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Equinties - rumours true
BGP Capital
January 13, 2026
Gm, Equinauts
Well, for weeks the whispers about Cobden becoming JP McManus’ retained rider were rife and finally, yesterday it was confirmed.
He’ll start in May. Woof.
Let’s dive in.
HEADLINE ROUND UP
RUMOURS TRUE
27-year-old former British champion jockey, Harry Cobden, who has been Paul Nicholls' stable jockey for a decade, will step into one of the most prestigious positions in the sport—previously held by legends like Tony McCoy and Barry Geraghty—taking over from Mark Walsh.
Cobden described the appointment as a "massive opportunity" and expressed feeling "privileged" to ride the famous green and gold silks on McManus's powerhouse string of horses.
Legendary jockey John Francome praised Cobden's abilities in the saddle, calling him the "obvious choice" and describing him as "the best there has been for a long time." The Cheltenham legend and multiple champion jockey purred over Cobden's exceptional skill and temperament, suggesting the move is a shrewd one for McManus.
This is a huge career move for Cobden who, since joining Nicholls’ yard in 2015, has landed 6 Cheltenham Festival pots and a champion jockey title. With a small army of elite horses at his disposal, he is now in a position more powerful than ever to take his career to the next level. Had Cobden been riding for JP last year, he might have doubled his Festival win tally in one week!
He will have to pick wisely though, which won’t be easy, for JP tends not to keep bad horses! If they do appear bad, that is normally just what JP wants you to see.
CONSTITUTION HILL
Hendo has confirmed a flat run is the warm order of the day for his, no, the worlds superstar horse, CONSTITUTION HILL.
Some of you might be bored of all this noise about him, but let’s face facts, at one point there was a common view CONSITUTION HILL was the greatest racehorse the world had ever seen, so you’ll forgive us for talking about him!
The BHA have heard Hendo’s cries to put on a race for him and they have delivered.
They absolutely would not have done this for any other horse or trainer but these are unique and very unusual circumstances and given there is a push to make racing great again, we can see why they have put this on for him on their new ‘Friday Night Live’ card which will no doubt be in front of a rowdy crowd of pissed up teens. A bit like Cheltenham tbf.
As ever, racing X produced opinion:
Us? We love it and will be there for it, but what does it mean for the horses future?
Well, it’s the right move for Hendo to assess whether CONSTITUTION HILL can make a flat horse. Hendo has never hidden his appreciation for his speed and has always joked that he could win the Gold Cup with him… the Royal Ascot Gold up that is! So he has to start somewhere. For those laughing at Hendo, thinking this is a prep for March, it isn’t… if anything it’s a prep for RA with the Champion Hurdle entry and placeholder should world famous jumping coach Yogi Breisner not be able to get him jumping like a stag in time.
