks tailormade for the stamina-sapping test. He has won three different races at three different Cheltenham Festivals and is currently vying for Grand National favouritism.

Defi Du Seuil (4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle)
Phillip Hobbs' charge has looked the standout juvenile all season and he cemented his position at the top of the four-year-old pecking order with a flawless display in the Triumph Hurdle. Jumped brilliantly and quickened up smartly to beat Mega Fortune there and is a very short price to follow up at Aintree.

Unowhatimeanharry (Liverpool Hurdle)
Winning sequence came to an end in the Stayers' Hurdle but still took an honourable third behind Nichols Canyon. Geraghty has never been beaten on him, winning on all three occasions he has been on board this season.

Uxizandre (Melling Chase)
One of the rides Geraghty was most disappointed to be missing at Cheltenham, the former Ryanair winner beat only one home as he attempted to regain his crown at Cheltenham. He is a lot better than he showed there and would be very interesting if Un De Sceaux did not make the trip over.