Born: 16 September 1979 Place of birth: Co Meath Festival wins: 7 2002-2003 wins: 97 (Ire) 2001-2002 wins: 86 (Ire) 2000-2001 wins: 74 (Ire) Main trainer: Jessica Harrington

The triumphs included a thrilling success in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Moscow Flyer.

And a few weeks later, he continued his fine run with victory in the Grand National on Monty's Pass.

It capped a fine season for the Irish-based rider, who was second in his native jockeys' championship.

He was 35th in the British standings but the fact that he was one of only four riders to reach the �1m prize money mark shows the quality of the races he was winning.

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.

He has since finished runner-up three times, but is more than making up for that by plundering a succession of big races over in Britain.

Having started with Meade, Geraghty now rides mainly for Jessica Harrington and enjoyed his first Cheltenham Festival success on Harrington's Moscow Flyer in 2002.

His meeting was blighted by a 12-day ban under the 'non-triers' rule after a disappointing outing on Magnus.

But 12 months later, it was a different story and he was the toast of the course after five glorious wins.

There was disappointment in 2004 when Moscow Flyer, aiming to retain his Champion Chase title, unseated the jockey.