Harry Cobden to miss Cheltenham Trials day with Sam Twiston-Davies set to take over on exciting juvenile Minella Yoga

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Harry Cobden will not be riding on Cheltenham Trials day, with Sam Twiston-Davies booked to take over aboard the exciting juvenile Minella Yoga.

Cobden won the opening race at Ascot on Saturday aboard Winston Junior before suffering a kick following a fall from Neon Moon in the 2m5f handicap chase later on the card.

He had been due to partner Jonbon in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase, which would have been his first ride for JP McManus since it was announced he would become the owner’s retained rider in Britain and Ireland from May, but he was ruled out by the raceday medical officer and James Bowen stepped in to take the ride. 

On Wednesday evening Paul Nicholls told The Sun he had booked Twiston-Davies to ride Minella Yoga in the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (12.40).

Minella Yoga (right): will be partnered by Sam Twiston-Davies on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Cobden’s agent Sam Stronge said: "He's still sore and going to give himself some more time. We were rushing to be back for Saturday, so we'll give him a few more days and hopefully he'll be back next week.

"He's just very sore because he got a good kicking, it wasn't one particular area. He's always got good rides to look forward to, but on reflection the sensible thing was to give him some more time as he's not quite 100 per cent. 

"We're in no rush to get back for the early part of next week, we'll be looking towards the middle or the end of the week when the better meetings are on. It's not the end of the world as January tends to be quieter anyway and Paul doesn't have a huge amount of entries."

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Other potential rides for Cobden on Trials day were Nicholls' Quebecois in the 2m4½f novice handicap chase (12.05) and Emma Lavelle's Ma Shantou in the Grade 2 Pertemps Network Cleeve Hurdle (3.35).

Read these next:

Harry Cobden to remain on the sidelines after Ascot fall with jockey's condition to be reassessed before Cheltenham's Trials day card 

'Mentally strong' Harry Cobden takes on 'the equivalent of the Coolmore job over jumps' - but Tom Scudamore has one concern 

Harry Cobden 'privileged' to be appointed JP McManus's new retained rider in both Britain and Ireland from next season 

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