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Ruby Walsh on Harry Cobden: It’s not rocket science

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Mon 19 Oct 2026

Ruby Walsh – speaking on the Racing TV Jump Season Preview 2026/27 - is confident that Harry Cobden will enjoy a successful season in the green and gold hooped silks of JP McManus.

Enjoy all the lively debate and analysis on the Racing TV Jumps Season Preview show on the Racing TV YouTube channel.

Cobden left his position as retained jockey for Paul Nicholls last season to take up the role as number one rider for the powerful Irish owner, and has found his feet in recent months with a 30% strike-rate across both sides of the Irish Sea.

His new role was just one of a breadth of topics discussed as Nick Luck was joined by Ruby Walsh, Lydia Hislop, Jane Mangan and Josh Stacey for the Racing TV Jump Season Preview 2026/27, but Walsh is certain that the future is bright for the 27-year-old rider.

“It’s a huge job but I think he will do very well,” believes Walsh. “He's an exceptional rider. JP seems to have more winter horses than summer horses now, which is probably why he took the job. It’s a good job with plenty of good horses.”

While some of the panel had concerns about Cobden getting used to new tracks and riders in Ireland, Walsh didn’t - and still doesn’t.

“He’ll get used to it, but it’s not like years ago – you can do all your homework by watching races on the internet. He will be able to watch what’s going on and adapt to the pace.

“I never thought it would be an issue and I still don’t.

“It’s not that difficult. You get down to the start and look at which riders are around and if they’re any good. If they are, then follow them. It’s not rocket science.

“It’s what I did when i came to England, I just followed AP [McCoy] and Dickie [Johnson].”

But will Cobden’s rides this season include The New Lion, who was partnered by Harry Skelton on all four starts last term?

“I’m assuming not,” says Luck. “Have I called that wrongly?”

“Would you take the job without The New Lion?” asks Walsh.

It’s a mixed response from the panel, with Mangan in the ‘no’ camp and Hislop in the ‘yes’ column.

“I think he will ride him,” argues Walsh. “We are assuming that JP approached Harry so he’s in a position to lay down the conditions, not the other way around.”

Majborough enters the conversation at this point of the preview show, with the team getting over their Majborough Chat Fatigue to try and work out how connections can get their young star back on song.

“He’s got to go up in trip, hasn’t he?” suggests Hislop.

“I don't know,” replies Walsh. “He’s a cliff horse for me. The engine is there, the ability is there, but he has to start putting it together. How many times can you keep making excuses for him?”

And tactics?

“He definitely wants to be prominent but does he have to make the running? I don’t think so, but then again, I never rode him down to a fence thank God!

“Like people, very few horses get quicker as they get older.

“There’s a lot of jumping done in the first five furlongs on the old Course at Cheltenham and that seems to have caught him out.”

Mangan argues: “He doesn’t like undulations. He doesn’t like going right-handed. He doesn’t like a lot of things. I think Kopek Des Bordes has a better chance of getting it all together than Majborough.”

Don't forget to tune into the Racing TV YouTube channel on Monday at 6.00pm to watch all the lively debate and analysis.

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