Harry Cobden: I'd rather win the new Jockeys' Cup than be champion jockey

Reigning champion jockey Harry Cobden said he would rather win the inaugural David Power Jockeys’ Cup (DPJC) and its £500,000 first prize than retain his riders' title after the first weekend of the new competition came to a close.

Cobden, who earned £257,119 from his share of prize-money during his championship-winning season, sits joint-eighth in the DPJC standings, with Sean Bowen and Harry Skelton in first place on 46 points.

The DPJC, which is being funded by bookmaking giant Flutter Entertainment, was launched on Friday with riders finishing in the first four in races broadcast on ITV Racing awarded points in a league table. The top ten riders at the end of the event in April receive significant cash prizes.

Cobden claimed his first jockeys’ title last year after a head-to-head with Bowen that went down to the final week of the season. However, asked whether he would prefer to win the DPJC first prize or retain his title, he said: “Win half a million quid!”

He added: “We’re going all out for it. The agent’s going to have a good go and hopefully we can get a few points in the next couple of weeks. I ride for quite a lot of people now and I’ll be giving it a right good go. 

“I’ve not had a proper discussion with Paul Nicholls yet, and he’ll probably want half the prize-money if we do win. We’ve got a nice team of horses and a nice chance of winning it.”

Winning a first jockeys’ championship remains the focus for Bowen, who leads the standings, but he believes longer-term the riches on offer in the DPJC could alter the thinking of leading riders.

Sean Bowen: first champion jockey title remains the prioritiyCredit: Edward Whitaker

“I’d love to be champion jockey and that’s the main objective,” he said. “You don’t know where this Jockeys' Cup is going and this is the first year of it, but it could end up being one of those things where you’d rather be a Jockeys' Cup winner than champion jockey in ten years' time."

British racing is hoping to boost the popularity of the sport and engagement with fans through the DPJC, with Flutter releasing survey data which found that 44 per cent of 1,002 UK-based sports fans would be more interested in racing if it were easier to follow, and 38 per cent wanting more behind-the-scenes content and engagement with the jockeys.

As well as rewarding the top ten jockeys and two leading conditional riders, the DPJC will provide prizes to the trainers and yards who provide each of the jockeys with the most points. 

However, the absence of any financial recognition for owners drew strong criticism from the Racehorse Owners Association, with its chief executive Louise Norman saying it showed a “complete lack of appreciation from many in the industry for the owner”.

David Power Jockeys' Cup standings*

1= Sean Bowen, Harry Skelton – 46 points
3= Nico de Boinville, Sam Twiston-Davies – 38
5 Daniel King – 16
6= Jonathan Burke, Bryan Carver – 14
8= Harry Cobden, Felix de Giles, Freddie Gingell, Freddie Gordon – 10
12= Gavin Sheehan, Charlie Hammond, Kevin Brogan, Henry Brooke, Michael O'Connor, Jonjo O'Neill, James Best, Micheal Nolan, Tom Cannon, Brendan Powell – 6
22= Jack Quinlan, Jack Gilligan, Richard Deegan, Tristan Durrell, Jack Tudor, Derek Fox, Tom Bellamy, Jack Hogan – 4

*Jockeys receive points based on their finishing positions in ITV jump races between November 15 - April 4. Winning riders receive ten points, with eight points for second, six points for third and four points for fourth.

Read these next:

Leading jump jockeys welcome 'transformative' new competition for ITV races with winning prize of £500,000 

Warren Greatrex 'devastated' after Abuffalosoldier suffers fatal injury following Cheltenham win 

James Owen dreaming of Champion Hurdle after Burdett Road delivers on promise with thrilling Greatwood success 

The Racing Post is now available to follow on WhatsApp channels! Follow Racing Post Insider on WhatsApp and you can now start receiving messages and alerts for the latest news, tips, insights, live reactions and much more. Click the group link and get Racing Post notifications straight to your phone via WhatsApp.