Tag Archive for: Harry Cobden

Nicholls and Cobden forming formidable partnership for the rest to aim at

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Paul Nicholls praised stable jockey Harry Cobden for his role in a season that saw him officially crowned champion jumps trainer for the 14th time at Sandown’s bet365 Jump Finale.

The Ditcheat handler enjoyed a stellar campaign which saw him register his 13th King George thanks to Bravemansgame’s Christmas triumph and also return to the Cheltenham Festival winner’s enclosure following a three-year hiatus with a Prestbury Park double.

All of that leaves Nicholls just one title away from matching Martin Pipe on 15 championships – and he was keen to pay tribute to an instrumental part of team Ditcheat and a man who has partnered just shy of 100 winners for him this term.

Harry Cobden celebrates with Paul Nicholls after Stage Star won the Turners Novices’ Chase on day three of the Cheltenham Festival
Harry Cobden celebrates with Paul Nicholls after Stage Star won the Turners Novices’ Chase on day three of the Cheltenham Festival (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)

“He’s 24 and he’s still young for a jump jockey. But he’s getting experienced now, he’s fit and strong and he thinks about a race,” Nicholls said.

“I don’t think anyone is riding better than him, in my opinion he is if not the best, one of the best jump jockeys riding at the minute.

“He’s a big team player and he comes in every day and he schools. He’s just getting better and better and has been brilliant this year.”

Although Cobden was numerically adrift of Brian Hughes in the race to be named champion jockey, he has been a standing dish in the winner’s enclosure at the end of the season’s big races with a plethora of Grade One contests secured.

Paul Nicholls receives his trophy at Sandown
Paul Nicholls receives his trophy at Sandown (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s one of the big players and he could be champion jockey one day, but I don’t think he measures his success on that,” added Nicholls.

“If it was done on prize-money he would be a million in front of Brian Hughes, he’s earned an amazing amount of prize-money.

“If he’s champion jockey one day, I’m sure he would love it – but I don’t think that’s his number one priority and I think he will be happy just to keep on winning big races and doing as well as he has.”

Nicholls’ thirst for success has seen him dominate the 2022-23 season with the title sewn up at the conclusion of Aintree’s Grand National Festival.

Despite the emergence of Bravemansgame as a leading figure in the staying chase division, his latest crown has been won through the sheer consistency of his whole string rather than the achievements of a select squad of superstars, and Nicholls believes it is a huge testament to his staff at his Somerset base that his string has continued to thrive throughout the campaign.

“To get to 14 championships is beyond my wildest dreams and to be a million (pounds) in front of Dan (Skelton), that’s a lot really,” continued Nicholls, speaking on a call hosted by Great British Racing. “We’ve had some fantastic horses who have been consistent all season, and I’m thrilled.

“We set the record of prize-money that we won in a season back in 2008 and, of course, we had all those superstars – Master Minded, Denman, Kauto (Star), Neptune (Collonges) and Big Buck’s. We haven’t got quite that team now, so to do that now reflects well on the team as a whole.

“What I think is fantastic is we have had a 28 per cent strike-rate throughout the season. I think that reflects well on everybody – the team, the jockeys, the owners. Twenty-eight per cent strike-rate for the season is the best we’ve ever achieved, so that has been good.”

Sir Alex Ferguson (right) and Paul Nicholls watch the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival
Sir Alex Ferguson (right) and Paul Nicholls watch the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival (Andrew Matthews/PA)

With 14 titles safely locked away in the Manor Farm trophy cabinet, Nicholls’ attention switches to next season where his immediate focus will be holding off the challenge of protegee Skelton and Nicky Henderson, while he also has the mammoth feat of 4,000 winners in his sights.

He said: “We’ll have to keep Dan at bay and Nicky has a lovely team of horses as well – he hasn’t quite had the winners this year, but he’s just as likely to bounce back.

“It’s always competitive, but those two seem to be the main threats in terms of the championship, and Fergal O’Brien is on the fringe of that. He’s done very well and probably just needs one or two better horses.

Horse Racing – Paddy Power Imperial Cup Day – Sandown
Paul Nicholls has his sights on passing Martin Pipe’s tally of winners in the next few seasons (Daniel Hambury/PA)

“The championship is all about prize-money and luckily we’ve trained both the most winners and earned the most money (this season) which is very satisfying.”

He went on: “I would love to train 4,000 jumps winners – no one has done that before – and I would love to be the first one to do it. Martin’s total was 3,900 and something, and we’re closing that down. And the championship – I would love to win that 16 times, of course I would.

“Martin was a brilliant trainer and there was not quite as much racing then, so to train the winners he did was incredible. It would be nice to either equal or beat that.”

Rubaud takes Scottish Champion Hurdle spoils

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Paul Nicholls was full of praise for his jockey Harry Cobden after watching him make all the running on Rubaud in the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.

Cobden worked out on Friday that in front was the place to be – riding a treble for his boss – so he was keen to be in the box seat on the 7-2 favourite.

Since being bogged down in the ground when fancied for the Betfair Hurdle the five-year-old has won the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton, and it seems he prefers to go that way round.

Cobden had difficulty steering him at times, yet despite that still had plenty up his sleeve to hold off the late thrust of Lorna Fowler’s Colonel Mustard.

On quick ground, Rubaud jumped fluently throughout and stayed on strongly, holding off the Irish challenger by three lengths. Last year’s winner Anna Bunina was back in third.

Nicholls, who will be officially crowned champion trainer for the 14th time next week, said “That was a fantastic ride from the front, he’s not the easiest of rides but he’s beginning to relax.

“He went to Aintree last week, but we didn’t run him as the ground had gone soft. That was a fantastic ride.

“He jumps brilliant, you can see, he’ll be a fantastic chaser. He’s only young so we might start over hurdles and see where we end up.

“Harry is fantastic, he has a lot of confidence, he’s only 24 and is a fantastic team player, I’m really proud of him.”

Cobden told ITV Racing: “He’s definitely better right-handed. He was hanging the whole way. Down the back I edged into the middle of the course and going around the top bend I actually had two hands on my left rein to get him round it.

“He’s a lovely horse and will make a lovely chaser next year.”

Pic D’Orhy graduates to Grade One glory at Aintree

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Pic D’Orhy provided champion trainer Paul Nicholls with his first winner of this year’s Grand National meeting at Aintree as he posted an assured display in the Marsh Chase.

Twice a winner at Grade Two level earlier in the season, the eight-year-old was last seen chasing home Thursday’s Aintree Bowl hero Shishkin in the Ascot Chase in February.

Nicholls deliberately sidestepped last month’s Cheltenham Festival to keep his charge fresh for Aintree and was handsomely rewarded as Pic D’Orhy secured his first Grade One success.

Always moving powerfully behind the pacesetting Minella Drama, Harry Cobden’s mount moved to the front between the final two obstacles and soon put clear daylight between himself and his rivals.

Fakir D’oudairies, bidding for a record third victory in the two-and-a-half-mile contest, briefly threatened to throw down a serious challenge approaching the last fence, but Pic D’Orhy showed no signs of stopping and was ultimately good value for the winning margin of four and a quarter lengths.

Nicholls was unable to run Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame as planned on Thursday due to an ownership issue and having seen the likes of Stage Star disappoint, the handler thinks some horses that ran at Cheltenham might have been feeling a swift return.

However, Pic D’Orhy’s plan was long mapped out.

Nicholls said: “What has happened with Bravemansgame might be a blessing in disguise. He had a hard race at Cheltenham so who knows, he’ll be back next year.

“This week has been quite hard, a few have disappointed, a few have run well but what we like is winning these Grade Ones with horses who have been aimed at them.

“He was trained for this race and it makes a big difference when you target them here. When you aim for Cheltenham, it is hard to get them back in that form again.

“I just thought he’d be better on the flatter track here. I’m not saying he’ll never go to Cheltenham another day, but this was the race we wanted to win ever since he won the Peterborough Chase. We set out to go to the Silviniaco Conti Chase, Ascot and then this. This track suits him really well.

“He’ll certainly get an entry for the King George.”

Cobden believes Pic D’Orhy’s improved jumping has been crucial to success.

He said: “I had a lovely run round. He galloped into the first but after that he jumped brilliantly and travelled well.

“We didn’t get racing too early and after the second-last I asked him to go and win his race. I was going to the last on a really long stride, I don’t normally ask for that off him so I gave him a flick to remind him and it worked.

“He’s become a very good jumper but he didn’t use to be, I got three really bad falls off him but he’s learned.

“He has a low head carriage and eyes them up well.”

Pic D’Orhy was too good for Fakir D'oudairies
Pic D’Orhy was too good for Fakir D’oudairies (Tim Goode/PA)

Joseph O’Brien thought the race was not really run to suit Fakir D’oudairies, with a step up in trip on the cards.

He said: “I think he would have liked a stronger end-to-end gallop but he came home very well and I’m delighted with him.

“It’s always frustrating when you don’t win, but maybe he’s ready to go a bit further now.”

Bravemansgame will be back next year, says proud Nicholls

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Paul Nicholls vowed to bring Bravemansgame back for another crack at the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup after the King George winner only gave best to Galopin Des Champs in the final 100 yards.

Buoyed with confidence having saddled his second winner of the week with Stay Away Fay earlier in the day, the champion trainer never shies from a challenge and wants another crack at the Willie Mullins-trained favourite, who eventually won by seven lengths.

The pair were locked in combat over the last of the 22 fences, but it was the 7-5 favourite, a year younger at seven, who prevailed.

“He’s run an absolute blinder, but he’s just been beaten by a very good horse. He couldn’t have done more and got a great ride by Harry (Cobden),” said Nicholls.

“He’ll be back next year when he’ll be another year stronger and we’ll have another go.

“Turning in I thought we had a right chance but the winner was fantastic, we always knew he was the horse to beat. The winner won on merit.

“What we have to consider is that our target was the King George and while this wasn’t an afterthought we weren’t always going to come here.

“We gave it a go, we weren’t sure about the track, but he travelled beautifully and we’ve just been outstayed from the last by a very smart horse and I’m very proud of him.

“We hate finishing second, but he was always going to be the horse to beat.”

Galopin Des Champs begins to pull clear
Galopin Des Champs begins to pull clear (Tim Goode/PA)

He went on: “The track was never going to be a problem, I could never understand those who thought it was, he’s only run here once before today.

“A bit better ground would suit him, the whole way I was thinking he maybe just wasn’t travelling quite as well as he does on good ground but he’s a wonderful horse.

“Next year we’ll go Charlie Hall, King George and back here again. All the horses this week have run well bar Hermes Allen but he’ll be back. We’ve had a great Festival really, Stay Away Fay might be a Gold Cup horse of the future and we’ve been second in the Gold Cup.”

Cobden had no excuses, adding: “Seconds are never remembered are they, but he’s run a brilliant race and I couldn’t have been in a better position turning in.

“He’s galloped right to the line but we’ve been beaten by the better horse.

“I don’t think a lot of people felt he was man enough for a Gold Cup but he was relaxed, jumped well, stayed and was second best.”

Conflated finished a further six and a half lengths back in third for Gordon Elliott, who had a mini drama just before the race when his jockey Davy Russell was stood down by the doctor.

He was replaced by Sam Ewing and Elliott was full of praise for the youngster: “He didn’t miss a beat, he ran a great race. He got a little hampered turning in but it didn’t make much difference. We’re absolutely thrilled with him.

Sam Ewing was a late replacement for Davy Russell on Conflated
Sam Ewing was a late replacement for Davy Russell on Conflated (Niall Carson/PA)

“Sam gave him a beautiful ride and got him in a lovely rhythm and he ran his heart out.

“Davy was sore, I didn’t get much chance to talk to him but he just told me he was too sore to ride our horse so it looks like he was kicked.

“We’ll see how he is before deciding if he runs again.”

Grand National winner Noble Yeats flew up the hill to pip Protektorat for fourth in what some will see as a perfect Grant National trial.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen said: “I thought he ran really well, apart from the fact he got outpaced at some point.

Noble Yeats will head back to Aintree
Noble Yeats will head back to Aintree (David Davies/PA)

“He wasn’t tailed off and he absolutely flew up the hill.

“I think he would have been happier with a bit more room, he was caught on the inside but then when Ahoy Senor fell it helped him a bit as it opened things out.

“Onwards to Aintree, if the horse is fine. What do they say about the Guineas, fourth in the Guineas, win the Derby. Let’s hope.”

Henry de Bromhead’s two previous Gold Cup winners Minella Indo and A Plus Tard were both pulled up.

“A Plus Tard was very unlucky. He was going well, tracking Paul (Townend on the winner) but then had to jump two horses (Ahoy Senor fell and brought down Sounds Russian).

“That’s the luck of the draw, but the main thing is he’s back. He needs to go left-handed so I imagine he will go to Aintree.

“Minella Indo completely missed the start. Nico (de Boinville) was annoyed but his chance had gone.”

Hewick still held place claims when falling at the second-last.

Stay Away Fay powers to Albert Bartlett victory

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Paul Nicholls earned his second Grade One victory of the week at the Cheltenham Festival when Stay Away Fay was given a masterful ride by Harry Cobden to take the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

The 18-1 chance travelled well throughout and was always up with the pace in the three-mile test, which provided its usual searching test of stamina.

It was not without incident, either, as favourite Corbetts Cross ran out at the final flight, sending jockey Mark Walsh crashing to the turf.

Though challenging at the time, the winner seemed to have his measure having led at the second-last where plenty were still in with a chance.

Cobden put the six-year-old’s stamina to good use and gradually wore down his rivals to give the champion trainer his first success in the race.

Noel Meade’s Affordale Fury (150-1) relished the step up in trip and got within a length of the winner, just holding second from the Paul Nolan-trained Sandor Clegane.

Nicholls said: “I thought he’d run well as he should have won the last day and he’s taken a step forward since then and he looked fantastic.

“We were very positive on him today, he jumped really well and it’s only the third run of his life, there’s loads of improvement to come.

“We’ll probably go to Aintree with him if he’s all right, otherwise it will be chasing next year.

“He’s been quite backward, that’s the best he’s jumped today, he’s just a young, improving horse.”

He added: “At home he does all his work with Hermes Allen as they are both a bit one-paced and he has taken a big step forward.

“He probably should have won at Doncaster, he’s improved since and it’s just fantastic.

“I think Hermes Allen will probably have a wind op but he’ll go chasing too, they are two really nice horses to go chasing with.”

A jubilant Harry Cobden
A jubilant Harry Cobden (Tim Goode/PA)

Cobden added: “I thought they’d have gone faster but we only went an even gallop. He travelled very well, jumped great and when we turned in, I thought he had a nice bit left because I knew he’d stay right to the line, he’s obviously very good.

“I could feel them all stacking up behind me and from a jockey’s point of view, it is a long way to be in front turning in before the last, especially on an inexperienced horse. He was pulling up a little in front so he did well to keep going.

“I really fancied him, I thought he had a massive chance because I’ve won it before on Kilbricken Storm and I knew he was better than him.

“First time out he was green, Lorcan (Williams) was a bit unlucky on him at Doncaster but he has been trained for one day.”

Noel Meade trains the runner up
Noel Meade trains the runner up (Donall Farmer/PA)

Meade said of the runner-up: “He was only 150-1 because he virtually pulled up the last day and there were reasons for that.

“He got a fall when they went too quick in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan in November – they went a mad gallop and he ended up on the floor.

“He probably would have won that day had he stood up and then we ran him back within four weeks in the Grade One at Naas and it was too soon – he just bombed out.

“We freshened him up and he is a very, very good horse. I think he’ll be a right good chaser as he’s a good jumper and a good stayer and he got the most brilliant ride today from a young fella (Sam Ewing).”

Nolan was slightly left wondering what might have been with Sandor Clegane.

He said: “It was a big run. We knew he was better than his run in Leopardstown and he had to go to the line better than he did that day.

“He probably didn’t get the run of the race today. He got hampered at the very first and then he was shuffled back to last and pushed out wide. I’d like to look at the race again, but I think maybe he might have been the unlucky one.

“You’re always happy when you get a cheer at some stage. He ran well and he stays well and he remains an exciting prospect.

“I just thought the way he closed to the line after the distance he had to make up and being wide, we were unlucky, but it is what it is.”

Stage Star strikes from the front for Nicholls and Cobden

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Stage Star jumped his rivals into submission in the Turners Novices’ Chase to end Paul Nicholls’ three-year drought at the Cheltenham Festival.

The champion trainer had drawn a blank at the big meeting since Politologue won the Champion Chase in 2020, but it proved well worth the wait as Stage Star backed up his smart form this season to produce an excellent round of jumping and galloping.

An all-the-way winner in handicap company on Festival Trials day and a Grade One winner as a novice hurdler, he repeated the dose when it really mattered, moving back into top company with aplomb.

Sent immediately to the front by Harry Cobden, the 15-2 shot traded blows with Laura Morgan’s Notlongtilmay throughout, with the duo the only ones left in the mix after the last and the Ditcheat inmate pulling out more for a three-and-a-quarter-length success.

Odds-on favourite Mighty Potter travelled well for the majority, as did Willie Mullins’ Appreciate It, but both failed to pick up sufficiently at the business end, with the celebrations belonging to Nicholls, who took his Cheltenham tally to 47, and his jockey Cobden – himself ending a long four-year stay on the Festival cold list.

“It’s been a tough week so far, but it’s a tough place,” said Nicholls.

“We were a little bit unlucky yesterday with a couple, but that was brilliant. Different track, slightly better ground, it was always going to suit us. I said to Harry today ‘be positive, bowl along in front and ride him like the best horse in the race’. He gave him a peach of a ride there.”

Yes! Paul Nicholls celebrates
Yes! Paul Nicholls celebrates (Tim Goode/PA)

He added: “He travelled and jumped well and quickened up like he did the last day. I told Harry go out, go a nice gallop and be positive and dictate it from the front – he’s so good at doing that.

“I think if we went back and rode that race yesterday (Ballymore, with Hermes Allen) again we might have done things differently, but we’re not going to look back, we’re going to look forward.

“This is a young horse who is improving and we’re thrilled. I’m thrilled he’s come back from last year’s disaster and gone really forward. It gives me more hope for Bravemansgame in the Gold Cup tomorrow, who did exactly the same thing last spring.

“I think that is his trip and he’ll be aimed for the Ryanair next year. He probably would get three miles, but he has plenty of boot and he jumps well.”

Reflecting further, Nicholls said: “That was good for Harry today. He needed a bit of a confidence booster before tomorrow because he was bit down last night. That’s a massive plus.

“It’s hard to win here here. We’ve only got 15 or 16 runners here all week and you’ve got to make every one count.

“We’ve had a great time here over the years. It’s hard to get those horses back, but we’re building up again and I think the next few years will be positive.

“It’s not easy taking on the Irish battalions, but there are some very good trainers here and it was nice to see Dan (Skelton) have a winner yesterday, too.

“We haven’t got the numbers some of the Irish trainers have and we’re up against it all the time, but we can only do our best.”

Notlongtillmay (left) ran a huge race
Notlongtillmay (left) ran a huge race (David Davies for The Jockey Club)

Morgan was understandably delighted with her runner and said: “I thought he was going to win. He’s run a screamer, he’s still only a novice, obviously, but he’s just a baby and he was a bit bold at a few which frightened me. I’m absolutely delighted with him.

“This is my dream to be around trainers like Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins, it’s just incredible.”

Gordon Elliott was philosophical after the defeat of the favourite, seen by many as one of the bankers of the week.

He said: “He didn’t have a nice experience here last year, but he’s run better than then at least. It’s always disappointing when you don’t win, but that is the game we are in.

“He never got into a decent rhythm like he did the last day. At Leopardstown he would jump and Davy (Russell) would take him back, but today he was stretching for them. We’ll get him home and see where we are.”

Russell could offer no excuses and said: “It’s very disappointing but I can’t put my finger on anything, he didn’t miss a beat the whole way. The winner is a good horse and the second isn’t bad with a string of ones next to his name. I’ve no real excuses.

“I was worried about him hanging as he was still running, I didn’t lose much ground. I’ve won plenty of races here by drifting right. He just might not have been good enough.”

Iceo strikes Imperial gold for Nicholls

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Iceo provided Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden with big-race success ahead of next week’s Cheltenham Festival with an impressive display in the Betfair Imperial Cup at Sandown.

The champion trainer has not saddled a winner at the showpiece meeting since the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Politologue three years ago, but will return to the Cotswolds with high hopes for the likes Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle ace Hermes Allen and Gold Cup contender Bravemansgame.

The Ditcheat team claimed eight winners in the first nine days of March and Iceo continued the hot streak with victory in the traditional feature the weekend before the Festival.

The French recruit ran with promise in a couple of Grade Two juvenile events last season and finished second on his handicap debut at Sandown in January, his first appearance in 11 months.

The four-year-old was 5-1 for this tougher assignment and while the front-running Knickerbockerglory looked likely to prevail halfway up the home straight, Iceo reeled him in between the final two flights and was ultimately good value for the winning margin of just under four lengths.

Nicholls said: “He ran well here a couple of months ago having been off for a year with a tiny fracture on his cannon bone. We had to give him time and he needed that run. I said one race we will aim for is the Imperial Cup and pray it rains.

“The rain came for him, he stays strongly and it was the perfect ride. Today was always the plan and Chris (Giles, owner) has been backing him all week. If the ground would have been good they might have gone too quick for him. He wants a trip really.

“I thought he would finish fifth or sixth the last day and it looked like he was going to win jumping the last but he just got tired. At the stage of fitness he was there I knew there was huge improvement to come. I knew we had him right today.”

Paul Nicholls was delighted to win the Imperial Cup with Iceo
Paul Nicholls was delighted to win the Imperial Cup with Iceo (Steven Paston/PA)

Iceo is entered in the County Hurdle and the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday, but he appears unlikely to make a quick return.

“Looking at him there I’d say going to Cheltenham is unlikely as Harry said he had a hard race. We are not chasing any bonus,” Nicholls added.

“Chris would love to have a runner at Ayr so if the Scottish Champion Hurdle was testing ground we could run him there.”

Cobden full of hope with ‘best’ Cheltenham team for some time

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Harry Cobden believes he is going into the Cheltenham Festival with the strongest book of rides he has had for several seasons.

The 24-year-old is the stable jockey to 13-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls, for whom he enjoyed his greatest Festival success to date when landing the 2019 RSA Chase aboard Topofthegame – a race now known as the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Cobden’s other Festival triumph came aboard Colin Tizzard’s Kilbricken Storm in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in 2018, with Festival rides since Topofthegame’s victory proving winless.

This season, however, the team at Ditcheat have high hopes for a string of contenders that include Bravemansgame, Tahmuras and Hermes Allen.

Cobden – who was stood down following a fall at Ffos Las on Sunday, but later described as “absolutely fine” by his agent Sam Stronge in a Twitter update – said: “Certainly in the time I’ve been at Ditcheat we would be going to Cheltenham with our best team with the likes of Bravemansgame, Hermes Allen and Tahmuras.

Harry Cobden after winning the King George VI Chase aboard Bravemansgame
Harry Cobden after winning the King George VI Chase aboard Bravemansgame (John Walton/PA)

“It is quite exciting and fingers crossed we have a bit of luck there this year.

“I think for the last few years there have not been too many stand-out teams we have sent to Cheltenham.

“We’ve had good horses like Politologue and Silviniaco Conti, but they were not Denman, Big Buck’s or Kauto Star, and whether we will ever see horses like that again, who knows?”

Despite a winner proving elusive, Cobden still feels the Nicholls runners have posted good performances but ultimately have not been able to get the better of horses trained in the big Irish powerhouse stables.

He said: “The last couple of seasons Paul has had 143 and 176 winners and we go to Cheltenham for four days and we end up having horses run well that put in career bests to finish third or fourth behind some Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott-trained hotpot.

Trainer Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden
Trainer Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden (David Davies/PA)

“It can be frustrating, but I wouldn’t say it has ever got me down as you get off one and put your colours on and go back out for the next race. Racing is a great leveller as for 30 minutes you can be down then in your next ride you could have a winner.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of winners at the Cheltenham Festival with Kilbricken Storm and Topofthegame and they were amazing days. It would be lovely to walk away with just one winner from this year’s meeting.”

Bravesmansgame is Cobden’s hope for the Gold Cup, with the eight-year-old currently the leading British chance and second-favourite behind Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs.

Last seen securing an impressive 14-length King George VI Chase success, the bay will tackle a three-mile-two-furlong trip for the first time in March – but his rider is not concerned about his ability to stay.

“I don’t think the extra quarter of a mile will be a problem,” he said.

Bravemansgame winning the King George VI Chase
Bravemansgame winning the King George VI Chase (John Walton/PA)

“He is a good traveller and I think I’ve learnt to ride him a lot better now. He was very good at Kempton considering how wide he went.

“To my mind the only question would be the track because he has won on a lot of big galloping tracks and he has never really been tested on an undulating course. He is a well-balanced good jumper so I don’t think that will be an issue.

“The Irish horse (Galopin Des Champs) is the one they are going mad about, but I think he has been overlooked.

“When he has come up short before he has always had an excuse, whereas on Boxing Day he had no excuses.

“I thought it was his race to lose and I thought he showed how tough he was from the back of the fourth last to the line. I was at him a long way out. He put his head down and galloped all the way to the line. He jumped great and was very brave.

Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls
Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls (Adam Davy/PA)

“I think the fact he has only had two runs and before going straight there will make a big difference this season as he has been specifically trained for this race.”

Cobden will also ride Hermes Allen, the general 9-4 favourite for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle having won all three of his hurdles starts – latterly landing the Grade One Challow Hurdle by a conclusive margin.

“Hermes Allen is probably our best chance of a winner there this year. The only thing he did well at home before going to Stratford first time out was jump as he never really galloped that fast, but when he gets to the track he is a different animal,” said Cobden.

“I thought he was very impressive at Newbury in the Challow Hurdle. He jumped well and went a very good gallop on soft ground.

“He turned in and absolutely scooted away, he barely came off the bridle. It was probably one of the easiest Grade One winners I will ever ride.

Hermes Allen winning the Challow Novices’ Hurdle
Hermes Allen winning the Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Nigel French/PA)

“You are not going to get an easy lead in a Ballymore. They might go quick in front and I will have to sit in third or fourth and he might run free and run no race at all, whereas he might go to sleep and bolt up.

“He has got to raise his game again, but we haven’t got to the bottom of him so we don’t know how good he is. It will be a good race, but he jumps well, is quite relaxed and laid back. He is everything you want in a good horse.”

Tahmuras was the winner of the Tolworth at Sandown on his last outing and is preparing for another tilt at a Grade One title in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

“Tahmuras was very good in the Tolworth Hurdle and showed he had a great attitude. He missed the last couple of hurdles which he is unlike him as he is usually a very good jumper,” Cobden said.

“The only thing I would be a little bit conscious about is whether he is quick enough to travel all the way round.

Tahmuras and Cobden at Haydock
Tahmuras and Cobden at Haydock (Nigel French/PA)

“In a Supreme on soft ground I would fancy him. If it was a good ground Supreme I think he would be a bit on the back foot.

“The experts say he has got a couple of pounds to find on the top ones, but Facile Vega bombed out on his last start so it has opened the race up a little bit.”

Solo effort one to savour for Nicholls at Kempton

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Solo produced an exhibition round of jumping from the front to provide trainer Paul Nicholls with a yet another victory in the Coral Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

The Ditcheat handler had saddled a dozen previous winners of the Grade Two contest, with his last three – Cyrname (2018), Tamaroc Du Mathan (2021) and Pic D’Orhy (2022) – all carrying the Solo silks of owner Johnny de la Hey.

Solo had undergone wind surgery since finishing second in a novice handicap at Kempton on Boxing Day and it appears to have done the trick judged on this impressive display.

The 11-4 shot was bounced out in front from flag-fall by Harry Cobden and some slick jumping kept the pressure on his chasing rivals.

Datsalrightgino and 15-8 favourite Boothill attempted to close the gap from the home turn, but Solo was not for catching with another bold leap at the final fence sealing his two-length success.

Nicholls said: “We had a few issues with his breathing and had to cauterise his palate. He had three weeks off and I thought he might be two weeks off his best.

“If we can keep his wind right there’s a lot to look forward to. There’s a race at Sandown the Saturday before the Festival and another valuable handicap here the day after.

“Harry is brilliant when he dictates from the front and he was just that today.”

Cobden ‘ban’ for winning ride leads Nicholls to call for new whip rules to be delayed

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Multiple champion trainer Paul Nicholls has called for the introduction of the new whip rules to be delayed until after the major spring festivals.

Nicholls took to social media to condemn the proposed new regulations after it was suggested his stable jockey Harry Cobden would have picked up a 24-day ban for his winning ride on Il Ridoto at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The same was also said of Sean Bowen, currently second in the jockeys’ championship behind Brian Hughes, for his successful ride on Back On The Lash in the Cross Country Chase.

The new rules are due to come into force on February 13. Jockeys are currently riding within a ‘bedding-in’ period where the current regulations apply for sanctions purposes, but riders are being advised if they would have breached the new rules.

Nicholls tweeted: “Two fantastic top rides. How they can get bans is beyond me. Cobden excelled on Il Ridoto. This all needs postponing until after the spring festivals otherwise this is all going to be a disaster for the sport. For once common sense needs to prevail.”

Cobden confirmed on Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast that he had fallen foul of the new rule concerning using the whip over shoulder height.

He said: “I went into the stewards’ room and they froze the images of the replay where they thought my hand was over shoulder height on three of the hits.

“You could clearly see that I was in breach of the rule, my hand was ever so slightly over and I was told that I would get eight days for each hit. Because it was a class one race that it was why it was eight days rather than four, so I would have come out of the race with a 24-day ban.”

Il Ridoto and Harry Cobden (right) on their way to victory on Saturday
Il Ridoto and Harry Cobden (right) on their way to victory on Saturday (David Davies/PA)

He went on: “I’ve always ridden like this, I’ve never been called in for over shoulder height before. Before Saturday I hadn’t ridden for 12 days, so had missed a lot of the bedding-in period.

“It’s difficult, we’re all trying but I think that rule definitely needs to be tweaked.

“We’re happy with the penalty structure, the numbers we are fine with, the only rule we have an issue with, and the one that keeps popping up, is the over shoulder height, so I think we need to change the wording or do something about it.

“I don’t think lessening the penalties will work as jockeys will still get banned. Somehow we need to change the wording of that rule. If it looks forceful then fair enough, but if you are riding a horse like I rode Il Ridoto, nobody sees anything wrong with that and I think it’s unfair to get 24 days for one ride.

“If your arm is straight up then that is not right, but if your hand is a couple of inches above and it doesn’t look out of place, I don’t think it should be a problem.”

The British Horseracing Authority, however, underlined the stewards are not responsible for the length of the bans as that will fall under the remit of the Whip Review Committee that will regularly meet on Tuesdays.

On its Twitter account, the said: “The BHA is aware of information being posted on social media speculating about potential ‘suspensions’ under the new whip rules. Please note this information is not accurate as the Whip Review Committee have not yet met this week to consider the rides in the period 16 – 29 Jan.

“Also, a reminder that no suspensions are being imposed at present. The purpose of the bedding-in period is to provide riders with information as to where adaptations to riding style might be needed ahead of full implementation of the rules on 13 Feb.”

A previously scheduled meeting will take place in the coming days between the BHA, Professional Jockeys Association and trainers and jockeys as part of the ongoing discussion surrounding the new rules, but not on the back of the fallout of last weekend’s racing.