Harry Cobden: I'm lucky to be walking around after breaking my neck in fall

Harry Cobden has described himself as “lucky to be walking around” after breaking his neck in a fall.

The 19-year-old faces another nine weeks in a neck brace and at least three more months on the sidelines after being unshipped from Mick Thonic in a chase at Market Rasen on June 1.

Cobden, the new stable jockey to ten-time champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls, spoke of his shock after walking away from the fall only to learn his neck was broken when he had a scan at hospital.

A later scan as Cobden began his recovery then revealed the nature of the break was more severe than at first thought.

Cobden, who had 76 winners last season, said: “After the fall I didn’t really feel any pain at all. Your body is still full of adrenaline. I had a tingle in my neck and went to the racecourse doctor.

“I went to hospital and had a scan and they diagnosed I had broken my neck. It was a tough pill to swallow when the doctor said that.”

Cobden, who was kept overnight at Nottingham hospital, said: “It was worse than they originally thought it was at Nottingham. They thought it was a little fracture, but it was a proper clean fracture straight through my C2 vertebra. I was very, very fortunate to be all right.

"It’s the second vertebra down on your neck and my specialist said it’s one of the most dangerous ones to do. I feel lucky to be walking around.”

Harry Cobden celebrates victory aboard Kilbricken Storm at CheltenhamCredit: Grossick Racing

The 2016-17 champion conditional jockey, who rode Kilbricken Storm to victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, had originally hoped to return at the start of September but has now set a more conservative target.

He said: “I’ve got an excellent specialist at the hospital in Swindon and he advised me to take an extra month as I would feel better for it.

“The main objective is to get the bones fusing properly in my neck. I’m not allowed to take the neck brace off from 12 weeks after the accident, when I can start doing some proper fitness work.

"At the moment I’m doing a bit of walking. Apart from that, nothing strenuous. No lifting or anything like that. But I’ve been resting well and everything is healing.

“If I can get back for October 1 it would be amazing, but I want to make sure I’m 110 per cent fit coming back. I don’t want to come back sooner than I should."

Cobden, who took over the role at Nicholls' yard from Sam Twiston-Davies, who is now a freelance, added: “Hopefully I won’t miss out on too much. The two main trainers I ride for, Mr Nicholls and Mr Tizzard, have been very, very supportive.

“I went to Ditcheat last week to have a little look at the horses on the gallops and I’m going to the Tizzards this week coming. So I’ve got lots to look forward to. I just can’t wait to get back on a horse now.”

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