Harry Cobden is one of the most exciting young jockeys in the sport today. Like all famous athletes, fans have followed his career with dedication, and many experts predict he could be the next big thing in horse racing.

In this article, we examine and assess Harry Cobden’s career so far and predict where the young jockey could be heading in the future. Read on to learn more.

An Early Start

Cobden was brought up around horses and was immersed in racing culture from an early age. He was raised in Somerset, one of the country’s biggest racing hotspots, and was racing from the tender age of 10.

He dropped out of school at the age of 16 to pursue his passion for horse racing, winning his first official race the very same year when he rode El Mondo to victory in the face of long odds of 33/1.

Rising Through the Ranks

Despite still being young, Cobden quickly began to make a name for himself. In the 2015/2016 season, he won a total of 30 times, including the StanJames Greatwood Hurdle.

The 2016/2017 season was when Cobden’s career really took off. He won the BetVictor Handicap Chase in November, followed by the Fighting Fifth hurdle and the Grade 1 Tingle Creek.

The jockey was named Champion Conditional for the season, firmly establishing himself as one of the sport’s most exciting young prospects. Shortly after, Cobden committed his future to trainer Paul Nicholls, replacing Sam Twiston-Davies as a stable jockey. He soon proved why he was in such high demand, beating the odds to record his first Cheltenham win in 2018.

Tragedy Strikes

It seemed like nothing could stop Harry Cobden’s rise to the top until, in the summer of 2018, tragedy struck.

Cobden was riding Mick Thonic in a Market Rase chase when he was suddenly unseated, suffering a crushing fall.

Despite getting up and walking away, a subsequent hospital visit revealed the true extent of the damage.

He had fractured a crucial vertebra in his spine. It was nothing short of a miracle that he’d managed to walk away from the fall and that he hadn’t been paralysed.

After an arduous four-month recovery, Cobden was back racing again. Just seven months after he was unseated, he claimed another victory at the Kempton King George VI Chase, making it clear that he was back with a vengeance.

Leaving His Injury Behind

Since then, Cobden has kicked on as if he never suffered a serious injury. He recorded 109 wins in 2019, including an Ascot Chase thriller.

In 2019, he won the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham and then went on to win the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in 2020.

This year was another success for Cobden at Cheltenham, winning the Turner Novices’ Chase while riding Stage Star.

What Does the Future Hold for Harry Cobden?

Few jockeys have generated quite as much excitement as Harry Cobden. His recovery from a serious injury has made him even more legendary in the eyes of fans. He’ll be looking to continue winning and he’s certainly a rider to watch out for in future races.