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Barry Geraghty after the Ladbrokes World Hurdle earlier. PA Wire/Press Association Images
Cheltenham

Geraghty's joy is McCoy's pain again in World Hurdle

For the second time in a feature race this week, AP McCoy backed the wrong horse.

CHAMPION JOCKEY AP McCoy was left to rue picking the wrong horse for the second time in a feature race at this week’s Cheltenham Festival as More of That won today’s Grade One World Hurdle.

Once again it was his fellow Irishman Barry Geraghty who was the beneficiary as he guided home the Jonjo O’Neill-trained horse to win his fifth race in a row and pick up the £156,000 winners cheque at odds of 15/2.

Geraghty, 34, had won Tuesday’s feature race the Champion Hurdle on Jezki after McCoy, who is the winning owner JP McManus’s first-choice jockey, picked My Tent or Yours who finished second.

O’Neill, who had had a quiet season prior to Cheltenham, was delighted at the resilience his inexperienced runner had shown.

“It can’t get much better than that, it’s fantastic really. He jumped great, which was my biggest worry as he’s quite the novice,” said the 61-year-old Irishman, who trains near to Cheltenham racecourse.

“I did have a doubt that Annie Power might get home, to be honest. We stayed, this is great, brilliant.”

Irish race favourite Annie Power just failed to last the distance of three miles which she was racing over for the first time, as she finished second at odds of 11/8 to go down to her first defeat in 11 starts, while McCoy was third on At Fishers Cross (9/1).

Annie Power’s trainer Willie Mullins had mulled over running her in the Champion Hurdle, but her owners had opted for the longer distance race. He was gracious in defeat.

Horse Racing - 2014 Cheltenham Festival - St Patrick's Day - Cheltenham Racecourse More Of That ridden by Barry Geraghty (right) crosses the line ahead of Annie Power ridden by Ruby Walsh. Joe Giddens Joe Giddens

“It was a good, fair race,” said the 57-year-old. ”I thought we jumped fantastically the whole way, but we were just beaten by a better horse on the day. Annie Power has lost nothing in defeat. I’m a little disappointed not to have run but we ran a good race – no excuses.”

The four-time champion Big Buck’s bid to regain his crown — after he missed last year’s edition through injury — floundered on turning into the finishing straight and the 11-year-old was out of contention jumping the last hurdle.

His trainer Paul Nicholls announced that he would retire his old warrior with immediate effect but he was allowed one final lap of the parade ring receiving a rousing farewell from the spectators.

“It’s the obvious thing to do. I wouldn’t ask him to run again – he’s been a wonderful horse,” said Nicholls.

“Half way round I could see he wasn’t jumping so fluently and his legs weren’t what they were. It’s not an emotional decision — I’m delighted he’s finished in one piece. It’s the right decision at the right time and I’m thrilled, to be honest. He’s just been wonderful.”

- © AFP, 2014

Big Buck’s retires after coming up short in Cheltenham World Hurdle

LIVE: Cheltenham Festival 2014, Day 3

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