Harry Cobden has shared his thoughts about Cheltenham this weekend and the Coral Gold Cup in Paddy Power Media’s Harry Cobden’s Jumps Season Preview Podcast.
Their brand ambassador is settling into his new new role as JP McManus' retained rider and has some plum rides to look forward to in the Green and Gold.
Is Meetmebythesea going to be your ride in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, Harry?
I very much hope so – he’s obviously a young horse, he won very well last time out at the Festival. He definitely has to step up again, but the form’s worked out well and Ben Pauling’s very happy with him so fingers crossed he lines up there on Saturday because I think he’s got a great chance.
You’ve only ridden him once which looked a big ask in a Grade 2 at a big price, too much, too soon?
He ran over two miles as well which probably wasn’t his gig at the time.
Jonbon is favourite for the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on Friday?
I’ve actually been and schooled him, he jumped brilliantly the other morning. For a horse that’s 10 now, getting on in age, he still feels like a four-year-old. I’m really looking forward to riding him on Friday.
He’s never been out of the top two – it looks a lovely starting point, we just hope the ground is safe enough for him to run on Friday because that looks a lovely race for him to run in.
Harry Lowes is towards the top of the Greatwood Hurdle betting on the Sunday – trained by Dan Skelton, will he be your ride?
Well I hope so, but obviously we’ll leave that to Dan and the boss – Harry Lowes looks like he’s running in the Greatwood Hurdle, doesn’t he? But I was actually going through his form again tonight, but he will have to improve.
The Coral Gold Cup – Jagwar and Iroko two possible mounts?
Well I don’t know what the plan is for those two horses – they’re obviously in there, I think they’re both in the Betfair Chase as well so I’m not sure where they’re going to start. They might split them up, they might run the two in the same race, I’m not sure.
I think Iroko is probably a bit better on soft ground, isn’t he? But he’s been a fantastic horse and his run in the National last year was pretty incredible.
Whereas Jagwar, he’s obviously very talented and I’ve ridden him out this season – he gives you a lovely feel, but I’ve never ridden him in a race, he just seems to miss a few fences on the way around, doesn’t he, so I’m not saying his jumping is a question mark, but he just does miss the odd one on the way around.
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