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Appointed as retained jockey for JP McManus from next May:
Had heard this rumour a couple of times in the past 2 weeks. Brilliant news as I’m a big fan of both Cobden and JP.
Walsh is almost 40 so is probably retiring at the end of the season. He’s been way below par this past few months. I’d definitely be getting Cobden on the likes of Jagwar and Iroko before May though. Jonjo Jr is a disaster of a jockey.
When it rains it pours for Nicholls. He’s lost 2 star horses in the summer to Hendo and Skelton. Caldwell Potter got a season ending injury, Kalif Du Berlais lost it’s life at the weekend and now this.
Cobden couldn’t turn the job down but maybe the decision was made easier for him by the continued decline of Nicholls? The Ditcheat handler has had some bad luck this season but he isn’t competitive at Cheltenham anymore and he is a long way away from his glory days.
Mark Walsh had a good run at it but it is no surprise McManus decided he needed to invest in the future. I am not convinced Walsh has been riding particularly well this season either. I don’t believe he can have any complaints.
I am a little bit surprised the retainer only starts in May, presumably after Punchestown. Why not start now? As said, O’Neill is a liability.
It also suggests McManus has lost faith in De Boinville. Not that he ever had much – remember Aidan Coleman used to ride a lot of his UK based horses, including Jonbon in his novice season. De Boinville only took over after Coleman picked up an injury which eventually forced his retirement.
Given that the RP article says Cobden has been appointed to ride all the McManus horses, presumably that includes The New Lion. I wonder what the Skeltons think about that?
I also wonder how McManus appointing an English stable jockey will be received in Ireland?
I can only guess Nicholls does have some retainer on Cobden unlike what he said as It makes no sense not to get Cobden on a lot of the UK horses immediately.
As you say, De Boinville is well past it now also. He should’ve packed it in after that last injury but the money talks.
I fancy Jango Baie for the Gold Cup but don’t have much confidence with him on board.I think this is the final nail in the coffin now for Nicholls. He’s been losing owners left right and centre and that’ll only get worse now with no Cobden as stable jockey.
Sure Ballydoyle has an english stable jockey and there’s not much complaining about that. Cobden’s a class jockey and is who I’d have picked if in the same position as JP.
He’ll sure be under a lot of pressure in the first few months though, especially in Ireland lol.Remain to be convinced that this is a good move although I guess Nicholls not having a consistent star name the last few years may have also been a factor in Harry’s decision to jump.
I wonder whether he will still be able to ride No Drama This End though as it would be ironic if that horse becomes Nicholls next superstar after Cobden stops being stable jockey. Can Harry work a similar kind of arrangement that Ruby had with Nicholls and Mullins to get the best of both worlds? Of course JP could always buy the horse instead
Assume this arrangement also includes him getting the ride on The New Lion next season to…..bummer for the other Harry……..Skelton that is.
With Jonbon (could Harry be on him Saturday if Nico doesn’t pass his concussion test this week?) at the tail end of his career, Impose Toi would potentially be the best horse JP has over here going forward so it will be interesting to see how he gets on with some of the better JP’s horses that reside in Ireland, like (in particular) the iffy jumping Majborough, Fact To File and Inothewayurthinkin to name but a few.
Not like JP to accept 2nd best but good luck to both , find it strange Walsh is being knocked , go back to the Good Cup for the perfect high pressure ride
He didn’t accept 2nd best HDLG. McCoy would’ve had a big say in this and knows who the best man for the job was.
It does suggest McCoy rates Cobden over Bowen. Unless Bowen was offered the job and turned it down, which is extremely unlikely.
“Sure Ballydoyle has an english stable jockey and there’s not much complaining about that.”
I think that is not quite the same. Flat racing is a much more international business. O’Brien’s stable stars race outside of Ireland just as often as in it. With the best Irish jumps horses, they may only have one race outside of Ireland all season. Cobden will be going into a completely new environment and I doubt everyone in the Irish weighing room will be happy.
Bowen is better , that’s why he’s champion and retaining the title , you might think he’s a better horseman but fact is Bowens the Champion , as for McCoy having a say , McCoy was a fabulous jockey doesn’t mean he knows everything , watch him on the telly , wooden at best
”Unless Bowen was offered the job and turned it down, which is extremely unlikely.”
I don’t think anyone turns this opportunity down. Barry Geraghty even walked away from Sprinter Sacre and co for this job. McManus obviously pays extremely well.
”Cobden will be going into a completely new environment and I doubt everyone in the Irish weighing room will be happy.”
I do think he’ll be under quite a bit of pressure in Ireland initially so needs to get off to a good start. Once he bangs in a couple of big wins it’ll all be forgotten about.
Ruby, Geraghty and McCoy all held the positions at the three most powerful stables in England for years. I’m sure Richard Johnson thought a lot of that lol.
Lol GM is that your argument , Hughes was a northern jockey , Bowen has won the championship beating Cobden day in and out , have another go
Not like JP to accept 2nd best
Townend was never going to turn his back on the Mullins string in favour for a team of handicappers was he
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Good luck to Cobden. Not sure if i see it as a perfect fit, but he’s got some great horses to look forward to. Mullins rates him which will be a big help.
Ripple effect? Be telling if Nicholls went for Bowen. Would he want it? Is the ammo any better, than what he has now riding for likes off murphy, curtis, his dad etc.
Got to be another huge blow for Nicholls. Bring back bryony?
Riding Hendersons mcmanus horses? Not sure Nicky was ever keen on Coleman and no doubt de boinville was much better on jonbon.
Learning the irish tracks will surely be a huge challenge. He’ll need to be given time.
I like any sort of jockey josstling so its good crack for me!
Bowen has been in the Nicholls yard however I don’t think he’ll go back , he,d lose the Elliott rides , and as I’ve said previously Kennedy is one bad fall away from retirement , Kennedy has been the only jockey anywhere near Bowen this season
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