Jockey Q&A: 'He'd never won over fences before that race and we fancied him'

Over the next few weeks we will bring you a series of app-exclusive Q&As with pro punters, trainers and jockeys which will offer unrivalled insight to our sport. This series continues this week with jockeys. Today: Harry Cobden

Who's the best horse you've ever ridden?

It's probably Cyrname, who had so much raw talent. He was unbelievable on his day. Obviously, things didn't go his way towards the end of his career, but he was very good when he was right. He was brilliant in a handicap at Ascot; he cruised round on the bridle and won by 21 lengths off 150. Then he won the Ascot Chase – and then he beat Altior in that race everyone remembers. They were three serious runs, but almost the end of him.

Who's your favourite horse of all time?

Clan Des Obeaux would be right up there. I've had a long association with him and have ridden him 17 times. I've won a couple of Betway Bowls and a King George, which speaks for itself. He was a lucky horse for me in that he's played a huge part in getting my career going.

Which horse was your most difficult ride?

Cyrname wasn't easy, but I suppose of the current string Pic D'Orhy would be one of them, although he's not that bad. You've got to ride him very cold and not force him to do anything. He's a serious racehorse, but just needs a different approach. I don't think we've seen the best of him by a long way. He probably wasn't 100 per cent when he ran at Aintree in the spring, but he’d won the Pendil at Kempton before that and Millers Bank, who was second then, went on to win that Aintree race. He's a proper horse and is still improving.

Harry Cobden with 2019 RSA Chase winner TopofthegameCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Which winner has given you most satisfaction?

Topofthegame at Cheltenham in what was the RSA in 2019. It was a combination of things as a lot went into that horse and I loved every minute of the race; it was bloody brilliant. He was almost impossible to patch up – I'd say you would have wanted six limbs off another horse to keep him going. He'd never won over fences before that race and we fancied him, although there was probably some wishful thinking going into it with a horse who had hardly any experience. He was an unbelievable horse with such a big engine, though. I got a huge kick out of it.

If you could ride one race again, what would it be?

Races have, of course, slipped away and some people might beat themselves up about it, but it's gone and in the past. You can't do anything about it, so I don't dwell on things. You've just got to move on and try to put it right later on the card or whenever you're riding next. So the one I'd love to ride again would be that RSA with Topofthegame – I'd love to relive it.

What's the funniest thing you've seen on a racecourse?

There's a lot of funny people in the weighing room and I have a laugh every day I go to work. I find Harry Bannister funny – we think relatively similar and find sad, stupid stuff amusing. We have a laugh together.

What's the hardest course to ride?

Fakenham. I think there are only two fences that aren't downhill, and it's very important you get in a good rhythm early and then you have to leave your racing brain in the weighing room because very few winners come from behind.

Which horse are you most looking forward to riding this year?

Bravemansgame is our best chance of winning a championship race. Paul [Nicholls] isn't convinced he wants three miles just yet, but I think he'll end up over that again. I thought he was just over the top when he ran at Aintree at the Grand National meeting and he had some ulcers too. Him and Greaneteen are the two I'm most excited about this season.

Can you give us another horse to follow?

I quite like a horse called Fire Flyer, who hasn't run in a point-to-point or bumper. He's a four-year-old by Shantou and is nice and straightforward. He wouldn't blow you away but has a good mind and is sound. He could be above-average and is a horse I'm quite fond of.

Read more jockey Q&As:

Tom Scudamore: 'I'd love to think he will improve some more at his age - he's exciting' 

Hollie Doyle: 'It was a huge task carrying so much weight - it's a day I won't forget'  

Sam Twiston-Davies: 'Paul Nicholls wasn't happy - and I wasn't best pleased either'