How Barry Geraghty made himself the king of the Champion Chase

Barry Geraghty was famous for riding some of the greatest two-mile chasers in the history of the sport and won the Champion Chase five times from 2003 to 2013. Here Lewis Porteous remembers those wonderful victories.

Moscow Flyer (2003)

Moscow Flyer's first Champion Chase victory represented a changing of the guard in the two-mile division. With past champions Edredon Bleu and Flagship Uberalles in opposition, Moscow Flyer took over the mantle with a seven-length win from Native Upmanship to provide Geraghty with the first of his five wins in the race.

Avoiding trouble at the second-last, where Latalomne and Seebald fell independently, Moscow Flyer landed in the lead and gradually extended his advantage to run out an impressive winner, adding to his Arkle win from 12 months earlier.

Smiles all round after Moscow Flyer regains his Champion Chase crown at Cheltenham in 2005Credit: Mark Cranham

Moscow Flyer (2005)

The champion from two years ago had a score to settle on this occasion, having unseated Geraghty when bidding for back-to-back wins 12 months earlier. The opposition was strong, with old rival and reigning champion Azertyuiop and young gun Well Chief among his rivals.

However, Moscow Flyer had beaten both those rivals handsomely in the Tingle Creek in December and the market fancied him to regain his crown as the 6-4 favourite.

Taking up the running three from home, Moscow Flyer was in no mood to be passed. Hard driven by Geraghty approaching the last, he was chased hard by Well Chief – five years his junior – but Moscow Flyer's superiority was undeniable and the 11-year-old triumphed by a cosy two lengths.

Big Zeb (2010)

If every horse has his day, then the second afternoon of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival undoubtedly belonged to Big Zeb.

There was hysteria surrounding Master Minded, a festival banker and bidding for a third Champion Chase success. Yet on this occasion he fired a blank, something that cannot be said about 10-1 shot Big Zeb, produced in the form of his life by trainer Colm Murphy.

Travelling well two out, Geraghty went on the offensive, seizing his opportunity well before the last and urging Big Zeb to assert.

Big and bold at the last, he was not for catching, putting six lengths between himself and runner-up Forpadydeplasterer to give Geraghty a third Champion Chase success.

Big Zeb and Barry Geraghty land the 2010 Queen Mother Champion ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Finian's Rainbow (2012)

Fifth in the Neptune and second in the previous year's Arkle, Finian's Rainbow was certainly due a win at the festival when he lined for the Champion Chase in 2012.

His main obstacle was reigning champion Sizing Europe, sent off odds-on favourite to retain his crown, with Finian's Rainbow second best at 4-1.

The pair served up one of the great festival duels from the top of the hill, Sizing Europe leading but never able to quite shake the attentions of Finian's Rainbow, and over the second-last it was all to play for.

Adding extra drama, the final fence was bypassed, meaning the pair bumped as they squeezed around the outside before straightening for the line.

Geraghty asked for every sinew Finian's Rainbow had and it was enough to edge past the gallant runner-up in a thriller.

Sprinter Sacre (left) dominated in the 2013 Champion ChaseCredit: Michael Regan

Sprinter Sacre (2013)

A starting price of 1-4 pretty much tells the story of Sprinter Scare's supremacy over his 2013 Champion Chase rivals, yet one of the sport's finest champions still managed to make things exciting with arguably his greatest ever performance.

While a stroll was expected, Geraghty and Sprinter Sacre decided to turn up the entertainment. Leading from three out, Geraghty eased the hand brake off and his partner motored through the gears by his own accord.

Jumping higher than a pole vaulter at the last, Sprinter Sacre was still firmly in Geraghty's hands as he crossed the line 19 lengths clear of past winner Sizing Europe.

Read more:

Barry Geraghty calls time on glorious riding career aged 40

Moscow Flyer, Sprinter Sacre... who's on our list of Geraghty's greatest horses?

Richard Forristal on one of the greatest jockeys of his generation

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