Horse racing news: Who will replace Harry Cobden as Paul Nicholls’ retained rider?

Former champion jockey Harry Cobden will become JP McManus’ number one jockey in Britain and Ireland from May.

Sports News Blitz’s racing expert, Kieran McHugh, explores the question on many people’s minds - who will replace him at Ditcheat?

Cobden’s departure is a massive loss to the Nicholls stable, with the pair having enjoyed much success over the last eight years.

So, with big boots to fill, who is in the frame to join forces with the 14-time champion trainer? 

The returnees 

Sean Bowen 

The first name that immediately comes to mind is the current champion jockey, Sean Bowen. 

Bowen duelled with Cobden for the 2023/24 champion jump jockey title, with the latter prevailing. 

Bowen has a history at Ditcheat, starting his career as an apprentice under Nicholls’ guidance. 

He was crowned champion conditional jockey in 2015, at the age of 17, making him the youngest ever winner of the title. 

He is probably the most in-demand rider in Britain, and he would certainly be a coup for Nicholls. 

However, Bowen has been flying with his partnership with Olly Murphy- so would he change a winning formula? 

Sam Twiston-Davies

The man who Cobden replaced as Nicholls’ number one. Sam Twiston-Davies was a stable jockey at Ditcheat for four years before leaving to go freelance. 

The move came as quite a shock at the time, but that relationship has not been completely severed, with the pair winning the King George VI Chase with Clan Des Obeaux in 2019. 

Twiston-Davies has been riding more for his father, Nigel, and brother, Willie, in recent years, but given his success with Nicholls’, who is to say there is no unfinished business there. 

Bryony Frost

Bryony Frost has a long-standing relationship with Paul Nicholls’ yard, who can forget her partnership with Frodon.

Frost was the first female jockey to win the conditional jump jockey’s title in the 2018-19 season and is currently retained jockey in France for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. 

Nicholls has always been supportive of Frost, citing that there would always be opportunities at Ditcheat for her, following her France move. 

The pair were meant to reunite when Frost was booked to ride Stay Away Fay in the Grand National last year. However, her commitments in France ruled her out of the ride. 

With their long-standing partnership, could a move back to the UK be on the cards?

READ MORE: Horse racing news: Harry Cobden announced as retained rider for leading owner JP McManus

The new kids on the block 

Freddie Gingell

Freddie Gingell - perhaps the favourite for the vacant position at Ditcheat. A conditional no more, the reigning conditional jockey’s champion has risen through the ranks at Nicholls’ yard.

Gingell is already a Grade One winning jockey, landing the 2024 edition of the Clarence House, with Elixir Du Nuit, at the age of 17.

Numerous big race victories have followed since, and having served as apprentice under the outgoing Cobden, he’s the likely candidate to land the job. 

Lorcan Williams 

Aside from Gingell, Lorcan Williams is the only professional jockey to have taken more than ten rides for Paul Nicholls this season. 

Williams has ridden more prominently for Jeremy Scott, with the pair combining to win last year’s Champion Hurdle with Golden Ace. 

He is still connected with ‘Team Ditcheat,’ including riding out for them occasionally. 

Having landed one of the major honours in National Hunt racing, could he find himself in one of the biggest jobs around? 

The outsiders 

Gavin Sheehan 

Gavin Sheehan has been enjoying a good time of it lately, especially partnering with Jamie Snowden. 

As such, his name has been bandied around as Cobden’s successor.

However, such success begs the question of whether he would depart the Snowden project and its potential stars, such as Wendigo. 

Perhaps the major clue to this part of the puzzle came five years ago.

After his ride on Saint Calvados in the King George VI Chase, Nicholls proclaimed the ride as "strange" and confirmed that he would look to put one of his own ‘in-house’ jockeys aboard. 

Sheehan was the retained rider for the Brooks - the owners of Saint Calvados - but after that race would not be first choice for their horses with Paul Nicholls. 

Now that was five years ago, and much can change and has done so. 

However, that does not really give off the vibes of a successful partnership. Nor would you swing Sheehan into leaving his position at Snowden’s yard. 

James Bowen

James Bowen, brother of Sean is currently number two at Nicky Henderson’s yard, scoring this weekend in the Lanzerote Hurdle on Iberico Lord. 

He is another who has been enjoying a fine time of it lately, and with Nico de Boinville seemingly having no plans about retirement just yet, could he look elsewhere?

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All or none of the above?

Who is to say that Paul Nicholls appoints a new number one jockey? 

It has not been an uncommon occurrence recently for trainers to use the best available jockey around. Could Nicholls follow suit? 

This would give him some flexibility, and invariably, there are enough top jockeys around vying for a ride in the big races. 

Conversely, who is to say Harry Cobden does not combine his roles? 

If Cobden is without a ride for McManus at any point, surely it would be wise of Nicholls to approach him? If he is at the same meeting, why not? 

It would give more opportunities to the likes of Gingell, whilst preserving Cobden’s services. 

The future 

Regardless of what happens, next season is set to be interesting. 

Cobden is undoubtedly one of the best jockeys around, and his joining forces with probably the most prominent owner in National Hunt history is a sight to behold.

As for Paul Nicholls and Ditcheat, losing him is a blow. But that now gives way to a new era and maybe a new star of the weighing room.

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