Why Geoffrey Hornby was the Royal Navy's safest 1890s commander

Which admiral should the Royal Navy send to command a major naval war in the 1890s?

Geoffrey Hornby, or an officer from his circle, because few contemporaries matched his experience, authority, and ability to manage senior subordinates.

The exact theater would influence the choice, but Geoffrey Hornby remains the leading candidate. He was technically retired by 1890, yet remained alive, active in naval affairs, and trusted after major exercises in the previous decade. His staff experience included working with John Fisher, and he possessed the authority to make difficult personalities such as Fisher and Charles Beresford cooperate. If Hornby himself could not take command, one of the officers trained under him would be the next logical choice.