Harry Cobden

Harry Cobden (born 5 November 1998) is a British jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. He was British Champion Conditional Jockey in 2015/16 and went on to ride as first jockey to trainer Paul Nicholls. By the end of the 2023/24 season he had won 24 Grade 1 races. He was British jump racing Champion Jockey in 2023/24.

Background

Cobden was born on 5 November 1998, the youngest of the two sons of Somerset farmers Sarah and Will Cobden, who also ran an abattoir. He learnt to ride as a small child and later took part in pony racing. In school holidays he worked in the yard of trainer Ron Hodges.

Cobden won the men's novice point-to-point title in the 2014/15 season and won his first race under rules on 33/1 outsider El Mondo in a hunter chase at Leicester on 6 March 2015. He achieved his first Grade success in November 2015, when Old Guard won the Grade 3 Greatwood Hurdle for Nicholls. Irving, trained by Nicholls, provided him with his first Grade 1 victory when he won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle in November 2016. In 2018/19, his first full season riding as stable jockey for Nicholls, he achieved four Grade 1 victories for the trainer, including the King George VI Chase on Clan des Obeaux.

In January 2026 Cobden was named as J. P. McManus's retained jockey in Britain and Ireland, with the role beginning in May 2026.

Life outside racing

Cobden lives on the family farm in Somerset, where he takes an active part in raising cattle. He also runs a shooting business on 13 acres of farmland.

Cheltenham Festival winners (7) Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - (2) Kilbricken Storm (2018), Stay Away Fay (2023) Broadway Novices' Chase - (2) Topofthegame (2019), Kitzbuhel (2026) Golden Miller Novices' Chase - (2) Stage Star (2023), Caldwell Potter (2025) Pertemps Final - (1) Monmiral (2024)

Major wins Great Britain Aintree Bowl - (2) Clan des Obeaux (2021, 2022) Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle - (1) Monmiral (2021) Ascot Chase - (3) Cyrname (2019), Pic D'Orhy (2024, 2025) Celebration Chase - (1) Greaneteen (2022) Challow Novices' Hurdle - (5) Bravemansgame (2020), Stage Star (2021), Hermes Allen (2022), Captain Teague (2023), No Drama This End (2025) Fighting Fifth Hurdle - (1) Irving (2016) Henry VIII Novices' Chase - (1) Dynamite Dollars (2018) Kauto Star Novices' Chase - (1) Bravemansgame (2021) King George VI Chase - (2) Clan des Obeaux (2018), Bravemansgame (2022) Maghull Novices' Chase - (2) Diego Du Charmil (2018), Kalif Du Berlais (2025) Melling Chase - (1) Pic D'Orhy (2023) Mildmay Novices' Chase - (1) Caldwell Potter (2025) Sefton Novices' Hurdle - (1) Gelino Bello (2022) Tingle Creek Chase - (1) Politologue (2017) Tolworth Novices' Hurdle - (1) Tahmuras (2022)

Ireland Barberstown Castle Novice Chase - (1) Salvator Mundi (2026)