Horse Racing:  There will be no shortage of confidence as Barry Geraghty tries to steer Kicking King and Moscow Flyer to victory this week, writes Brian O'Connor.

In the wake of Kicking King's Cheltenham Gold Cup victory last March the winning trainer Tom Taaffe marched proudly up to collect his award from Princess Anne and instinctively planted an exuberant smacker on the royal cheek. It was a lovely moment, full of roguish charm, which was rewarded with a loud cheer from the crowd. Then Barry Geraghty stepped forward and made to do the same thing. An already icy glare turned positively glacial. For once Kicking King's rider backed down from the challenge.

If the former champion jockey was embarrassed by the moment it certainly didn't show. Having just won jump racing's most coveted prize, a breach of such crusty royal protocol probably didn't count for much anyway. But it's reasonable to look at Geraghty's form figures and bet he would laugh it off at any time.

Ask people within racing to use one word for the 26-year-old Co Meath native and it's almost one hundred per cent unanimous: confident. In fact there appears to be so much confidence floating in Geraghty's wake that even Muhammad Ali in his prime might start to feel a little insecure in comparison.

Of course racing being as much of a bitch-fest as any other sport, there are also those within the game who embrace Geraghty's assurance with all the relish that Smokin' Joe Frasier reserved for the Greatest. But what everyone concedes is that such confidence on the likes of Kicking King in Monday's King George and Moscow Flyer at Leopardstown on Tuesday will be a considerable plus for their chances.

After all, the record shows that when it counts most, their jockey usually gets it spot on.

"Even when he's not on a horse he is a confident person, always has been," says Conor O'Dwyer, the double champion hurdle winning rider and veteran of the jockeys' room.

"I've a lot of time for Barry. He's a good fellah. There was a time when he was starting out that you thought he might just go to the wrong side of confident but in fairness he was only a kid. He has grown up a lot."

Champion trainer Noel Meade once famously described the young Geraghty as "a cocky little bastard," a remark that predictably the subject himself takes no exception to.

"That was overplayed a bit but so what? It wasn't going to be underplayed a bit, was it," Geraghty said earlier this year. "And I've had worse complaints than that!"

Which is a typical Geraghty line. While some of his colleagues pursue the winning post with a deadly grim earnestness, Geraghty brings an undeniable brio to the party. Pre-Cheltenham questions about the pressure of riding at the festival this year were memorably dismissed with: "Pressure is for tyres!" This is a man who actively relishes the big stage.

That relish has been developed on the likes of Moscow Flyer's Champion Chase wins in 2003 and this year, the 2003 Aintree Grand National on Monty's Pass and a streak of other big-race victories last winter that culminated with Kicking King's rise to the top of the chasing ladder.

In fact instead of the "C" word, Tom Taaffe chooses a different monicker to sum up his jockey.

"He's a lucky guy," he decides. "Our relationship sort fell into place and like all relationships it's had its ups and downs. But Barry is a likeable fellah, clever, intelligent and he's got a good business head on him."

That however hasn't stopped Taaffe criticising Geraghty when he feels he has got it wrong. Last year's King George saw the jockey attract considerable flak for a last-fence mistake by Kicking King which many put down to Geraghty not being decisive enough. Taaffe's criticism however originated from about a mile before that.

"He let him roll on from a long way out. They have to be machines to roll for that long and we were lucky to get away with it. So before the Gold Cup we had a long chat and I was adamant about the way I wanted the horse ridden. He did exactly what I said and Kicking King got an exemplary ride. Barry would be the first to admit there have been areas where he needed to improve but he is willing to listen. He doesn't make the same mistakes again."

The King George though wasn't the only disagreement with a final obstacle that Geraghty endured last season.

"He got some criticism from Michael O'Brien after Essex won the Pierse and when Forget The Past ran at Fairyhouse (Power Gold Cup.) But everyone goes through stages when you think you have races won and are left with a 'will I-won't' situation at the last," says Conor O'Dwyer.

"Usually though he is very positive in his races, loves to strike for home about three out and keep going. I think the confidence comes through in the big races because he is never bothered by the big occasion," he adds.

After a first ever success on Stagalier at Down Royal less than nine years ago, the ability to excel in the big time resulted in a breakthrough five-winner haul at the 2003 Cheltenham festival as well as that year's National.

That in turn yielded a wider audience when becoming that year's RTÉ sports personality of the year.

But as befits someone whose grandfather bred the legendary five-time Gold Cup winner Golden Miller, it is the action out on the track by which Geraghty ultimately judges himself.

"Ever since I was champion jockey the first time (1999-'00) I've had this idea that I'd like to ride a thousand winners. That would be a decent career," he has said. "But there's no point saying I'd like to win a particular race. Look at Tony McCoy. He has a fancied horse in the Grand National every year and it still eludes him. It can happen to you like that in races, so it's best not to think about it too much."

That instinctive ability will be put to the test yet again over the Christmas period as the two horses Geraghty is most closely identified with endeavour to cement their positions at the top of the chasing tree.

Kicking King has been beaten in both starts to date this season and even though a twisted shoe was a valid excuse for a Haydock defeat by Kingscliff last time out there is a lot riding on his attempt to secure back-to-back King George victories.

It took only one defeat this season for Moscow Flyer's two-mile crown to suddenly seem shaky and those who argue that time is catching up on the old horse will be keenly watching the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on Tuesday for further evidence.

Both will be genuine pressure situations for the man on top. But since his attitude to the "P" word is already well established, Geraghty is unlikely to be fazed in any way.

After all this is the kind of challenge that Mr Confidence will never back down from.