In praise of Harry Cobden

For the past two years anybody who has asked Harry Cobden, Paul Nicholls’s stable jockey, which horse in the yard he was most looking forward to partnering, the answer has always been the same: Bravemansgame. But when declarations were made for the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock last weekend, the rider’s name attached to King George winner Bravemansgame was that of Daryl Jacob. Jacob was thus in line for the jockey’s share of the £112,000 prize. Cobden, said Nicholls, would be riding the yard’s entrants at Ascot instead. Although it was rapidly announced that Cobden was happy about the arrangement, a few eyebrows were raised and tails swished, particularly because Nicholls had been openly critical of one of his stable jockey’s rides at Cheltenham the previous weekend, albeit before Cobden’s last fence recovery in a victory on Stage Star showcased his remarkable talents.

Paul, of course, has never been one to hide his feelings, but he is a man who moves on immediately and if Cobden was even a tiny bit miffed over his Saturday posting it never transmitted itself to the horses he rode, all four of them winners.