Cobden has earned the Nicholls seal of approval
IT was a bold call from Paul Nicholls when he appointed 20-year-old Harry Cobden as his number one rider in May, but that decision has been repeatedly endorsed this season.
Cobden celebrated his most notable success when partnering Clan Des Obeaux to victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, giving Nicholls an unprecedented 10th victory in the race.
Clan Des Obeaux is now on course for next month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, a race Nicholls has captured on four occasions, but Cobden has never yet taken part in the iconic headliner.
Cobden’s King George success would not have happened had he made the wrong call when weighing up the respective chances of Clan Des Obeaux and Politologue in the race.
“It was a big decision as Politologue was 6-1 and Clan Des Obeaux 16-1,” said Cobden. “But it was a massive run from Clan Des Obeaux at Haydock (third behind Bristol De Mai).
Tough
“Straight after that Haydock race Politologue won at Ascot and it nearly swayed me. I had a few people tell me to ride the grey horse (Politologue) but I stuck to my guns.
“I would have been fairly sick if I had listened to them!”
He faces another tough call next Saturday when Nicholls runs Politologue and Cyrname in the Betfair Ascot Chase.
Cobden a farmer’s son, from Lydford-onFosse in Somerset, was inspired to become a jockey when watching TV racing as a youngster while sitting on lap of his grandfather, Frank Habberfield,
And there was an inevitability that he would seek his fortune in the saddle with Nicholls.
His parents, William and Sarah, live 10 minutes from the Nicholls stables at Ditcheat, and he went to school with Paul’s daughter Megan.
“I was run of the mill at school – more interested in playing rugby than sitting in a maths exam,” he said. “I got by, but really my focus was on horses and farming.
“I rode against Megan in pony races and when I was 13, Paul invited me to ride out for him.
“I took him up on it and kept going back. It has all progressed from there. Paul gave me my first winner, Ulck
Du Lin, at Wincanton when I was 16.” Cobden followed his predecessors at the Nicholls stable by becoming the champion conditional rider in the 2016-2017 season.
Both Sean Bowen and Joe Tizzard took the title while working for Nicholls.
Reflecting on his achievements, Cobden said: “Getting on these horses is massive. It’s something I’ve dreamed of.
“I grew up watching these great horses of Paul’s – Master Minded, Denman, Kauto Star and Big Buck’s – winning on TV with Ruby Walsh riding them.
“I never thought I would be riding them, I thought I would be mucking them out!”
But life has not been a whirlwind of victory salutes for the laid-back Cobden, who enjoys clay pigeon shooting and wheeling and dealing in the cattle he has bought with his rewards on the racecourse.
In June, he broke his neck, sidelining him for three months.
Nicholls believes under the circumstances it is remarkable that he has ridden 73 winners this season. “It’s incredible how well he’s done, despite missing three months,” he said. “He’s maturing all the time and copes with pressure.
“If he’s not here, he’s out shooting or running his farm. It helps if you have other things in your life to focus on.”
Nicholls has a ruthless reputation for using only the very best riders, but he maintains Cobden has the necessary attributes in the saddle and out of it.
“He’s very laid back, sometimes annoyingly so,” he explained. “Horses jump well for him, he’s tactically aware and he’s improving all the time.
“The ride he gave Clan in the King George was first class – it says it all. We all make mistakes, but he does not make many and he does not make them twice.
“Also, he’s a team player and everybody is very fond of him.
Carrot
“Funnily enough, I rode winners for his grandfather Toby Cobden.
“So I always had half an eye on Harry, like I did with Joe (Tizzard) before he came to ride for me.”
Nicholls admits that he was forced to act quickly to secure Cobden’s services as Tizzard’s father Colin was dangling a big carrot in the hope of enticing Harry to become his stable jockey.
“I knew a time would come when everybody would try and pinch him,” said Nicholls. “It’s not like a footballer – we could not let him go to Colin’s on a two-year transfer and expect him back, that just does not happen.”
As for next month’s Gold Cup, Cobden explained: “Native River has a big chance and is already a Gold Cup winner – but then we beat him at Kempton.
“I think Presenting Percy is the one we all have to beat as he was very impressive in last year’s RSA at Cheltenham. I rode in that race, on Elegant Escape (third), and he came past me cantering.
“But I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Clan Des Obeaux is the one.”
Should Cobden succeed, Nicholls’ bold decision will again be justified.