HARRY Cobden has yet to ride a winner in Ireland but his agent Sam Stronge is confident that the 27-year-old former champion jockey will have no problem adapting to Irish racecourses and the style of racing when he becomes retained rider for J.P. McManus next season.

News of Cobden’s appointment broke on Monday and, while the job does not officially start until next May, Cobden replaces Nico de Boinville aboard the McManus-owned Jonbon in a Grade 1 chase at Ascot today. He also rides a McManus-owned horse trained by David Pipe on the same card.

Cobden remains attached to the Paul Nicholls yard for the current season but next season he will also be the main rider for McManus in Ireland as well as in Britain. Mark Walsh retains the Irish role this season.

Commenting on Cobden’s relative lack of Irish racing experience, Stronge told The Irish Field last night: “Harry’s not been over there that many times. He’s obviously been over for Paul a few times, and he’s been over for Willie Mullins a little bit recently, but not massive amounts. He came over in the summer for bits and pieces, and then he was over there recently for Willie and Joseph O’Brien.

“It’s going to be all new and a learning curve to Harry, new tracks and a slightly different style of racing. But Harry’s bright, and I’m sure he’ll adapt pretty quickly.

“It would be nice if the jockeys in England rode slightly more sensibly like they do in Ireland. But I guess you’re always slightly on softer ground in Ireland so it is a bit more tactical.

“In all honesty, I think that will probably suit Harry better, because he loves to give them time and get into a rhythm and just ride a race on them. So I can’t really see that being an issue at all. He’ll soon adapt.”

Asked to describe Cobden’s big race temperament, Stronge said: “He’s got a very laid-back attitude, which I think will stand him in good stead. You could spend a day with him and not talk about horses. It’s not the be all and end all to him, which is a strength because he doesn’t get too stressed about it all. He’s relaxed about everything.”

On why Cobden accepted the McManus offer, Stronge said: “Riding for Paul Nicholls is an unbelievable job. Paul has made Harry the person and the jockey that he is today.

“The success they have had together breeds confidence and you can only become that jockey with the experience that Paul has given him.

“Regarding the timing, we didn’t go looking for this position. We were very fortunate that it sort of came to Harry. And obviously it’s an unbelievable opportunity, so you’re never going to turn it down.

“It’s a good time in his career, because he’s got plenty of years left. He’s young but he’s got an old head on young shoulders and a very good attitude to go with it.”

Cobden told Paddy Power yesterday: “It’s all been a bit wild the last few days – obviously, this is an unbelievable opportunity. They’ve got lots of horses and, for me, the most important thing is the quality, and they’ve got some tremendous horses there, going forward.

“They just got in contact and approached me and offered the position and obviously it’s a huge role, isn’t it? So I didn’t take too long to think about it.

“I don’t really know the nuts and bolts, if you like, how often I’ve got to go to Ireland, how often I’ve got to stay in England, where I’m going or what I’m doing. So I’ll just sit and wait to be told where to go; I’m slightly in the unknown.”

The vast majority of the 22-time Irish champion owner’s stock are trained in Ireland.

For example, in the 2024/’25 National Hunt season in Ireland, there were 178 individual horses owned by McManus running for Irish trainers. During the same season in Britain, McManus raced 68 individual horses for British trainers.

Willie Mullins had more horses on the track solely in McManus ownership than anyone else, with 27 last season. He was followed by Enda Bolger and Joseph O’Brien with 17 individual runners in Ireland apiece, while Padraig Roche is next in the standings on 14.

Ben Haslam was also represented with 14 McManus-owned horses last season - more than any other yard in Britain. Jonjo and A.J. O’Neill had 13 and Nicky Henderson had 12.

As for other leading Irish yards, Gordon Elliott and Gavin Cromwell had nine apiece in the green and gold silks last term, followed by Henry de Bromhead on eight.

In total, McManus had runners with 62 different trainers in Britain and Ireland during the 2024/’25 campaign.

He enjoyed a 20% strike rate in Britain, with 70 winners from 352 runners. In Ireland, his winning percentage was lower at 13%, but there were considerably more horses representing him - 81 winners from 640 runners.