In the world of horse racing, few silks are as iconic as the green and gold of JP McManus. Lighting up the Cheltenham Festival for more than four decades, the instantly recognisable colours have been carried to victory in the sport’s biggest events, including three Aintree Grand Nationals, two Cheltenham Gold Cups, and a record-setting nine Champion Hurdles.
Given his impressive ability to identify a racing star, the job of retained rider to JP McManus is among the most coveted in the sport. The position brings pressure, but also a stream of realistic contenders in the season’s headline events. AP McCoy and Barry Geraghty are among those to have fulfilled the number one role in the past, illustrating the calibre of rider it takes to carry the famous colours. Monday brought confirmation that Harry Cobden will be the man in green and gold from the end of the 2025/26 season.
Walsh Makes Way for Younger Man
Following the retirement of Barry Geraghty in 2020, Mark Walsh served as the JP McManus number one in Ireland and rode most of the owners’ leading fancies in the biggest British events. Walsh carried the silks with distinction during his time in the hot seat, with highlights including 11 Cheltenham Festival wins, headlined by Inothewayurthinkin’s brilliant victory in the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
“I’m dancing inside”
The most calm and collected man in all of Cheltenham, is the Gold Cup champion 🏆#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @aliceplunkett pic.twitter.com/PgsGsYLLxc
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 14, 2025
Given that record, Walsh can count himself unfortunate to lose his position. Still riding well, the only obvious factor against the rider of 42 Grade 1 winners is his age. With Walsh rapidly closing in on his 40th birthday, McManus has opted to snap up a 27-year-old at the peak of his powers.
Cobden the Obvious Man for the Job
When scanning the current crop of riders, it is easy to see why McManus was drawn to Cobden. The number one rider at the yard of 14-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls, Cobden had his first rides in the 2014/15 season. By the end of the 2016/17 campaign, a 63-winner haul had taken him to the Champion Conditional Jockey title.
Appointed to the number one position at Ditcheat in 2018, he celebrated his first season in the role by bursting through the 100-winner barrier for the first time. Posting 100+ winners in five of seven seasons since, his career best tally of 164 saw him crowned Champion Jockey at the end of the 2023/24 season.
🏆 Champion Jump Jockey 23/24 🏆
Congratulations, Harry Cobden! 👏 pic.twitter.com/qwHsVeseLH
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 26, 2024
Earning the nickname “Hollywood Harry” through the prominent role he played in the Champions: Full Gallop documentary series, Cobden has regularly shone on racing’s biggest stages. During his time at Ditcheat, he has ridden 28 Grade 1 winners, including two King George VI Chases, and picked up six victories at the Cheltenham Festival. Silky smooth in the saddle and seemingly unflappable under pressure, he is the standout candidate for the job.
An Opportunity Too Good to Miss
Understandably excited about this new opportunity, Cobden was also quick to recognise the role Nicholls had played in his ascent to the top. Referring to his current employer and the Ditcheat team, Cobden stated:
“Without them, an opportunity like this wouldn’t have come along because nobody would know who I am. I’d just like to say a massive thank you to Paul and all of his team because I’ve had the most fantastic ten years there. Fingers crossed, I can still ride plenty of winners for them.”
Nicholls, meanwhile, had nothing but positive words for Cobden when reflecting on the news:
“This was too good an opportunity for him to turn down, and I wish him the very best of luck with JP. He’s a top-class rider, and he’s earned it.”
While Cobden is still expected to ride for Nicholls when available, his new role will inevitably hand opportunities to others. As one of the most exciting new talents in the sport, Freddie Gingell may be first in line, backed up by youngsters Freddie Keighley and Jay Tidball, and the more experienced Lorcan Williams. Nicholls also hinted that he may call upon the services of former number one Sam Twiston-Davies for the bigger races.
An Enviable Array of Talent
Cobden officially takes over as the McManus number one in May 2026. However, he is already familiar with the green and gold silks, having ridden 13 winners from 67 rides for McManus before the news of his appointment broke.
The good news for Cobden, who rode his 1,000th winner in October 2025, is that McManus’s ability for unearthing a star shows no sign of waning. Looking ahead to the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, the 74-year-old has leading fancies in several events, including The New Lion (Champion Hurdle), Majborough (Queen Mother Champion Chase), Honesty Policy (Stayers’ Hurdle), and Inothewayurthinkin (Cheltenham Gold Cup). Walsh may be the man on board many of those runners in 2026, but the future looks very bright for McManus and his new retained rider.