Cobden hopes to 'inspire' new generation of fans
Somerset-born Cobden works with trainer Paul Nicholls and has seen demands for his time, including sponsorship and media appearances, increase since winning the championship last spring. He is set for a busy Cheltenham Festival, but Bowen will miss the week after losing an appeal against a seven-day suspension handed to him by the whip review committee.Cobden is also second overall in the new David Power Jockeys' Cup competition, introduced this season for televised races only, which offers a prize pot of £500,000 to the winner. "If I can finish in the top three I'd be really happy. I still haven't taken my foot off the gas, and obviously first prize is what everyone wants to win, isn't it," he said.
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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Former champion jockey Tommy Murphy dies in hospital aged 88 as Aidan O'Brien mourns loss of ‘incredible man'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER champion jockey Tommy Murphy has died in hospital aged 88 - as Aidan O'Brien mourned the loss of an 'incredible man'. The talented Flat rider - who also won at Cheltenham Festival - was assistant to the legendary Vincent O'Brien. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Former Irish champion jockey Tommy Murphy died in hospital aged 88 2 Aidan O'Brien has paid tribute to Tommy Murphy, calling him an 'incredible man' who taught him so much Credit: PA His passing comes as British racing mourns the loss of legendary trainer Bill Turner after injuries he suffered in a 'freak accident'. Dual Classic-winning rider Murphy, who took top honours in the jockey standings in 1978, died at a hospital in Cashel, Ireland, on Wednesday. Ballydoyle boss O'Brien, who took over from his predecessor but is no relation, retained Murphy's services at the famed yard. He said he was an invaluable asset at the beginning of his career and proved 'irreplaceable' over the years. O'Brien, regarded by many as the greatest Flat trainer ever, told the Racing Post: "Tommy was an unbelievable horseman, jockey and person. "He was an incredible help to us when we came to Ballydoyle in 1994. "He taught everybody here so much about so many different things. "Even when he retired, he came in all the time to give everyone advice and guidance. He was one of those irreplaceable men. "He was a great rider, too, just an incredible and special man. Andrew [Tommy's son and head lad at Ballydoyle] is in charge of the Giant's Causeway yard, where all our main horses are kept. "We'll miss Tommy terribly. "He lived here for a long time, until he went into hospital. "We had a lot of great memories going racing with Tommy. "We had unbelievable days with him and always had dinner on the way home after racing. "(My children) Joseph, Sarah, Ana and Donnacha were always with him from the time they were babies and grew up learning from him about horses and life." Murphy, who was born in Wexford, rode his first winner in 19654 and moved to England soon after. There, he became a jockey for a number of trainers, including four years with the Duke of Norfolk. He hit the big time in 1970 when he won the Galway Hurdle and backed it up again two years later. His two Classics came in 1977 when he won the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Lady Capulet and Irish St Leger with Transworld. Then in 1978 he won what is now the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival aboard Noble Life. His final winner came in 1981 and soon after that he became permanent fixture at Ballydoyle. Photos showed him patrolling the Ballydoyle gallops, keeping a keen eye on the army of top thoroughbreds pounding the track. Punters were quick to pay their respects, with one writing on X: "Tommy Murphy, former Classic-winning champion jockey, Ballydoyle linchpin and ever-present great of Irish racing has sadly passed. God rest him."
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Billionaire owner of Willie Mullins' ‘very classy' new £300,000 horse confirmed and Cheltenham Festival target decided
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North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Cesarewitch next port of call for East India Dock
James Owen's dual-purpose star was third in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and wasted little time securing a valuable prize on the level when scooping the Chester Cup in May. Having felt another prestigious event went begging when sixth in the Northumberland Plate, Owen has his eye on the historic Newmarket marathon on October 11 before switching focus back to timber, where he will have an exciting new target. 'East India Dock has had a small break and is now back in and we'll aim at the Cesarewitch with him,' said Owen. 'He'll go straight there. 'I feel we missed a chance in the Northumberland Plate and the ground may have been on the lively side for him at Ascot, but Newcastle was our chance. 'It was one of his best runs on figures, but annoyingly he didn't get a great run round, he got caught wide and shuffled to the back of the field. 'A great big pot on home turf, when hopefully by then they will have had a bit of rain, we think will be ideal and then back over hurdles we will campaign him as a Stayers' Hurdle horse – I'm sure he will stay well and he gives himself every chance to.' While East India Dock has key business on the Flat to attend to before changing tack, Owen has already identified the hurdling starting point for stablemate and fellow dual-purpose performer Burdett Road. Newcastle's Fighting Fifth Hurdle has been pencilled in as the first stop for the Champion Hurdle runner-up over timber, whose season once again will be geared around an appearance in the Cheltenham Festival's opening day showpiece. 'Burdett Road's having a nice break and we might give him one prep run on the Flat before going for the Fighting Fifth,' continued Owen. 'He'll take the Champion Hurdle route again and will be running in all the big two-mile hurdle races en route to Cheltenham. 'He did very well last year and it will be very tough again, but he's entitled to be in all those big races and hopefully he can be very competitive in them.'
