TRUE COLOURS:Barry Geraghty's new book hits the shelves

Drumree man Barry Geraghty is one of the greatest jockeys of all time.

He recently retired from horse racing after a 24-year career having ridden nearly 2,000 winners, including five Champion chases, four champion hurdles, two Gold Cups, two Stayers’ Hurdles, an Irish Grand National and, of course, the race that made him famous the world over – the Grand National win on Monty’s Pass in 2003.

His new memoir tells the highs and lows of being one of the greatest jockeys of all time.

"There’s a part of me that’s wired for speed. There’s a constant ‘Go’ in me, no matter what I’m doing.

"Everything is done at 100 miles an hour. Driving cars fast. Skiing black slopes. Riding good horses over big fences. And I’m always in control. Until I’m not."

His new memoir, written with Niall Kelly, tells his extraordinary story.

Known in horseracing as ‘The Quiet Man’ for his steely determination, True Colours recounts how Barry broke all his limbs, his shoulders, his ribs and his nose, and acquired over 70 stitches to his face.

He faced his toughest test on the eve of the 2019 Aintree Grand National as he headed towards his 40th birthday when he broke his leg, subsequently spending most of 2019 with it encased in a metal frame.

Barry was forced to take stock, he decided it was better to go out on his own terms and made an astonishing comeback at this year’s Cheltenham, where he rode five winners, becoming the second most successful jockey in Cheltenham’s history and bringing down the curtain on one of the most glittering careers in jumps racing on a high.

In the book Barry reflects on a life steeped in horseracing, brilliantly capturing the irreplaceable buzz, the adrenaline, and the toll the highs and lows took on his personal life and family life as he tried to balance living at a steady pace in a world notorious for its high-risk status.

Written with searing honesty, Barry tells how the deaths of fellow jockeys, close friends of his, impacted him.

He opens up about the role his wife Paula played in helping him to slow down and encouraging him to talk to someone about his lifestyle and the effect it would have on him if he did not make positive changes.

True Colours gives an insight into what it takes to become an elite athlete, the sacrifices and tough decisions that need to be made at every turn, making it a must-read for all sporting fans this year.

True Colours is published by Gill Books, priced at €22.99.