Place of birth: Co Meath 2002-03 wins: 97 (Ire) 2001-2002 wins: 86 (Ire) 2000-2001 wins: 74 (Ire) 1999-2000 wins: 74 (Ire)

Geraghty had a season to remember in 2003 - becoming the leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival before winning the Grand National on Monty's Pass.

His five victories at Cheltenham, winning in a quarter of all the races run, included a thrilling success in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Moscow Flyer.

And the jockey landed an estimated �1m public gamble when Monty's Pass obliged at Aintree just a couple of weeks later.

Geraghty's father 'Tucker' was an amateur rider and two of his five siblings, Ross - an Irish National winner - and Norman, are also jockeys.

But Barry is the brightest star in his family's racing production line.

After a background in pony racing, he began his apprenticeship with Noel Meade and rode his first winner in January 1997.

Three years later he was well on the way to becoming Irish champion jockey for the first time to cap a meteoric rise to the top.

Having started out riding for Meade, Geraghty has mainly been employed by Jessica Harrington, for whom he has twice ridden Moscow Flyer to victory at the Festival.

But his big-race successes last season are sure to make him popular both sides of the Irish sea this season.