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St Leger Festival: Richard Johnson and Barry Geraghty back at Doncaster for Leger Legends charity race

Retired duo Richard Johnson and Barry Geraghty back in the saddle for charity race at Doncaster's St Leger Festival; Noel Fehily and Sammy Jo Bell, winner of the race in 2019, also line up; watch every race at the St Leger Festival live on Sky Sports Racing from September 8-11

Former champion jockey Richard Johnson has been a long-time mentor and friend to O'Brien
Image: Former champion jockey Richard Johnson returns to the saddle at Doncaster

Richard Johnson and Barry Geraghty are among the riders who will take part in the Mondialiste Leger Legends Classified Stakes at Doncaster.

Johnson retired from the saddle in April of last year following a glittering career - during which he won two Cheltenham Gold Cups, a Champion Hurdle and a Queen Mother Champion Chase.

He also rode more winners over jumps than any other jockey bar Sir Anthony McCoy - who won the Legends race in 2015 - and was crowned champion National Hunt jockey on four occasions.

St Leger live on Sky Sports Racing
St Leger live on Sky Sports Racing

Watch every race of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster live on Sky Sports Racing from September 8-11

Johnson will partner Michael Bell's Greek Kodiac on Wednesday, in a race which was first run in 2010 and has so far raised more than £1million for Jack Berry House and the Northern Racing College.

Geraghty, who won the 2003 Grand National aboard Monty's Pass and rode 43 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, will be on board the Charlie Hills-trained Mumtaaz on Town Moor.

Jockey Barry Geraghty celebrates on top of Epatante after winning the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham last year.
Image: Barry Geraghty celebrates on top of Epatante after winning the 2020 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham

Johnson and Geraghty are two of 13 former riders who will contest the charity event.

Sammy Jo Bell, who won the race two years ago aboard Dubai Acclaim, is this year riding Fennaan - trained by her partner Phillip Makin.

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Brian Harding (First Dance/Tom Tate) and Noel Fehily (Vasco da Gama/Gay Kelleway) are also in the mix.

Noel Fehily heads out to ride Get In The Queue, his last ride before retiring in 2019
Image: Noel Fehily heads out to ride Get In The Queue, his last ride before retiring in 2019

The most valuable race on the opening day of the St Leger Festival is the £80,000 Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' Stakes, which has attracted a field of 12 runners.

Likely contenders for the Group Three contest include Ivan Furtado's stable star Just Beautiful, who was denied only narrowly in a Group Three in France on her latest appearance.

John Quinn saddles consistent filly Highland Princess - runner-up to Space Blues in last month's City of York Stakes - while Jessica Harrington's Loch Lein and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Wren's Breath both travel from Ireland.

Potapova (Sir Michael Stoute) and Sweet Enough (John and Thady Gosden) also feature.

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