The reins-grabbing heroics of Harry Cobden plus two Aintree runners who look nailed on to make an impression next season

Plenty to come from Gidleigh Park

By Joe Eccles

It has been a testing season for Harry Fry, whose current seasonal tally of 13 winners is his lowest since taking out a training licence.

However, in Gidleigh Park, the Dorset handler has a potential flagbearer for next season.

The son of Walk In The Park ran a bold race from the front in Thursday’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase, rallying after a mistake at the second-last to finish a length-and-a-quarter runner-up to Impaire Et Passe.

Gidleigh Park had subsequent Grade 1 winner Caldwell Potter four lengths behind when winning the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Windsor in January, and he’d previously beaten The Jukebox Man in a bumper, so it looks a matter of time before he gains a breakthrough success at the top level.     

Owners George and Carol Eyre reportedly view the seven-year-old as a future Gold Cup horse, and there should be improvement to come when he is stepped up to three miles on soft ground.

You're a wizard, Harry

By Tom Park

As soon as Harry Cobden pinched a few lengths on the field on Kalif Du Berlais in the Maghull I knew my bet on L'Eau Du Sud was all but over.

Cobden had done it in big races all week: Sans Bruit in the Red Rum, Caldwell Potter in the Mildmay Novices' Chase as well as Kalif Du Berlais, all delivered to perfection. 

In fact, he's done it for years. His ability to get horses into rhythm while dictating the pace is second to none and I'm not sure there have been many better.

However, Cobden's most impressive feat of the week was not in the saddle but after he'd been launched out of it.

After being catapulted to the floor by a horse after jumping a 5ft fence you could forgive a jockey for taking a few seconds to assess the situation and, at the very least, saying "ow, that hurt", but Cobden is no ordinary jockey. 

When Kandoo Kid came down at the 21st fence in the Grand National Cobden's first thought was with his mount, as he spectacularly rose from the ground, diving underneath an oncoming horse before leaping to his feet to grab Kandoo Kid's reins to prevent him from running loose, essentially ensuring he returned safe and sound, all within a second or two.

It is that athleticism and horsemanship that sets Cobden apart. Not only a truly great jockey, but a great sportsman and athlete of the highest order.

Mister Meggit enhances his reputation in defeat

By Jack Haynes

Mister Meggit may have been beaten in the Oddschecker-sponsored Sefton Novices’ Hurdle on Friday but it was a performance that marked him out as a top talent.

The Hemmings Racing-owned seven-year-old fractured his skull when beaten for the first time in the bumper at this meeting last year.

Mister Meggit: has raced just five times at the age of sevenCredit: John Grossick Racing

He cannot have been the easiest to train – given he has raced just five times at the age of seven – and his Grade 1 fourth at Aintree was just his second outing over hurdles, coming five months on from his impressive win at the same track in November.

Mister Meggit, who is trained by Jonjo and AJ O’Neill, was 7-2 second favourite despite that absence and cruised to the lead at the second-last. He lost all momentum when diving at the last, though, and ended up being beaten two and a half lengths by the winner Julius Des Pictons.

It would be no surprise if Mister Meggit proved the best of these next season, and the son of Shantou should only improve when gaining more experience. The engine is definitely there.

British jump jockeys' ­championship

Sean Bowen 164
Harry Skelton 131
Harry Cobden 104
Sam Twiston-Davies 101
Gavin Sheehan 97

British jumps trainers' ­championship

Dan Skelton £3,043,540
Willie Mullins £2,921,513
Paul Nicholls £2,270,998
Nicky Henderson £2,101,204
Olly Murphy £1,476,413

Irish jump ­jockeys' ­championship

Paul Townend 100
Sam Ewing 64
Keith Donoghue 63
Darragh O'Keeffe 55
Danny Mullins 43

Irish jumps trainers' championship 

Willie Mullins €4,151,090
Gordon Elliott €3,483,485
Gavin Cromwell €1,877,495
Henry de Bromhead €1,404,460
Joseph O'Brien €1,005,925

Read these next . . .

Kicking myself over a Grand National that showed Willie Mullins is even better than we punters realised   

National result was a boost for the Bobbyjo and Irish Gold Cup - while a British runner could be a big improver next year   

The King George simply must be on this horse's agenda next season - and he's a cracking bet to win it   

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