Geraghty: Moscow Flyer may be best I'll ever ride

"Azertyuiop is younger than Moscow Flyer and so he's entitled to be still improving," he added.

"He bolted up at Newbury last time, but my fellow beat him at Sandown in December and I think he can beat him again."

Geraghty is a little less powerful in the saddle than AP McCoy and a shade less elegant than Ruby Walsh.

But what he has is the priceless ability to find the ideal position before delivering his mounts to challenge with precision timing.

That skill makes Geraghty the man top trainers turn to when the stakes are high, and their faith was rewarded last year when he won five of the 17 races he was eligible to ride in at the Festival.

Four of the five victories were by less than a length, and the man responsible is aware of the fine margins which separate the heroes from the also rans.

"If the chance to win comes along you had better be ready to grab it," he said. "Anything can happen at the Festival, but standing on that podium at Cheltenham collecting the trophy for leading jockey was a wonderful moment."

Further glory followed three weeks later when Geraghty brought off one of the biggest gambles in Grand National history aboard Monty's Pass, and the purple patch propelled him even higher last year when he became the first racing figure to be named Irish Sports Personality of the Year.

"I was up against people like Roy Keane, Keith Wood and Damien Duff, so I didn't really fancy my chances," he added.

"Maybe the voters remembered me after backing Moscow Flyer or Monty's Pass. I was chuffed to bits to become the first jockey to win it."

Geraghty feels his hand is every bit as strong as last year.

Very Optimistic gets the ball rolling in tomorrow's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle, followed by the exciting Pizarro in the SunAlliance Chase. Thursday brings the chance to link up with two of Jonjo O'Neill's stars in the Stayers' Hurdle and the Gold Cup.

"Iris's Gift gave me a fantastic ride in the Stayers' Hurdle last year and felt as good as ever when I rode him at Haydock the other week, while Keen Leader is a top-class chaser who is capable of a big run in the Gold Cup if he gets his jumping right," added Geraghty.

Victory on any one of them would come as no surprise, yet Geraghty insists Moscow Flyer remains "the ace in the pack".

He added: "If both horses jump well and get luck in running, the Champion Chase should come down to my lad and Azertyuiop.

"It's going to be a hell of a race, and one mistake can put you out of the game, but when Moscow Flyer is right I don't think there is a horse around who can get past him."