BARRY Geraghty will miss the ride on Champion Hurdle winner Jezki at Punchestown on Sunday after confirming he will instead be in action at Cheltenham to partner StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle favourite Vaniteux.
Geraghty (above) steered the JP McManus-owned Jezki to Cheltenham Festival victory in March and with the owner's retained rider Tony McCoy sidelined by injury, he was the obvious choice to get back on board for a fascinating clash with Hurricane Fly in the Morgiana Hurdle.
However, Geraghty will instead ride at Prestbury Park for Nicky Henderson and is excited about the prospect of getting the leg-up on Vaniteux, last seen finishing third behind Vautour in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
The jockey said: "Nicky has confirmed Vaniteux will run in Cheltenham and I'll look forward to riding him. "It's a great complaint to have two horses like that to potentially ride, but I can't be in two places at once. I'll be riding Vaniteux and Birch Hill for Nicky in the bumper and I'll have to try and find a few other rides for the day, if I can." Mark Walsh is now expected to partner Jezki for the first time in Sunday's Grade One feature at Punchestown.
OWNER Robert Waley-Cohen reports Long Run to be "mending slowly" ahead of a likely return to competitive action in the new year.
Nicky Henderson's nine-year-old endured a fraught journey back from France in May after running in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, after which he has been on the easy list at Waley-Cohen's Upton Viva stud in Oxfordshire The former Gold Cup and dual King George hero has not yet returned to training, but his owner is dreaming of another Grand National bid in the spring, with his star performer having fallen at Valentine's on the first circuit last season.
Waley-Cohen said: "He's going to have a late start, but hopefully he'll be back in the spring time. "He's mending slowly. It's been awkward to put right, but he's moving forward. That (Grand National) would be the dream, but we'll see where we are nearer the time."