Barry Geraghty backs Harry Cobden as new retained rider for JP McManus

January 13, 2026

Barry Geraghty has voiced his support for Harry Cobden as the new retained rider for JP McManus.

Cobden will begin the role as McManus’ number one in both Britain and Ireland in May, putting an end to Mark Walsh’s reign that began in 2020 following Geraghty’s retirement.

Geraghty, the second-most successful jockey of all-time at the Cheltenham Festival with 43 wins between 2002 and 2020, believes Cobden has what it takes to thrive in the position.

He told William Hill: “Harry is a very good rider and I think he is the right type. of person to ride for JP. He rides a patient race and JP would rather his horses were ridden patiently than aggressively, so his style should be well-suited to the job.

“He rides well over fences and hurdles and is a good horseman. It’s a massive opportunity for Harry and I’m sure he will grab it with both hands. It will be different for him riding in Ireland and Britain but he’s very capable and he won’t have any problem adjusting to that.”

Cobden, 27, was British Champion Jockey in 2023/24 and has served as stable jockey to Paul Nicholls since he was a teenager. Of his 28 Grade 1 wins, all but one have been for Nicholls.

The 27-year-old has tallied 13 winners for McManus across his career from 67 rides and the famous green and gold hoops will once again have a retained rider in Britain.

Walsh exclusively served McManus in Ireland with the exception of a select few rides over the water in special circumstances.

Nicky Henderson’s stable jockey Nico de Boinville pilots the yard’s McManus runners such as Jonbon and Harry Skelton rides Turners Novices’ Hurdle hero The New Lion for his brother Dan.

That arrangement could be set for a huge shake-up with Cobden expected to have first dibs at all of the operation’s flagship horses.

🚨 BREAKING: Harry Cobden has been officially announced as JP McManus’s new number one rider in Britain and Ireland, with the former champion jockey’s new role to begin in May pic.twitter.com/VKXrY80Cm3

— Racing Post (@RacingPost) January 12, 2026

Many had assumed Walsh’s departure was due to the 39-year-old’s impending retirement but no announcement has been made as of yet with rumours circulating the Irishman was shown the door.

Just last year, Walsh steered Inothewayurthinkin to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory and he should get another shot at that triumph before handing over to Cobden.

The Kildare man has 13 wins at the Festival including the Champion Hurdle, Triumph Hurdle, Ryanair Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase for McManus.

Walsh was sidelined from August to November 2025 with a damaged vertebra suffered when the Willie Mullins-trained I Am River fell at the Galway Festival in July.