Harry Cobden is relishing the prospect of riding Jonbon in Saturday’s BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
The jockey doesn’t officially start his role as <a href="https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/harry-cobden-to-ride-as-retained-jockey-for-jp-mcmanus-from-next-season/229735">JP McManus’ retained rider until May but will partner the Nicky Henderson-trained charge as he faces round three with Il Etait Temps.
Stable jockey Nico de Boinville, Jonbon’s regular partner, will head to Haydock on the same afternoon. He must pass a concussion test before resuming riding but has been put down to partner Old Park Star in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle.
He is currently second favourite for the Cheltenham Festival opener after an impressive win at Prestbury Park in December.
Cobden said: “I’m looking forward to it as he is a high class horse in his own right. I see Nico is going to Haydock so I’m delighted to get the opportunity to ride him.
"It was brilliant sitting on him at Nicky’s the other day. It was very straightforward as he knows more about jumping than I do! It is a decent race and he has got to reverse the form with Il Etait Temps, but I’m delighted to ride him.
“It is lovely to get the ride on him so soon after the announcement the other day and it is a privilege to ride him.”
Explaining the move, Henderson added: "Harry is going to be riding them all next season so from this Saturday’s point of view it seemed one way of doing it as I’m very keen to run Old Park Star at Haydock Park and Harry was standing by if Nico couldn’t ride this weekend.
“Harry has been in to have a sit on him as we knew Nico had to pass his concussion exam so we had to have all paths crossed. He was great, but the horse has done it so many times over the years. AP was down there and it was exactly the same as he is every single time.
“We don’t school him that much, but you school him four or five days before a run because he flicks the switch that says I’m going to be running on Saturday. The horse is sensible enough to do it every time and that puts him on red alert.”
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