Former champion jump jockey Harry Cobden has been announced as the new JP McManus retained rider from May 2026 in both Britain and Ireland.
Cobden will replace Mark Walsh as the current JP McManus rider in Ireland too and leave his post as top rider at the Paul Nicholls camp.
So, which green and gold horses can Harry Cobden look forward to riding next season?
Harry Cobden Announced as New JP McManus Retained Rider 💚💛
News broke this week that the Paul Nicholls number one rider Harry Cobden will be the new JP McManus retained jockey – starting next season in May 2026.
Cobden has ridden 67 winners so far this season and despite Mark Walsh guiding home the McManus horse Inothewayurthinkin to win the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup – he’ll also take over his Irish post.
Meaning Harry Cobden will now get the full pick of ALL the JP McManus runners on both sides on the Irish Sea.
Harry Cobden was British champion jump jockey in 2023/24 and champion conditional in 2016/17.
While earlier this season Cobden rode his 1,000th career winner at Market Rasen.
Heading into the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, Cobden has ridden six winners over the four-day meeting.
But now armed with a stack of JP runners can expect that number to increase rapidly from the 2026/27 season.
We Should Also See Cobden On More JP Runners This Season
In total, Cobden has ridden 13 winners for JP McManus to date from 67 rides and was used many times last season by top Irish trainer Willie Mullins.
With the pair teaming up to land the 2025 Scottish Grand National on Captain Cody, but this wasn’t JP-owned.
Harry Cobden is also yet to win the Grand National at Aintree. But this could all change now he’s hooked up with McManus.
McManus has won the famous Merseyside marathon three times, most recently with I Am Maximus in 2024.
Plus, even though the Cobden/McManus riders agreement doesn’t come into place till next season – JP also has the current 2026 Grand National favourite in Iroko.
Could Cobden be jocked-up on this Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained 8yo this in April?
Even though he doesn’t officially become JP’s retained rider till May – with no British number one jockey for the green and gold silks – it would be no shock to see him on more of his runners.
But Mark Walsh will carry on his role on the JP Irish runners for the rest of this season.
Including riding big Cheltenham chances like Fact To File and Inothewayurthinkin.
Top JP McManus Horses Harry Cobden Can Look Forward To Riding
INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN (Gavin Cromwell)
Landed the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup for Mark Walsh.
But from May 2026 Cobden, who is yet to win the Gold Cup, can look forward to getting in the plate.
FACT TO FILE (Willie Mullins)
Won the 2025 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and was sixth in this season’s King George VI Chase at Kempton.
Is the favourite for the race again as he looks to join ‘back-to-back’ winners Allaho and Albertas Run.
JONBON (Nicky Henderson)
Regular for jockey Nico De Boinville and the winner of over £1.4m in total prize money.
Aged 10 now and it remains to be seen if connections will keep him racing next season.
If they do, then this will be another ride Cobden can look forward to.
THE NEW LION (Dan Skelton)
Won the Turners Novices’ Hurdle last season and a big Champion Hurdle hope for 2026.
Still only aged 7 and will be one of the big rides Cobden can cast his mind to.
Providing, of course, connections don’t stick with regular jockey Harry Skelton, who has ridden him in all his career starts to date.
JAGWAR (Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero)
Another former Cheltenham Festival winner – having landed the Plate Handicap there in 2025.
Returned this season with a fair third in the December Gold Cup and at the age of 7 has plenty more to come.
IROKO (Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero)
Ran fourth in the 2025 Grand National and is propping up the market with most betting sites to go three places better this season.
Was last seen winning the Graduation Chase at Ascot.
MAJBOROUGH (Willie Mullins)
Won the Irish Arkle last season but was only third in the Arkle at Cheltenham.
Made amends in the Barberstown Castle Novices’ Chase at Punchestown but has failed to win yet this season.
Is one of the fancies for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
HONESTY POLICY (Gordon Elliott)
Young staying hurdler from the Gordon Elliott yard that was third in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot earlier this season.
Is featuring high up the market for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
And at the age of six looks a horse that can give Cobden plenty of big days in the coming years.
IMPOSE TOI (Nicky Henderson)
Has been a revelation this season after being stepped up in trip – winning the Long Distance Hurdle and Long Walk Hurdle.
He’s still only aged 8 and is another leading JP McManus horse for the Stayers’ Hurdle.
DINOBLUE (Willie Mullins)
High-class mare that won the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last season.
Has returned this season in winning form and is one of the Cheltenham favourites for the same race again in 2026.
NARCISO HAS (Willie Mullins)
This 4yo impressed when winning the Grade Two Changing Times Brewery Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.
And is now one of the fancies for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
