Charming, fun… but a stone cold killer on the racecourse – Harry Cobden primed for Badger Beer success

IF you have been fooled by his pleasant demeanour then don’t worry – Harry Cobden will be quite happy to be the Frodon party pooper at Wincanton today.

Cobden, the stable jockey for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, is on top Threeunderthrufive for his boss in the Badger Beer Handicap Chase over a muddy three and a quarter miles live on ITV.

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But of course many fans will be screaming for stable companion Frodon to succeed. The former King George hero has long been a fan favourite, with his success at Kempton on Boxing Day in 2020 backed up by victories in not only the Badger Beer last year, but also a Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and a Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Bryony Frost has ridden Frodon in most of his races, although Cobden has had a go on the old boy, including in a victory at this track, although there were only three runners that day and just one finished.

Cobden, though, will have no time for sentimental thoughts today. What you find with Cobden is that you have a charming guy in front of the camera, and a fun guy behind it.

But on the track he’s hard as nails. No quarter given. In many ways I’d say he’s the jumps equivalent of James Doyle, and we all know how good ‘the Doyler’ is on the level.

Threeunderthrufive is owned by the McNeil family, who until recently retained rider Adrian Heskin to partner their horses.

That means Cobden hasn’t been on the eight-year-old since they partnered to finish second in a race at Chepstow in 2021. That was the only time any other rider than Heskin has ever experienced the powerful son of Shantou.

I bet Cobden is looking forward to the Badger Beer. Threeunderthrufive has his first run since a wind operation and has always promised to be a class animal.

Alas, in my opinion he has only shown glimmers of his true talent. He’s been sixth in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, and sixth in a Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

In handicap class a fourth in the Scottish National reads well, as does a fair eighth behind Corach Rambler in this year’s Ultima at the Festival.

Off a mark of 147 today, with his wind done, the tongue tie on and cheekpieces he’s been given every chance to pick up Frodon.

Nicholls and Cobden have every chance of a good day at one of their local tracks. The talented Knappers Hill is primed for action in the Grade 2 Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase, which I could easily argue if I wanted to is the race of the day!

Knappers Hill was a fine hurdler, beating Goshen in a Select Hurdle at Sandown and mixing it with the likes of I Like To Move It and Jonbon along the way.

He got beaten on his chase debut at Chepstow by a fine animal in Unexpected Party, and the race was run to suit the latter that day who got the run of things on the front end.

With that experience Knappers Hill will be tricky to stop, but there are some potentially high class chasers in here, including Givega, who looked so good at Lingfield last season for Gary Moore. I know the handler is excited about him over fences.

Then there is Captain Conby for Ireland and Doyen Star to worry about. It’s a hot heat but Knappers Hill’s connections will be disappointed if they get beat.

Wincanton and Aintree take centre stage over jumps today, but the Flat still goes on with the November Handicap switched from Doncaster to Newcastle.

Like the Northumberland Plate, big handicaps on the artificial surface are a scant imitation of the real thing, and it’s clear the November Handicap this time is nothing like the usual event.

It gives a chance, as a result, for Breeders’ Cup Mile heroes Charlie Appleby and William Buick to throw Local Dynasty into the ring.

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Matt Chapman’s Saturday NAP

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My each-way hope is far from chucked in, but he might improve for a step up in distance connections might not have risked on deep grass.

Last time at Newmarket Local Dynasty was denied a clear run but finished off well over shorter and he might just outclass some of these as a young horse with potential.

I’m also at Newcastle for my NAP of the day, which is Sense of Duty in the Listed Wentworth Stakes over six furlongs.

The William Haggas challenger looked a monster when scoring here in June and this is a huge chance to make up for lost time after injury meant she has had just two runs this term.

In basic terms she has flopped in both, although her effort at Newbury was not terrible before being miles behind Art Power at Ascot on Champions Day. I’m hoping this is bounce back time.

Yeeehaaa!

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