Former Champion Jockey, Harry Cobden has joined an elite group of riders after celebrating his 1,000th British career victory today.
Cobden, 26, reached the landmark aboard Indemnity in the 'Mike Harrison 70th Birthday Handicap Chase' for trainer Emma Lavelle at Market Rasen Racecourse - where he is three-time Unibet Summer Plate winner - securing his status as one of the most talented and consistent jockeys in British racing.
Cobden, who was crowned Champion Jockey in 2024, joins jump racing stars including Sir AP McCoy, Richard Johnson, Brain Hughes, Sam Twiston-Davies, Harry Skelton and reigning Champion Jockey Sean Bowen who reached the 1,000 British winners' milestone in February.
The past three seasons Cobden has ridden over 100 winners, with his highest tally to date being 2023-24 season when is rode and impressive 164 winners to become Champion Jockey.
Reflecting on the 1,000 wins milestone, Cobden said: “I am really pleased to have ridden 1,000 winners. It takes a lot of dedication and many good and bad days for any jockey to reach the 1,000-winner mark, so it feels brilliant to have achieved it. It’s a great way to start the season.”
He continued: “I’m very grateful to all the Owners and Trainers who have supported me, particularly, Paul (Nicholls). I’d also like to thank my friend Ron Hodges who supported me when I was getting into racing as a child. Without his support I wouldn’t be a jockey.”
Paul Nicholls, 14-time champion trainer, praised his stable jockey and said: “I’m delighted to see Harry reach this milestone. Harry rode his first winner for us at Wincanton when he was just 16, and to have reached 1,000 winners in such a short time says everything.”
He continued: “We’ve enjoyed some big days together, Cheltenham winners, King George winners, and he has been consistently good throughout. Hopefully, this is just the first thousand and he’s well on his way to the next. As jockeys gain more experience, they only get better, and Harry was always going to be top class. He’s always been a natural horseman, and with experience he’s just got better and better. He’s very level-headed and grounded, which counts for a lot, but above all he’s part of the team, a real team player and that’s invaluable.”
Cobden’s impressive tally of 1,000 British victories includes consistent top-level success across Britian and Ireland including wins in the Tingle Creek, Aintree Bowl, Ascot Chase, Coral Gold Cup, Melling Chase and the Scottish Grand National among others.
His career highlights include:
• 27 Grade One wins
• 63 Grade Two wins
• 35 listed wins
• Six Cheltenham Festival winners
o Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle – Kilbricken Storm in 2018 and Stay Away Fay in 2023
o Broadway Novices’ Chase – Topofthegame in 2019
o Pertemps Final – Monmiral in 2024
o Golden Miller Novices’ Chase – Stage Star in 2023 and Caldwell Potter in 2025
• King George VI Chase triumphs at Kempton
o Clan Des Obeaux in 2018
o Bravemansgame in 2022
o Three times Summer Plate winner at Market Rasen Racecourse
Born and raised on his family’s farm in Somerset, Cobden grew up surrounded by horses and began pony racing at the age of nine. His natural feel for a horse, combined with a competitive edge, saw him quickly progress through the ranks. At just 16, while still at school, he rode his first professional winner at Wincanton in 2014. That early success earned him a Conditional Jockey role with Nicholls, Britain’s most successful Jump trainer, who he has formed a formidable partnership with.
Since then, Cobden has developed into one of the weighing room’s most respected figures. His rise has been marked by a number of major victories aboard some of the sport’s most recognised equine stars including Cyrname, Clan Des Obeaux, and Bravemansgame and Pic D’Orhy.
Cobden, also known as ‘Hollywood Harry’, following Season 1 of Champions: Full Gallop will feature again in upcoming ITV series. Series two follows the 2024/25 Jump season, capturing all the drama the season had to offer and will air on ITV1 and ITVX on 17th October.
