Harry Cobden to Get His First of the JP McManus rides aboard Jonbon on Saturday

It has been announced that JP McManus newly retained rider for next season Harry Cobden will take the ride on Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon this Saturday at Ascot in the Clarence House Chase. Cobden, who recently accepted the job ready for next season, will have his first proper taste of some of McManus’ best horses this weekend, but will have some tough competition surrounding him.

Nicky Henderson’s star hasn’t been so lucky as of late, losing out to Dan Skelton's Leau Du Sud in the Schloer Chase, and Willie Mullins’ Il Etait Temps in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, now looking to compete in a very competitive Clarence House Chase to return to winning ways.

With Henderson’s usual jockey Nico De Boinville heading to Haydock Park to ride supreme candidate Old Park Star, it was likely that James Bowen would take the mount on Jonbon as Henderson’s backup jockey, however it is Harry Cobden who will ride, making the race that much more interesting.

Having competition such as rival Il Etait Temps, Thistle Ask, and JPR One, Cobden is set with a very difficult task in his first of many rides for legendary owner JP McManus, and despite not starting his job fully until May, this will be be the first big test for him.

In the grand scheme of things, Jonbon isn’t what he used to be, and doesn’t have that attraction that he used to have. Although he has yet to finish out of the top two in his career, it seems he has found his kryptonite in Mullins’ Il Etait Temps, and will face a tough task trying to get one over him on Saturday. The perks of having Cobden on board could be very interesting though to say the least. Perhaps if he is given a more positive ride, and tactics are changed, Cobden may find enough magic to produce what will have to be a career best effort, however the task looks stiff, and it will be a tough job all around.

For Cobden this is simply the start of what will become the standard procedure for years to come. Riding elite, graded horses on a regular basis is what every JP retained rider experiences, and for Cobden, Jonbon is just a sort of taster session for what is soon to come. A tough task, and a big task is ahead on Saturday, but if there is ever a time to make an impression, it is this weekend.