'He presents a horse very well' - Paddy Flood on Harry Cobden's new job with JP JP McManus is one of the most influential figures in National Hunt racing and Irish sport, known for his immense success as an owner and his famously private nature. Born in Limerick in 1951, he made his fortune in finance before becoming the most successful owner in Cheltenham Festival history, with over 70 winners in the iconic green-and-gold hoops. Unlike many major owners, McManus spreads his horses across a wide range of trainers in Ireland and Britain, valuing loyalty, discretion, and long-term relationships. He has traditionally employed retained jockeys, most notably AP McCoy, and now Harry Cobden from next season. Away from racing, he is a major philanthropist through the JP McManus Benevolent Fund, quietly donating hundreds of millions to Irish causes, reinforcing his reputation as a powerful but understated presence in the sport. Speaking on irishracing.com’s Irish Angle Johnny Ward speaks on McManus’ generosity ‘One of the best things about the McManus operation is how much patronage he spreads around. The amount of money he must spend on horses with different yards, often for relatively little return, is remarkable. That’s one of its most admirable aspects.’ Harry’s got style Harry Cobden is one of the leading young National Hunt jockeys in Britain and now the newly announced retained rider for JP McManus in both the UK and Ireland starting from May 2026. He was born on 5 November 1998 in Somerset and began riding in races in 2015, rising quickly through the ranks under trainer Paul Nicholls - a relationship that has been central to his career. Cobden was British jump racing Champion Jockey in the 2023/24 season, riding 164 winners, and has already notched up over 1,000 winners in Britain, a milestone few active riders achieve. He has won multiple Grade 1 races and has six Cheltenham Festival victories, establishing himself as a top performer at the biggest meetings. Cobden has ridden 13 winners for McManus so far and will take over the prestigious retained role from Mark Walsh, meaning he will have first call on many of the top McManus horses on both sides of the Irish Sea. Paddy Flood said: "I like Harry. I like his style, and more than anything, his mentality. He carries himself with confidence and generally backs it up. "He’s a very consistent rider. He’s probably as close as you’ll get to Ruby Walsh back in his day - not saying he’s as good, but he has that temperament. He presents a horse very well. It’s a great job, and I’d say he’s buzzing to get going." Mark Walsh Mark Walsh has enjoyed a highly successful career at the top level of National Hunt racing, with his biggest wins coming in the famous green and gold colours of JP McManus. His standout victory was the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2025 aboard Inothewayurthinkin, one of the defining moments of his career and a rare achievement for any jockey. He has also ridden multiple Cheltenham Festival winners across hurdles and chases, as well as Grade 1 victories in Ireland and Britain, on horses trained by the likes of Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, and Nicky Henderson. While Walsh has never chased personal accolades like jockeys’ titles, his record in major races and championships reflects his reputation as a dependable big-race rider who delivered consistently on high-quality horses over many seasons. Paddy Flood on Walsh: ‘ I remember hearing the rumours and thinking it seemed unlikely, but the more I thought about it, Mark Walsh isn’t getting any younger. He’s the same age as myself, and I suppose they were probably looking to plan ahead for Mark." Johnny Ward added: "Harry Cobden is right at the prime of his career. Mark Walsh, while he hasn’t been in the role as long as Paddy alluded to, is clearly at the veteran stage. I think Mark will enjoy the rest of this season and then see where things go, and how long he wants to keep riding."
