"It didn't take long to think about" - Harry Cobden on his new job in the green and gold
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Thu 15 Jan 2026
In his latest podcast, Paddy Power’s brand ambassador Harry Cobden discusses his recent appointment as leading owner JP McManus’s retained rider in Britain and Ireland at the end of the season, as well as his ride in the famous green and gold silks on Jonbon in Saturday’s Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
On this week’s Paddy Power Media’s ‘Harry Cobden and the Weekly Podcast”, the top pilot joins genial host Patrick Kennelly (PK) to discuss the above topics, in a week when his new appointment was arguably the story of the week, as well as his other weekend rides.
View the show in full on Paddy Power’s Racing YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/ZTTf2uhvFRk
Bit of breaking news, Harry? How does it make you feel?
It's all been a bit wild the last few days - obviously, unbelievable opportunity. They've got lots of horses and, for me, the most important thing is the quality and they've got some tremendous horses there going forward.
So yes it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and something that nobody could turn down.
You’ve ridden in those silks before?
Yes I wouldn't have had lots of success, maybe a handful of winners, but I finished a half-length second on Modus in a Greatwood Hurdle for him. So no I've ridden a few nice horses for him, but hopefully that's just the beginning.
How did it come about? How does this work in the background of… I know you have an agent who's very busy, but is it a case of your approach, their approach? How does this work?
They just got in contact and approached me and offered the position and obviously it's a huge role, isn't it? So I didn't take too long to think about it.
What about the nuts and bolts of the job, Harry? A lot of people are kind of thinking about UK and Ireland, right? So I think about AP seemed to be based in the UK, came over to Ireland for the big Festivals. I think about Barry Geraghty, who kind of did a bit more of both. Do you know at this stage what the role kind of looks like?
No, not really at all. I just know that it starts next season so in May and it's something that I'm really looking forward to, but I don't really know the nuts and bolts, if you like, how often I've got to go to Ireland, how often I've got to stay in England, where I'm going or what I'm doing.
So I’'ll just sit and wait to be told where to go and yes I’m slightly in the unknown.
Right speaking of JP's big-name horses, you don't have to wait long. You're going to be riding Jonbon this weekend - not a bad ride to pick up?
No, a brilliant ride to be picking up. Obviously the horse needs no introduction, he's been brilliant in the last few years and I’m very much looking forward to riding him on Saturdays. It's obviously a small field, but a pretty competitive and compact race and Il Etait Temps looks the obvious one to beat. So yes I'm looking forward to riding them.
I believe you went down to school him earlier this week. Did you find out anything different, new, interesting that maybe you would have thought oh is that what he's like?
No, he's a gentleman really. He's very, very easy going - I jumped 10 fences on him, he was pretty foot perfect and just a class horse that was very easy to ride really.
Obviously you've got Willie Mullins to beat with Il Etait Temps. Have you even thought about tactics yet because it is going to be tactical?
It'll be tactical – well Townend will obviously follow, won't he? And Harry Skelton will go flat out so I'd imagine we'd be somewhere in the middle.
We're calling it your first ride for the boss, is that fair enough?
Yes, first proper ride.
It's kind of impossible to overstate what Paul Nicholls has done for you, is that fair to say?
Oh unbelievable. You know I've really only probably had one job in racing and that's been at Ditcheat and I've been there for 10 years.
So I'm not saying it was a difficult conversation, but it was one of those where you don't really want to be doing it, just because Paul and his team, his owners, have been so good to me over the past few years and I've had lots of success, I think 20-odd Grade 1 winners and a few weeks’ ago I surpassed Ruby's record for the most winners ridden for him.
So it's been an incredible journey, but I feel that I'm not walking away - I'm still going to ride out for Paul, I'm still going to go in there and if I'm available, I want to put my name in the hat for those good rides and if he wants to use me, that's great, but it was a big call to make.
But hopefully we can still have lots of winners between now and the end of the season and plenty more after that.
Did Paul say ‘by the way Harry, you know Frank Berry, when you're talking to him, there's a few empty boxes here, more than happy to take a few of JP’s if he wants anything like that’?
Yes he did say that – he’s not half asleep, he's still hungry as ever so yes he definitely did mention that so look it'd be nice if they sent Paul a horse or two, but it's obviously up to JP and his team.
Speaking of Paul, such a tough blow last weekend – Kalif Du Berlais. Really, really sad - I imagine that was a right blow?
Oh, huge blow for not just me, the whole team, Paul, his owners, and the staff that put so much work into the horse every day.
it was absolutely gutting, he was flying around and felt in the form of his life and one tiny little mistake like that and unfortunately, he got fatally injured and yes it was a massive blow for everyone involved.
Even Monday morning, I rode out for Paul on Monday morning, you go in there and the one thing you don't want to see is an empty box and everyone was slightly down about the situation, which is obviously expected when you lose a horse like that that everyone loves so much.
Your other Saturday rides – Welcom To Cartries (1pm Ascot), who had a nice win last time out?
Yes he won well at Sandown the other day. He was a non-runner last weekend due to the ground, it was slightly too quick for him, so we decided to pull him out.
This race looks a nice race for him. He's won round Ascot before over hurdles so hopefully the track won't be an issue and he seems in very good form at home so fingers crossed he'll run well.
And another one to mention is Winston Junior (12.25pm Ascot) who has just had a couple of spins so far?
Yes nice horse, I rode him at Cheltenham last time out. He was quite keen so I'd imagine we'd just try and get him to settle and ride him to come home, but he was very, very keen the last day so we just need to get him to drop his head early in the race.
What's your best chance of winning this weekend?
Let's go for Welcom To Cartries.
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